Cell Phone Models

Most people in states such as California, New York and New Jersey are aware by now that holding a cell phone to your ear while driving can get them into legal trouble. Drivers in states with limited cell-phone driving restrictions — such as prohibiting teen drivers from using cell phones — may be somewhat aware of the restrictions and accompanying penalties. (If you’re unsure about your state’s laws, view this list of current state-by-state regulations.)

But, if you don’t live in one of the states or cities that have enacted hands-free cell phone driving laws, you probably haven’t given it much thought.

You still drive around care-free chatting away on your cell phone, daring the gods of traffic to send a tree branch in the middle of the road your way. But, if you plan any kind of road travel this summer, you better perk up your ears, put that cell phone down and listen up. (more…)

The 3G iPhone will undoubtedly generate huge sales for Jobs and company. But, how much of that is due to hype? I think most of us know that answer, and most know that BlackBerry users aren’t about to leap into Apple’s bosom.

To help illustrate this point, we’ve compared the new iPhone to a couple of popular cell phones from that other smartphone maker, BlackBerry. Forget the iPhone’s horrific virtual keyboard — you know the one that requires you have elfin fingertips if you want any sort of accuracy. It’s the features and accessibility the iPhone doesn’t have that will keep BlackBerry users coming back for more:

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What’s going to be the next touchscreen phenom? You might think that the 3G iPhone will remain king of the hill, but the mobile gurus at Wirefly have taken Apple’s gadget to the lab and compared it to three other leading touchscreen contenders (HTC Touch, Samsung Glyde, & LG Vu) that offer as much, if not more, than the iPhone: (more…)

Research In Motion (RIM) is launching a new high-end version of the BlackBerry cell phone this summer. The BlackBerry Bold is expected to launch in mid-summer on the AT&T Network 3G (probably late summer on Wirefly; we expect it to cost between $300 and $400. It is aimed at BlackBerry’s core base of business and power users.

From sources all around the web, plus the official press release, here are the key features differentiating the BOLD:

• Superior Performance. Supports tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi. The BlackBerry Bold will come preloaded with 1 GB of memory and will support up to 16 GB in capacity.

• Stunning Display. The screen resolution is twice as vivid as the current Curve 8310 model, making for a very sharp display.

• Rich Multimedia. 2-Megapixel camera with video recording capability media player for watching movies and managing music collections.

• Powerful WiFi & GPS. Integrated GPS, WiFi and a host of multimedia features. Improved rendering capabilities, faster download speeds and ability to support simultaneous voice and data. The BlackBerry Bold smartphone even allows users to navigate while on a call.

• Talk time of 5 hours, with standby of 13 days.

• Black leather back panel that can be swapped for other color leather plates.

Like the Curve and the Pearl, BlackBerry’s consumer-oriented phones, the Bold will likely expand RIM’s user base of 14 million consumers. It’s a beautiful and BOLD cell phone.

Cell phone junkies know all about HTC. The Taiwanese manufacturer makes some of the best and most sought-after smartphones in the world.

But the company that brought us ultra-cool cell phones such as the Sprint HTC Touch and AT&T Tilt has yet to become a household name in the U.S.

Well, we’re pleased to see that HTC is looking to do something about it. The company has released an ad campaign in the United States highlighted by a :30 second TV commercial featuring the company’s flagship HTC Touch:

The Touch, which is available for Sprint and Alltel, has been one of our favorite devices since its debut last year, and will now be available in white as the XV6900 for Verizon Wireless. The phone is absolutely beautiful. More importantly, we like the touch screen interface better than the one on the bulkier Apple iPhone, and the HTC’s data speeds leave the iPhone in the dust.

Those of us in the office who carry HTC phones are now a little conflicted. We’re thrilled to see HTC flex a little marketing muscle, but we’re also a little sad to see our secret get out.

I’ve been in the wireless business since wireless came to the US. I’ve had unlimited opportunities to see all the different manufacturer’s cell phones and the features they offer. As an executive of a wireless retail company, I have access to cellular service from all the major carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, Nextel and Alltel). Not to mention every handset manufacturer (Motorola, LG, Sanyo, Samsung, Blackberry, Sony Ericsson, etc).

I’ve played with and used many cellphones over the years and it may surprise you to know that my device of choice is the Blackberry Curve 8310. Why? Simple…it’s got it all! The Blackberry Curve is my phone, address book, calendar, camera, mp3 player and I can also access my corporate email and the Internet all on one device. Most people don’t use their Blackberry for music - but they should. I added a 4 GB memory card loaded with all my favorite music. The Curve sounds great with my Oakley Bluetooth stereo sunglasses! I’ve lost weight without going on a diet - my pockets and briefcase are no longer stuffed with a separate phone, PDA, camera, iPod and laptop.

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For everyday consumers, many of us are looking for an easy-to-use solution. Our problems may differ – you may need a phone with a long battery life because your business would not exist without your cell phone, you may need the cell phone to text your child to ensure that they arrive home safely, or to get the latest game scores, or you may be a crackberry, like me.

Your cell phone should make your life easier and it should be enjoyable. This is a call to the carriers – companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint - to offer clear documentation, provide preconfigured phones, and include innovative introductions to new adopters. This is a call to the cell phone manufacturers – companies like Motorola, BlackBerry, Palm, Samsung - don’t over-engineer; adopt pragmatic easy-of-use criteria and design the entire experience from the viewpoint of the target users.

Personally, as an avid BlackBerry user and loyal AT&T customer, I find the BlackBerry Curve 8310 meets my personal needs and blackberry makes it exceptionally easy-to-use. BlackBerry even provides an updated newsletter to give me the latest tips and tricks. Ultimately, Mobile cell phones have the promise to be the ultimate utility tool: the cell phone is a utility to make our lives better.