Your first impression of the Kyocera QCP 2760 cellular phone will be how thin and light it is. 

This CDMA (code-division multiple access) dual-mode phone, which works on analog or digital cellular networks, is less than 0.7 of an inch (1.8 cm) thick at its narrowest point and weighs only 4.23 ounces (120 grams).

It lacks the style of Nokia phones but if you like the utility of a pocket-sized phone and don't expect it to enhance your status as a fashion plate, it is ideal.

People will still ooo! and ah! at this phone, thanks to its size.

They will also admire its functionality. In addition to its standard features -- including 10 ring tones, an on-screen battery power indicator, a phone book and back-lit LCD screen -- you can also access the Internet, using a built-in browser by Phone.com. This browser formats Web data for the phone's five-line screen, which provides four dynamic lines and reserves one line for status icons.

The phone comes with a series of pre-programmed Web sites that broadcast data specifically for mobile phones. For example, Yahoo! Financial offers market indices and stock prices. Amazon.com offers best-selling book lists. You can browse traditional Web sites with the phone but the chunky text-only nature of the screen makes them difficult to navigate.

The functionality of two buttons below the screen change, based on what is displayed. In one mode, the buttons represent "OK" and "Cancel," in a second mode, a set of on-screen commands are displayed.

The phone can also be used to receive faxes or e-mail, using add-on accessories that allow it be connected to a PC.

In addition to being used for voice calls, it can receive messages like a pager and can support a voice mail service when calls go unanswered. These features are dependent on availability through your wireless phone company subscription.

Battery life is a little slim. The internal battery features about 2.5 hours of talk time, or three to four days on stand by. This reviewer found regular use demands a recharge every three days.

Add an external clip-on battery and talk time increases to as much as six hours or as many as 10 days on stand-by mode. An external extended battery offers as much as 10 hours of talk time and as many as 17 days of stand-by time.

Another accessory allows you to connect to your Palm V or Palm III hand-held organizer for wireless e-mail.

If the model looks familiar, but you don't recognize the brand, that's because this is a Qualcomm phone. Kyocera acquired Qualcomm's wireless phone division in February 2000.
 
If you want a hide-away device with good phone features and data capability that acts as a wireless interface for other devices, this is the phone for you.

Reviewer's rating: 4 / 5

Comments: Chunky screen fonts and anemic battery life aside, the Qualcomm QCP 2760 Thin Phone is a sensible choice for the mobile worker who wants to access data and get things done on the go.

More info: http://www.kyocera-wireless.com

Price: $100 US ($140 Canadian) to $150 US ($220 Canadian), depending on the air time plan purchased.