One of the things I did just as 2009 ended was to get a new phone. But months before the actual purchase, I had already decided on a brand and line—the Nokia E series.

After years of using Sony Ericsson phones—starting with the lethal-looking Ericsson R320—I decided early last year to switch to Nokia.

The decision to leave Sony Ericsson was spurred by two things: 1.) I felt that SonyEricsson abandoned its users of the UIQ platform (the system that ran in the P800/P900 and P1) and 2.) the company insists on using proprietary connectors for such things as headphones instead of using standard interfaces like 3.5 mm audio jacks.

I also came to love Nokia units after testing a few of its units. I particularly liked the Nokia E71 and had decided by April to buy the latest unit in the E series line in December.

NOKIA E63. For just P11,000, you get a phone that excels in messaging—SMS, e-mail, IM and Web connectivity.

Then, I got hooked on running.

My priorities shifted and I found myself choosing to spend more on running-related gear—shoes, apparel, GPS watches—and running books than on a phone.

I wanted the best phone I could get for the lowest price possible.

The E63 is that phone.

For about P11,000, the E63 provides me with all the crucial mobile tools I need to stay connected anywhere—e-mail, instant messaging and Internet browsing via 3G and Wi-Fi.

The E63 is a cheaper version of the E71. Unlike higher-end units such as the E71 and E72, the E63 does not have HSPA connectivity. This is fine with me because whenever I need to do something online, I am usually near a Wi-Fi hotspot.

If I needed high-speed mobile Internet access, I could just use Smart Bro on my Linux laptop. For most other mobile Internet tasks, I can live with a 3G connection.

The E63 is also a bit thicker than the E71, which, in my opinion, makes it easier to handle. The E63 also comes with a plastic casing, unlike the steel casing that comes with the heavier E71. The E63 also does not have GPS and does not come with a data cable.

But for the price difference—enough to buy a good pair of running shoes—the E63 stands out.

In the few weeks that I have been using the device, I found communicating not only easier but much more enjoyable in the E63. Nokia Messaging email, which comes installed in the device, is such an all-you-need-to-do-is-click easy mobile email solution. I bet even my father, a reluctant tech user, can set up his email on the phone using that software. For mobile browsing, social networking and chat, I installed my usual mobile phone software—Opera Mini for browsing, Fring for chat and Snaptu for updating Twitter and Facebook.

The E63 and the higher-end devices in its line gets messaging right.

Yes, the E63′s camera quality and its lack of a decent auto-focus may be atrocious but given the choice between a phone that gets messaging right and another mobile phone that either gets imaging or media playing right, I’d take the E63 anytime.

It got messaging absolutely right.