FAITHFUL readers will know that I sometimes gripe about Nokia's naming conventions for its handphones.

Namely, the penchant for four-digit model numbers (8210, 6300 etc) that nobody remembers for long.

Now, they recycle the model numbers too.

When they launched the latest model 6120 Classic recently, I did an online search to find out what the original looked like.

It was one of those with a stubby antenna and nice press-able keys. The new version looks, well, modern but a bit plain.

What's really interesting about the mid-range Classic is how Nokia is not really playing up its strong points, probably for fear of cannibalising its higher-end models like the N73.

The Classic is being pitched as an affordable 3.5G handphone, which allows you to surf the Internet at higher speeds than 3Ghandphones.

REASONS TO GET IT

The real reason why you should get a Classic is because it is one of the cheapest, smallest and lightest smartphones.

Weighing only 89g, the Classic runs on the S60 operating system found in the high-end N-series and E-series Nokia.

That means it has a huge address book (I've yet to hit any limit on S60 phones with my 1,500 contacts list), works like a PDA by keeping all your schedules in order, will run different programs at the same time, and lets you customise with add-on S60 software.

But then, I realised Nokia left out the vital Search function.

Found on the newer N and E-series models, Search allows you to comb through all the data on your phone for the exact information you need.

I don't see why that should be so.

Already, the Classic has lower-end features like a 2-megapixel camera, a cheap plastic build and a small (but extremely sharp) screen.

Why reduce the software functionality too?

S60 looks to be one of the leading smartphone platforms for the next few years, and consumers deserve to get the same software experience with every S60 handphone.

It has physical design and added hardware features (like satellite navigation) that should command a price premium.

Still, it's not difficult to recommend the 6120 Classic to anyone looking for a compact but powerful handphone.

It has standard frills like a microSD memory card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and a universal USB connector for copying your files between phone and PC.

At $518 without a plan, it is also relatively affordable.