The Sony Ericsson Elm isn't interested in megapixel count or web browsing, Wi-Fi and apps, although it has all of the above. The Sony Ericsson Elm is about communication and connectivity. The Elm is simplicity amongst a world of complicated and convoluted smartphones, also saving the environment with an eco-friendly bent.

With its recycled packaging and e-manual, you think that Sony Ericsson might just be gaining brownie points with their latest Greenheart effort, but the Elm goes deeper than the arboreal name with a suite of software and energy-efficient charger, making a phone that cares about the world, whether you notice or not.

This doesn't mean that the Elm is a shrinking violet, however. The handset is still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to features - Wi-Fi, 3G, aGPS - as well as sporting an impressively sturdy build. The reassuring curvature of the rear and traditional 12-button keypad are an antidote to the wealth of iClones, whilst the interface is comforting and familiar to the user without feeling dumbed down.

A central d-pad rules proceedings, with the 9-icon layout bringing quick access to contacts, messaging and the like. So far, so W-series Walkman, but the Elm just feels fine to use, with the small yet rich 2.2-inch display providing more than enough room to present content. It's hardly a dream to surf the web on, but the swift connectivity makes the Elm more than capable when looking up the latest gossip or footy scores.

The Elm might sound old school, but it shows how down it is with a bevy of dedicated social networking apps integrating all status activity in one place. Facebook status updates and picture commenting can be done with ease, whilst the Twitter app enables quick messages and pictures to be pinged to all your followers in no time. YouTube and MySpace are also handled with aplomb by the overly clever handset.

Great additions to the supposedly humble feature phone, and the inviting user interface means that even the uninitiated can be tweeting in no time.

The camera on the Elm is a strong 5-megapixel effort, a step down from the wonder of the Cybershot handsets, but a decent snapper to capture fleeting moments. The LED flash isn't wonderful, but features like face detection and the ability to tweak the white balance and other settings means a good photo can still be grabbed from the darkest of surroundings.

In a world of charge-a-day smartphones, the Elm's impressive battery life is a breath of fresh air. Hammering the calls, texts, snapping away like a paparazzo and having a quick go on the Walk Mate Eco pedometer app only dented the standby time, getting almost two and a half days out of it!

With a touted 10 hours talktime and 430 hours of standby, we certainly vouch for the Elm as the ideal phone to rely on when in a clinch.

The Elm's media player is standard Sony Ericsson fare meaning MP3 playback and a stereo FM radio are certs, but the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack means that the proprietary headphones are required to get your aural fix.

All in all, the Sony Ericsson Elm is a great confluence of classic handset form and sensibilities, filled to the brim with cutting edge features and functionality. Proof positive that you don't need the latest smartphone to check your mail or get online, the Sony Ericsson Elm with its unassuming frame and (gasp!) non-touch interface is an equally competent device that can do anything from texting to tweeting, saving the planet all the while.