The Sony Ericsson W508 is a Walkman phone that promises to offer you an interactive mobile experience as individual as you are. Utilising intelligent music player technology to suit every kind of listener, and stocking a few mobile phone functions to boot, this is a phone aimed at those who like to express their style and individuality through their mobile phone.

This funky flip handset is well built and a good size, fitting neatly into your hands.  It's standard design is in a stormy grey, but you can easily cheer up the W508 by adding a 'Style-Up Cover'-a bright face cover that comes in a wide range of hues.

Samsung have also designed the W508 in such a way that most of the functions can be accessed without opening the phone. You can check the time, battery life and song selection on the external OLED screen, change the track and volume using the rocker control and the buttons on the face, and select the hold option so you don't accidentally bump these buttons in your pocket. 

The keypad that appears when you do open up W508 is a vision of circles, with each number sitting neatly in it's own key and the selection and call keys edges by graceful arcs. These keys are easy to use and well sized, with a nice distance between each key.

As with all Walkman branded phones, the sound quality and multimedia experience with the W508 is excellent. Sound from both the propriety headphones and the external speakers is crisp and clear, and  with a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter included you can use whatever listening device you like.  Samsung have also thrown in a 1GB Memory Micro Stick (M2) for boosting storage with the M2 card slot, and you can purchase sticks up to 16GB in size. 

The versatile Shake and Gesture control enables users to become their own DJ with merely a flick of a wrist. The volume can be raised or the shuffle function set by giving the phone a quick shake. Users can switch the phone alarm to snooze or mute the volume using the Gesture control.  With just a sweep of your palm across the face of the W508 you can go back to sleep without having to fumble for the off button.

Samsung's W508 also includes the popular SenseMe feauture. In the same vein as iTunes' Genius function, SenseMe examines whatever song you are listening to and labels songs accordingly. You can then create a playlist based on your mood.

Other, non musical features include a 3.2 megapixel camera, HSDPA, 3G, web browsing functions,  YouTube integration, 3D games and the usual collection of personal organisation tools.