TO the Comms exhibition - Communications 97 to the non techies among you - where much of the talk is of mobile phones. Not the tiresome arithmetic of whether Digifone or Eircell is better value, but which of three tiny new mobiles is the most exquisite model.

Ericsson's snappily named GF-788 claims to be "the smallest, most sophisticated phone on the market", Motorola's StarTac "the world's smallest, lightest GSM" and Philips' Genie, "the smallest, lightest GSM phone in the world".

They all weigh about 100 gms - the same as a large bar of chocolate - and are about as thin as a deck of cards. Each is about 10 cms, and all appear to have the full range of gee whiz functions. Of the three, the Ericsson is probably the most stylish design, although the Motorola comes a close second. The Philips has a bizarre extendible tongue that spoils its clean lines.

Another difference is the price - the Motorola is the most expensive, at anywhere up to £600, the Philips won't go on sale until next month, and is likely to cost as much as £500, and the Ericsson comes in at around £350.