I'm addicted to my smartphone, but hey, I'm a huge geek. I feel pretty strongly, though, that it's starting to get to the point where even your average tech-fearing Luddite will be avoiding the dumbphones this year. They're so cheap these days, and their feature sets are too powerful to ignore. That being said, though, which do you pick? How on earth do you decide between Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and other OS's? Here's a "quick and dirty overview" of a few of each major network's most buzz-worthy handsets.
Verizon Wireless
DROID by Motorola
Features:
- Runs Android 2.0
- 5 MP Camera
- World's thinnest QWERTY sliding keyboard
- Visual Voicemail
- Full suite of Google Apps
- Downloadable apps via the Android Market
- Excellent touch screen with impressive 480x854 resolution
- Built-in navigation with Google Maps
- Multitasking capability
Cost: $199.99 w/ new 2 year contract
More Information on the Motorola DROID
HTC Touch Diamond
Features:
- Runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
- TouchFLO 3D OS overlay for easy navigation
- MS Office and Opera Mobile browser
- LCD Touchscreen and QWERTY keyboard
Cost: $99.99 w/ new 2 year contract
More Information on the HTC Touch Diamond
Sprint
Palm Pre
Features:
- Runs Palm WebOS
- 3.1" capacitive touchscreen
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- Multitasking capability
- Integrate chat and contacts with Palm Synergy
Cost: $149.99 w/ 2 year contract
More Information on the Palm Pre
HTC Hero
Features:
- Powered by Android OS
- Visual voicemail
- Trackball navigation
- Integrated social networking features
- 5.0MP camera
- Android Market
Cost: $179.99 w/ new 2 year contract
More Information on the HTC Hero
AT&T
Apple iPhone 3GS
Features:
- Thousands and thousands of apps in the App Store
- Can record video
- Best capacitive touchscreen of any smartphone so far
- Visual voicemail
- integrated iPod
- 16GB or 32GB options
Cost: $199.99 w/ new 2 year contract
More Information on the Apple iPhone 3GS
BlackBerry Bold 9700
Features:
- BlackBerry OS with BlackBerry Push functionality
- 3.2 MP camera
- Full HTML browser
- 480x360 screen
- Use voice and data simultaneously
Cost: $199.99 after mail-in rebate, new 2 year contract required
More Information on the BlackBerry Bold 9700
HTC Tilt2
Features:
- 480x800 3.6" touchscreen
- 3.2MP camera
- Unique QWERTY slide out keyboard with tilt feature
- MS Windows 6.5 Mobile Professional
- Innovative speakerphone
Cost: $299.99 w/ new 2 year contract
More Information on the HTC Tilt2
T-Mobile
HTC myTouch 3G
Features:
- Google Android OS
- 480x320 touchscreen
- Trackball navigation
- Optimized battery
- Personalized shells and designs
Cost: $149.99 w/ new 2 year contract
Motorola CLIQ
Features:
- Google Android OS
- MOTOBLUR OS overlay w/ social networking features
- 5 MP camera
- Full HTML browser
- Visual voicemail
- Sliding QWERTY keyboard
Cost: $199.99 w/ new 2 year agreement