We were impressed with the 8290's robust construction and overall navigation. The phone, which is for GSM networks (like VoiceStream Wireless), also boasts a newly designed internal antenna, excellent talk and standby times, and a host of sophisticated functions including voice-activated dialing and SMS capabilities. The only real missing feature is Web-browsing support.

Where did this tiny phone come from? Essentially, Nokia updated the electronics and boosted the antenna power of its high-end classic, the 8860; put the new design in a sleek, tiny package; and significantly lowered the price. The 8290 also borrows the navigation that is a hallmark of its popular 5100-series phones.

Although many of the 8290's features are available in other premium phone models, its design is like nothing you've ever held. Weighing a mere 3.2 ounces and measuring 3.9 by 1.7 by 0.7 inches, the 8290 literally fits in the palm of your hand. It's also slightly smaller than its sister phone, the popular 8260.

The side-mounted volume-control keys were easy to operate while on a call, and we hooked up a hands-free kit to the headphone jack so we could stow the phone in our pocket while having conversations. One caveat: the tiny power button, located on top of the phone, is almost flush with the casing and hard to find. You won't be likely to turn the phone on inadvertently, but at times it was a challenge to turn the phone on at all. Other than this quibble, the 8290 is a joy to use. Plus, the 8290 is shipped with a Jabra EarSet for hands-free use.

Three buttons handle most of the menu navigation: a roller-bar navigation key lets you scroll through menu options, and two additional buttons let you select menu options as they appear. The right prompt button also provides one-touch access to your phone book. The top-level menu choices are: Messages (SMS and voice-mail alerts), Call Log, Profiles (so you can choose how your phone behaves in different environments), Settings (for calls, phone, and security), System (so you can select a service provider or opt for automatic selection), Games (Rotation, Memory, Snake, and Logic), Calculator, Calendar, and Keyguard Lock. The backlit, three-line display works well with the control keys, and we found it easy to locate menus and make selections. Despite the phone's small size, the keypad is well spaced, and we had no problems dialing with one hand.

The Nokia 8290 has a full roster of call and messaging features. If offered by your service plan, it supports caller ID, call waiting, SMS, voice mail, numeric paging, multiparty calling, and e-mail. Three different call logs maintain the last 10 dialed numbers, 10 most recently received calls, and 10 missed calls. PIM functions include a clock, currency converter, calculator, calendar with room for 50 appointments and reminders, and a 250-entry phone book. There is no standard method of connecting the 8290 to a PC or other device.

A few more cool things worth noting: the 8290 supports swappable faceplates and it has three-NAM capability, so you can route three different numbers to the phone. Its built-in vibrating alert guarantees you will get your calls without annoying the people sitting next to you.

The 8290 offers four basic security features: An initial security code, keypad lock, call restriction modes, and a lock code that can activate or deactivate memory and menu options. One nice thing about the lock-code feature is you can store numbers in a secret unlocked location, which will allow you to make calls even when the phone is locked.

The 8290's lithium-ion battery is rated to last for a maximum of 210 minutes of digital talk time and 192 hours of digital standby time. In our battery testing it came impressively close. We held an open call for just over three hours, and the phone lasted for nearly eight days in standby mode.

The 8290 is one of the lightest, smallest, most stylish phones around, and it backs up its cool appearance with solid construction and functions. In fact, it one-ups its counterpart, the 8260, with its more compact design and voice-activated dialing feature. Unless you need a phone with a minibrowser, this unit is an excellent match for almost any personal or professional communications need. --Thom Arno

Pros:

• Tiny size, stylish case (smaller than the Nokia 8260)
• Solid construction, intuitive interface
• Voice-activated dialing
• E-mail and SMS capable, built-in PIM
• Impressive battery life

Cons:

• No browser capability
• Hard-to-locate power button

How We Tested Battery-Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers about variable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, as analog mode consumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital-mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the phone's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital-phone talk time, we turned the phone on, established a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately and continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the test over. Assuming consistent carrier-signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.