If you’re searching for a definition of what a business smartphone should look like, the Nokia E61i wouldn’t be far off. Its smart metal-and-dark-bronze chassis is redolent of men in Armani suits, carrying expensive briefcases.

So, as you’d expect, it’s stacked with
highbrow features. The E61i leaves virtually no stone unturned, with Wi-Fi for network connection in the office and at home, 3G and, although there’s no push email as standard, support for it is offered via the downloadable Mail for Exchange and BlackBerry Connect.

It’s slightly odd these aren’t standard installs, as the E61i is clearly a phone aimed squarely at mobile messaging. Its spacious keyboard makes tapping out messages a quick process – despite the slightly spongy-feeling keys – and the large 2.8in 320 x 240 screen ensures that browsing the internet and reading email is a comfortable experience.

The rest of the controls – a D-pad and series of shortcut buttons above the keyboard – are less impressive, and there’s no touchscreen or scroll wheel. The E61i’s major Achilles heel, though, is its size. Although thin at 14mm, its width of 70mm and height of 117mm aren’t pocket-friendly dimensions, and the E61i gets a low score for portability as a result.

For this reason, we’d rate the BlackBerry 8820 as the better emailer – it’s smaller, the keyboard is just as usable and its mini trackball control makes it a more user-friendly device. But the Nokia’s low price still makes it tempting.