What "3" phone should I buy?

[linearaudio]

6 years ago I bought an NEC313 pay-as-you-go from Woolies at the time when "3" were trying to live down their appalling network reputation. It was basically given away if you bought £25 airtime!
I have come to almost love it, but has always been a bit temperamental, and now the battery is just about dead, I need to look for something newer!
I am not in the least interested in all the whizzbangs that my children seem to see as a "must". I want something to use as a mobile phone directory, do messaging and take photo's. My daughter has a Samsung S700 slide phone which, although a bit gimmicky, would suffice, but not available on "3". I would want to keep with them as I understand their tarriff rates, and for my little usage (about £10 every 2-3 months) I am happy with their rates.
Any suggestions as to a good phone to look at? Ideally no more than about £60. Thanks, Pete

[MarkyB]

Have you updated the firmware on the phone?
You may find it works a lot better, then you just need a new battery, less than £10 and you're good to go.

[chickenjohn]

Agreed, buy a new battery is the cheapest option and you don't have to learn to use a new phone.

OTOH, I bought one of these for my girlfriend and was impressed at how easy it is to use with its qwerty keyboard and straighforward operating system, http://www.mobiles.co.uk/vodafone-lg-ks ... rance.html, if you can get one cheap at your local mobile phone shop.

[santadawes]

Hi there.
I also bought one of those phones when they first came out. In fact I bought four sets one for each member of my family. With the Pay as you go I found the 3 service very very bad little or no coverage and their costomer service appaling. After four months we came out of the service and vent to Virgin Mobile. I had been with them till last December when a call from the 3 ervice contacted me asking if I would like a new phone and change my network. We talked for about 30 minutes and after explaining that their service was so bad I was almost ready to hang up. The caller explained that at the time there was big problems with the service and network but after big investments their company was on the up.
He asked me how much I was spending on my top up each month and offered me a new phone for £15per month. but would cut it down to £10 per month. The phone was also a new slide phone and done almost everything. I told him I didn't like them but came back with a Sony Erricson that looked much like the one I was using. After sending it on approveal. i decided to give them another go.
If you are looking for a nice small camera phone that can also make phone calls etc. then have a look at their web site, give them a call and see what they offer you.
Good Luck.

[rob.hardy1]

i have found the nokia n95 to be excellent at all levels. The camera is brilliant and as good if not better than stand alone cameras. The phone has the capability (if you choose to use it ) to send pictures by text or email.