Tired of boring phone calls and predicable text messages, reporters Hayley Gyllenspetz and Liz Lamb try out the latest mobile phone technology.

AS the office mobile phone junkies, it was inevitable that we would be asked to test the new Nokia photo phones

Advertised as the ideal way to show your friends exactly what you are up to, the phones allow you to take pictures and email them, or send them to other photo phone owners.

The first problem we had was working out how to use the compact handsets. It was easy figuring out how to take pictures and, although we had a few false starts sending the images to email, it wasn't difficult to send them from phone to phone.

The best advice on working the phones is to ignore the hefty instruction manual which you need a degree in computer technology to understand. Instead, make sure you don't leave the shop without being shown how to use all the main functions, because once you turn to the handbook you will be totally lost.

Users have to set up a contact list of friends and family before they can send the photos and, if you are a phone virgin, this can be a confusing task. Liz spent a long time trying to discover how to use the phone menu before she could tackle taking pictures and had to be stopped from flinging the handset at the wall on several occasions.

Once we had eventually worked out what to do, it was time to start taking some photos. We planned to capture some good shots from opposite ends of the country. Liz went to London to report on the peace march; Hayley stayed in Darlington for the weekend.

Although the phones look pretty neat, don't expect anything too fancy with the camera. There's no zoom or flash and you have to have a steady hand to capture the image you want. Anyone wanting to take a picture at night should forget it - these phones are strictly for use in daylight.

But the quality of the pictures is surprisingly good when you think you are taking a snap with your phone. You can also capture people when they least expect it, one of the other advantages of having a camera disguised as a phone.

In Darlington, pictures of Hayley's rabbit Scoop came out well as did some shots in the pub. Attempts to capture the action in a nightclub were less successful - the camera tried to cope with the flashing lights but it was difficult to make out exactly who was setting the dance floor on fire.

After one too many beers the Nokia photo phone can become a source of much amusement amongst friends, with the shots being a happy, or not-so-happy in some cases, reminder of what you got up to the night before. In London, Liz gathered some great pictures of the peace march though she was met with a wall of bemused faces from marchers who wondered why there was a mad woman holding her phone outstretched above her head. The shots were pretty good quality considering it was a dull day with not much sun.

Another happy advantage is that it is a great way to connect with long-distance buddies. Liz sent snaps of herself and her mates to friend Emma who lives in Greece.

It's unlikely you would want to frame a picture taken with your Nokia phone - the images just aren't clear enough - but they do work if you want to share mad antics with friends or family in an instant.