Smart Talk

Cell Phones

Once you're armed with information on cell phone plans, your other major decision is the phone itself. Today's models range from plain vanilla to ones that have everything but hot fudge on top. Decide on the category of phone that suits you--basic, camera, or PDA--and then cruise the wireless provider's Web site or local store.

Your cheapest option--a bare-bones handset such as Nokia's 3595 or Samsung's X105--is often free or very affordable at $150 or less with a two-year contract. But what features will you miss out on with a basic phone? For starters, some models have a gray-scale rather than color screen. And some of the most basic GSM phones lack GPRS, so you won't be able to browse Web pages, though you may be able to access text-only pages.

If you step up a level, you'll get a phone with a miniature operating system, such as JAVA or BREW, that allows you to download apps, games, and fancy ring tones. Middle- and top-tier models (for example, AT&T's Nokia 3100 and Nextel's Motorola i830) typically offer higher-resolution color screens, support newer standards (such as Bluetooth, GPRS, or EDGE), and have more storage for running business apps, travel aids (such as GPS), and personal information-management utilities.

Cool Camera Phones

Camera phones sport some of the most innovative designs among handsets, but you can expect to pay a premium for one. For example, Nokia's 6820 (offered by AT&T for $200 with a two-year contract) comes with a VGA camera and a flip-out keyboard that's useful for text-messaging junkies. Samsung's clamshell-style SCH-a610 (at press time, $70 with a two-year contract with Verizon) features a rotating camera lens and a swiveling LCD so you can view the screen with the cover either open or closed.

Other camera-enabled handsets, among them the clamshell-design Samsung A680 available from Sprint ($150 with a two-year contract), can capture still images and short video clips. For more picture-taking control, look for a model that has a tiny built-in flash, digital zoom (optical zoom isn't available yet), resolution adjustment, and a night mode. Because the user interface and menus vary from one phone to the next, test-drive the phone at a store or sign up for a trial period.

Sure, camera phones can be fun to use, but mediocre image quality is the norm for now. Most models come with a VGA (640-by-480-pixel) camera chip that typically yields grainy 3-by-5-inch or smaller prints. Camera phone technology is improving, however. As we went to press, Sprint launched the PM-8920 from Audiovox with a 1.3-megapixel camera and a small flash. Upcoming 1-megapixel and higher camera phones include the Nokia 7610 and the Kyocera Koi; these and other models should be out by year's end.

PDA Phones

PDA/phone hybrids, the priciest category of handsets, give you a full-featured phone with the best screens for Web browsing and messaging. PalmOne's Treo 600 (with a two-year contract, $500 from Cingular and $550 from AT&T or Sprint) lets you sync its phone book and calendar with those on your PC. And because PDA phones run on a powerful OS such as Palm or Microsoft's Windows Mobile, you have access to many office apps. Some PDA handsets, including the Sidekick from T-Mobile and the Treo, come with a small yet handy keyboard.

No matter which phone you buy, make sure it supports the bands (network frequency) you'll need: Some models are digital-only, for example. You'll need analog if you roam to rural areas.

Our final advice? We said it before, and we'll say it again: Test-drive phones and services before committing to a contract. Even if that means trying out several options and paying a little extra, it's the only way you'll know which mobile phone and wireless plan work best for you.