INQ1 vs Skype Skyphone S2

What could be better than being able to access our favourite social networking site wherever we are? Nothing really springs to mind that’s printable so imagine how excited we are that we can get our Facebook fix wherever we are (provided there’s a signal) thanks to both these two handsets from 3.

Indeed, the INQ1 has even been unofficially, but affectionately, dubbed the Facebook phone, showing just how much love there is out there still for Mark Zuckerberg’s online creation.

More than just Facebook
Both handsets are more than just pretty Facebook gateways, however. The INQ1 also provides access to Skype, Windows Live Messenger and Last.fm. Live updates are on the menu as is one-click access for when we can’t be bothered with all that drilling down menus malarkey.

The tables are turned slightly for the S2 whose priorities lie with VoIP golden child Skype (as the name would cunningly suggest), with Facebook resigned to the supporting actor role. Instead, you get a stripped down version of the client so you can keep tabs on what your mates are up to in a less obsessive but still neighbourhood watch kind of way.

Fair usage applies to Skype action on the S2 and there’s ‘traditional’ voice connectivity on offer when you’ve eaten up all your free calls and texts.

Contact synching is a breeze with the INQ1. It ensures all apps are in their user friendly prime by letting you gossip with your pals, upload photos to Facebook or keep in touch with your boss using Messenger with a great deal of ease. Plus you can have a laugh every time you go to phone your best mate as their mugshot and latest updates will be staring back up at you as well as their number.

Another boon for the lazy amongst us comes in the form of automatic updates thanks to the always-one nature of the INQ1’s bundled apps. This is thanks, in part, to the use of an operating system based on Brew rather than Java. The S2 is based on the same platform.

We found other websites a bit of a let down on the S2 and the INQ1, however, so you’d be silly to banish your computer to the attic just yet.

Speed is of the essence
It’s incredibly frustrating to rush to update your Facebook status to tell all your friends (the ones you actually know and the ones you don’t) that you’ve just spotted Brangelina in Starbucks, only to find it takes eons to connect. Thankfully, both the INQ1 and S2 boast HSDPA connectivity, but sadly no GPS or W-Fi. Bluetooth is also on the menu of both phones, which is another plus for users and you can also use the S2 as a Bluetooth modem for your PC to boot.

Look and feel
Neither the INQ1 or S2 are bulky or heavy, with both weighing in close to the 100g mark, which is light by most standards. Screen size (2.2in), in-built memory (50GB a piece) and dimensions are also pretty similar on the two devices.

Despite their price tags, both handsets look pretty classy. But you’ll find no touchscreen action on the INQ1 or S2 as both handsets are sliders with no frills navigation or keyboard-wise.

Indeed, Both phones sport 3.2MP cameras sans flash so you’re going to have to make do with average-to-good snaps with the caveat of good lighting. But the snapper does what it says on the tin and is good enough for Facebook et al, which is good enough for us in this instance.

Cheap as chips…
OK, so you won’t be able to pick up either phone for the same price as a bag of fried potato goodness from your local chippy, but the handsets are still pretty credit crunch friendly.

The INQ1 is free on contracts of £15-plus or £79.99 on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis. You’ll be glad to know that either of these options come with all-you-can-eat web and social networking access. Phew!

The S2 is even cheaper still at £69 on PAYG and free on contract, meaning the deciding factor will be down to which you love more: Facebook or nattering.

Verdict
With both phones offering an almost identikit list of features and with similar looks and price tags, it’s a tough call between the INQ1 and Skype Skyphone S2. So tough in fact that we’re going to sit firmly on the fence on this one and call it a tie.

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