The touchscreen LG Arena KM900 is designed to be easy to use, with a host of onscreen touch-operated gadgetry to help you get to features and open application quickly and efficiently.

To aid usability, the LG Arena supports onscreen widgets - mini applications that enable you to operate functions and view information from the phone's home screen.

LG has set up the Arena with four alternative home screens, each displaying a different icon-based view of function and content shortcuts, which you can swipe between and select with a finger stroke. These home screens cover Contacts, Multimedia (video and music), Shortcuts, and Widgets.

The Widgets home screen can be customised with your own choice of widgets from a selection pre-loaded on to the phone. You an add any combination of these widgets, which include: communication apps (shortcuts for email, messaging inbox, voicemail and missed calls), clock/alarm, memo, calendar, calculator, radio, M-Toy games, world clock, a weather forecast app, and cell broadcast messages.

Here's how to set up and use the Widgets home screen...

1. In home screen mode, swipe your finger across the display until you get to the Widgets home screen (Figure 1). Initially, it shows just Clock/alarm and Communications applications widgets.
2. To open up and use one these, press the widget icon onscreen for a moment. In the Communications widget panel, which contains four options, you need to press the appropriate part to activate the option you require (Figure 2).
3. For the Clock/alarm widget, press to open. To set the alarm, press the small clock symbol in the bottom left of the widget to bring up setting options (Figure 3). You can set the alarm by rotating the dial with a finger swipe (Figure 4).
4. To close a widget, press the small box with the '-' symbol in the top right corner of the widget.
5. To change the selection of widgets that appear onscreen, first press and hold your finger on one of the onscreen widgets. The screen changes; a Widgets toolbar appears along the bottom of the display. Also 'x's appear in a small box in the corner of each onscreen widget (Figure 5).
6. To remove a widget, press the small 'x' box on the widget. It will disappear off the main part of the screen into the toolbar (Figure 6).
7. To add a widget, press the icon in the toolbar on the bottom of the screen that represents the widget you want to add. The widget appears onscreen (Figure 7). You can select as many widgets as you want in the same way, or remove them as outlined above whenever you want (Figure 8).
8. Note that some of the widgets may be hidden to the right of the toolbar; these can be brought onscreen by pressing the small arrow on the right hand of the toolbar (Figure 9).
9. Once you have widgets on the main part of the screen, you can move them around wherever you like by pressing your finger on the widget icon onscreen, holding it and dragging it. Remove your finger to leave it in place (Figure 10).
10. Alternatively you can re-order your onscreen widgets into a grid by pressing the grid icon button in the top left of the display, featuring six small squares (Figure 11).
11. To exit and save your changes to the Widget home screen, press the return arrow button in the top right of the display (Figure 12).
12. The screen will return to its original format, but with your new widgets displayed (Figure 13).
13. As before, to open up a widget, press it for a moment and it will expand onscreen, with application controls or options displayed (Figure 14).

The LG Arena KM900 offers a quick and very intuitive way of browsing through your favourite contacts, enabling you to search and make calls or send messages with just a couple of finger presses on the home screen.

On one of the four alternative home screen views you get on the LG Arena, you can view up to 30 of your favourite contacts, with thumbnail pictures, on a 3D-style rotating carousel. It's easy to flick through  and select them with a swish of your finger and a tap.

Alternatively, you can arrange them in simple grid formation so you can view them all at once, and press to select.

When you press one of your favourite contacts on the home screen, you get the options to make a voice call, send a message or edit contact details.

It's easy to use and set up. Here we show you how...

1. In home screen mode, swipe your finger across the display until you get to the Contacts home screen (Figure 1).
2. A panel in the centre of the screen says: In order to edit homescreen, PRESS & HOLD this object. Press and keep your finger on it for a second or two.
3. The panel with the message remains onscreen, but don't press it again. Instead, press the Edit favorite panel towards the bottom of the screen (Figure 2).
4. A Set favorites screen appears, listing all your contacts (Figure 3). You can scroll through this list by stroking your finger up the screen, or search for a particular name by using the search box onscreen.
5. To search, press the orange panel towards the top of the screen. A virtual numberpad appears (Figure 4). If you rotate the phone sideways, an alternative virtual Qwerty keyboard appears.
6. Type in the name for which you want to search, or just some of the characters. The contacts list will narrow down your searches (Figure 5). To get rid of the virtual numberpad to see more entries, press the button on the top right of the numberpad which shows a downward-pointing arrow. You can now see a full screen view again (Figure 6).
7. Whether scrolling or searching, press the contacts you want to add to your favourites home screen. The star icon next to the name changes from grey to orange, indicating that your favourite has been added to the home screen selection (Figure 7).
8. Repeat this procedure until you have selected all the contacts you want to add to your home screen (up to 30 can be added).
9. Once you have finished selecting your favourite contacts, press the return arrow button next to the Set favorites title, on the top right of the display (Figure 8).
10. Your selected contacts are displayed in carousel format onscreen (Figure 9). You can change this to a grid view by pressing the grid icon button (containing six squares), on the top left of the display (Figure 10). To change back to the carousel view, press the central button containing a  ')' shaped carousel icon.
11. You can remove items from your contacts favourites list by pressing the 'x' in the red box in top right hand corner of the contacts panel.
12. To get back to the home screen and save your changes, press the return arrow button on the top right of the display.
13. You are returned to the home screen, with your contacts displayed (Figure 11). In the carousel view, rotate through these with a finger swipe.
14. To use one of the contacts, simply press it. Options appear for Call, Message and Edit (Figure 12). Press the option you want; Call will immediately initiate a call, and Message will take you into a normal new message screen.
15. Press Edit and you get the option of adding more details or numbers, and of adding a thumbnail image to the contact (Figure 13).
16. Alternatively, press the small '-' box in the top right of the contact you've selected to return to the carousel view of your contacts.

The LG Arena KM900 features Google Maps preinstalled, making it easy for you to navigate your way around.

The device also features GPS so you can find your location a lot faster than just using the network (triangulation).

Heres how to find a Point of Interest (PoI) and navigate your way to it.

1. First, fire up the Google Maps application which you'll find in the Google Suite of applications (Figure 1).
2. When asked whether it's OK for Google to find information about your location, click allow (Figure 2).
3. Accept the terms and conditions when asked (Figure 3).
4. You will then be presented with a map (Figure 4).
5. To search for a destination, tap on Search (Figure 5).
6. Input the Point of Interest, for example 'hotel' (Figure 6).
7. You will be presented with a number of results (Figure 7).
8. Select one of the PoIs and you're presented with options to call the destination or get directions to it (Figure 8).
9. Select find directions and you are asked to enter the starting point. Enter this and then you'll be given directions from your starting point to Point of Interest (Figure 9).
10. You can view these directions on a map (Figure 10).
11. You can zoom in and out by tapping the + and - icons (Figure 11).
12. If you want to see your route in aerial mode, select Satellite View (Figure 12 and 13).

The LG KM900 Arena features Wi-Fi, allowimg you to surf the internet without eating into your data plan.

If you don't have an all-you-can eat data plan for your phone, using Wi-Fi can save you a lot of money.

Here's how you set it up:

1. Access the Wi-Fi menu by going to the menu then tapping the Wi-Fi icon (Figure 1).
2. If Wi-Fi is turned off, activate it by touching the Off icon (Figure 2).
3. Select your network from the list provided.
4. If the network requires a security key, tap on edit, and then enter the security key (Figure 3).
5. When you've entered the security key, tap Connect to connect to the network (Figure 4).
6. You'll get a status message confirming you've been successful in joining your network (Figure 5), and you're free to get surfing!

You're not just limited to SMS text messaging to comunicate on the LG Arena KM900. The handset features an easy to set up and use email aplication meaningyou can get almost PC-based experiences on your mobile.

Here's how to set up and use both POP3/IMAP email accounts and web-based accounts:

Microsoft Exchange

1. From the homescreen, tap the menu icon situated on the bottom right side of the screen.
2. Scroll to Message settings on the Settings menu (Figure 1).
3. Select Email (Figure 2) and then Email Accounts (Figure 3).
4. Select Add Account (Figure 4).
5. Confirm that you want to set up a new account (Figure 5).
6. Select Microsoft Exchange (Figure 6).
7. Fill in all the details required, plus specify which information you want your phone to be synched with and select continue (Figure 7).
8. When asked to update your inbox, select yes and your email will be set up (Figure 8).

Web-based email

1. Follow instructions 1-5 for setting up a Microsoft Exchange email address.
2. Select Others (Figure 6).
3. Enter your email address and password (Figure 9).
4. Select Continue.
5. Enter your account username and your account will be set up.
6. When asked, confirm you want to update your inbox (Figure 8).

How to retrieve email on Microsoft Exchange and web-based services

1. From the homescreen, click on the bottom right hand icon to access the menu.
2. Scroll along on the top communication bar to find Email icon.
3. Select the email account you want to retrieve email for.
4. Tap the menu icon and select retrieve new (Figure 10).
5. Any new emails will then appear in your inbox.

To write an email, simply select the account you wish to send an email from and tap the blue bar which says Write Email. Create the email and tap send.

If you like to listen to your own music collection in the car and don't want to invest in a Bluetooth speaker system, the LG KM900 Arena features an FM transmitter so you can stream your music via the car radio.

We show you how to set it up in our simple guide to using the FM transmitter on the LG KM900 Arena.

1. From the homescreen, choose the menu icon in the right hand bottom corner of the screen.
2. Select Tools in the menu.
3. In the Tools menu, select FM Transmitter (Figure 1).
4. Using the dial, choose a frequency to match the one on your car radio (Figure 2). Ensure the frequency you choose doesn't interfere with an existing radio station. 87.5 normally works the best.
5. Select Transmit on the bottom of the screen to start transmitting to your radio.
6. On the drop down menu in the top left hand corner of the screen, choose Go to Music Player (Figure 3).
7. When the music player launches, choose a track to start with by scrolling up and down the list (Figure 4).
8. Tap on the play button to start the music play and start transmitting (Figure 5).
9. If the music doesn't start transmitting, you should adjust the  frequency of your stereo and phone by going back to the transmitter main screen.