You want 3G multimedia downloads to arrive faster, or mobile internet surfing to be swifter? Samsung's pace-setting SGH-Z560 has arrived in the UK as the first HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) equipped consumer handset, promising '3G broadband' speeds over four times faster than standard 3G mobiles.

While a sprinkling of Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices and data cards supporting HSDPA have demonstrated the potential for professional users, the Z560 is something different - a mobile that's essentially a stylish flip phone on the outside with 3G supercharging on the inside.

An HSDPA logo on the outside is the only real hint at what lies beneath - and as far as most consumers are concerned, that's probably how it should be. HSDPA is the next speed-hike evolutionary change for mobile technology, initially ramping up download data rates for 3G devices to a potential maximum of 1.8Mbps, compared to 384Kbps max on regular 3G (in practice, though, speeds are initially likely to be between 1Mbps and that headline max figure).

As 3G networks are upgraded, HSDPA and HSUPA (the U is for Uplink, for uploading data) will be cranked up to even faster speeds - 3.6Mbps top speeds are expected to be available on UK mobile networks during 2007, with step ups to 10Mbps and beyond over the next few years.

Like GPRS before it, HSDPA will become standard issue on all new 3G phones before long, but for the moment it's still something worth shouting about.

Features

Thankfully, Samsung hasn't taken the route of clunking up a familiar handset design to bolt on HSDPA. The Z560 bears a strong family resemblance to the Ultra-series slimline D830 clamshell, and its footprint is almost identical. It's only in the depth department that the Z560 expands the dimensions slightly over its stick-thin stablemate. At 98g and measuring around 97(h) x 51(w) x 16(d)mm, this is a very pocketable, RAZR-sized piece of 3G kit.

While HSDPA is always going to be the headline-grabber here, the Z560 is kitted out with a respectable mobile spec. Perched on the front of the clamshell is a 2-megapixel camera with autofocus facility and video recording capability. As is standard for many clamshells, an external display doubles up as a viewfinder for self-portraits while the phone is closed, and providing caller info or track info while the phone's media player is whacking out tunes.

Underlining its music player aspirations, under the front LCD display are three touch-sensitive playback control keys while the player supports MP3, AAC, AAC , eAAC , Real and WMA file formats. Some 30MB of internal memory isn't going to make you chuck the iPod any time soon, but memory expansion via microSD cards is a very worthwhile option.

The menu navigation system is pretty intuitive, with an icon-driven main menu taking you to detailed numbered sub-menu options.

Of course, when you're talking 3G, multimedia becomes a key element - not least for the operators trying to sell their music and video content. The Z560 does a good job with video calling, thanks to a secondary video camera tucked away below the large 262k-colour main display inside the shell.

You get the options of seeing who's calling with yourself picture-in-picture or not, or you can swap the caller's view to your external camera. Usefully, you can also adjust brightness levels and video quality when making faceto- face calls - so the person at the other end doesn't just get a dark blur if light conditions are poor.

This phone's HSDPA spec puts the spotlight though firmly on its downloading, streaming and browsing potential. That's not to forget that it can also be used as a 3G/HSDPA modem when hooked up to a laptop running Samsung's supplied software.

Having a T-Mobile version of the Z560, we had links for T-Mobile's Web'n'walk service already set up, so accessing the mobile internet on this handset is a straightforward experience. Web'n'walk is preconfigured as one of T-Mobile's out-of-the-box softkey options and is also in prime location in the main menu (accessed by pressing the keypad's topcentral OK button in the heart of a four-way navigation pad - very intuitive).

Its Access NetFront browser takes delivers you to T-Mobile's home page, which is helpfully set up with a Google search option perched at the top of a page which has quick links to around 20 popular websites, and a further link to over 100 more popular sites. This will no doubt save countless time tapping in elongated URLs.