Samsung E2121B

This is one of the best selling SIM-Free phones on [URL="http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/mobile-phones/SAMSUNG-E2121B/HANDSET"]Cartphonewarehouse.com[/URL], costing a teeny tiny £29.95.

The spec sheet reads like it just fell out of a passing tardis. Literally; despite it being 2012, this basic feature phone goes without even 3G, so it can't connect to the current 'standard' network bearer. Perhaps anything more than GSM is too much to ask for this price.

What you do get, however, is 23 days of standby. I think that's something all smartphone users miss.

The Samsung E2121B has great ratings and an FM radio. A similar offering in the form of the [URL="http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/mobiles/mobile-phones/NOKIA-1800/HANDSET"]Nokia 1800[/URL] is available at £34.95 and also has great ratings. Both are likely to be ideal for kids (a first mobile?), technophobes, and those who just want a telephone.

We've come a long way.