One of the best smart phones available at the moment is the HTC TyTN, which has been rebadged by networks as the Orange M3100, T-Mobile MDA Vario II (pictured) and the Vodafone 1605. This is a veritable beast in the smart phone arena. It comes with a series of connectivity options, in addition to a large colour touchscreen and a slide-out Qwerty keypad.

It runs on Windows Mobile 5.0 and can be synchronised with an exchange server. You can also make video calls on it so Nick could keep in face-to-face contact with his lucky co-workers, and there's a 2-megapixel camera on the back for taking photographs.

The TyTN's Wi-Fi, 3G and HSDPA (3.5G) connectivity means that Nick could browse the Web and download emails at broadband speeds almost anywhere he goes. It's currently available for free on a monthly contract on several networks, but not all of them will support HSDPA. You can also buy it for about £500 from several online retailers, including eXpansys.

Another option would be the Nokia E61 candybar phone, which also comes with a large colour screen, full Qwerty keypad, 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. There's no camera, but it's great for sending and receiving emails and comes with a good Web browser. It's currently available for free on a monthly contract or for £300 from the Nokia online shop.

Or there's the RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8100 candybar phone. This slimline device is one of RIM's smallest creations, and while it doesn't have a full Qwerty keypad, it will easily fit in your pocket. It's currently available for free on a monthly contract.

Other options include the Nokia E70, O2 XDA Mini S or BlackBerry 8700g.