In the Vodafone-optimised version of the handset, Sony Ericsson's usual set-up has been given a mild makeover. A link to the Vodafone live! portal are one of on the softkey options on the standby screen, menus are appropriately themed, and options for Vodafone services are integrated into the control system and options – so you get Vodafone Music in the Walkman player options, a Vodafone live!-based browser home screen, Vodafone Messenger instant messaging, and so on.

Sat-nav software

Vodafone has also included its Find & Go route planning and search software among the Location Services folder, utilizing the A-GPS satellite software to good effect. In addition, as well as the fine Google Maps location spotting, mapping, search and route-planning software we've come to expect on mid-range Sony Ericssons, Find & Go offers route planning and search facilities for businesses, services, addresses and other points of interest, plus the option to upgrade to a Sat Nav solution with turn-by-turn voice instructions and onscreen 2D and 3D street map guidance. This upgrade is free for three months, after which it costs a £4.89 per month subscription.

While this is similar to a standalone Sat Nav set-up, it's not as sophisticated and maps are updated over the air as you go along rather than being stored onboard the phone or memory card. It works well enough though and is quick to refresh via HSPA mobile data connections.

Of course, it's not a replacement for a large-display, dedicated in-car Sat Nav system, but the A-GPS hardware on the W715 is effective, and tracks changing positions quickly and accurately. It offers a potentially very useful tool for finding your way around in unfamiliar places – particularly as you're always likely to have your mobile close to hand. It could well be the feature that sways some potential W705 buyers to reach for the Vodafone-exclusive W715 instead.

A-GPS is also employed for Sony Ericsson's Tracker app, running performance software which can record work outs, calculate calories burned, and so on.

Walkman phone

We expect Walkman-branded phones to put in a top of the bill music performance, and the W715 delivers with an excellent audio performance from its music software. The music player interface is the usual attractive and intuitive mid-range Walkman set-up, smoothly taking you through various music categories options under which tracks are listed.

These include the usual albums, tracks, artists, playlists, genres, plus year, podcasts and audio books. Sony Ericsson's SensMe option – where tunes can be selected according to pre-defined mood and tempo – is listed too. To use this option these criteria have to be defined before copying over from a PC using supplied Media Manager software. Tracks can also be dragged and dropped in mass storage mode with the USB cable attached, or Bluetoothed over.

Another category included is the Vodafone Music service, from which you can buy tracks individually or subscribe to it Music Unlimited downloads.

The Walkman player's sound quality through the decent quality in-ear headset supplied is top quality for a mobile phone, with a lovely dynamic sound, good depth, and sufficient bass whack where required.
Although there's no standard 3.5mm headphone socket on the phone itself (annoyingly there's the usual Sony Ericsson chunky multi-connector on the side again), an adapter is supplied as part of the two-piece headset, in case you want to add your own ear-gear. Stereo Bluetooth wireless earphones are supported too.

With a 4GB card in-box to supplement the 120MB of onboard storage, you can get a fair few tracks on before having to buy another Memory Stick Micro. An FM radio is included in the W715's spec too, for a bit of extra audio entertainment.

Wi-Fi connection

The Wi-Fi connectivity really adds speed to your browsing, downloading and uploading when in range of a suitable Wi-Fi connection. It's simple to use and maintain connections automatically on access points you regularly use.