Shop Smartphones for the Holidays

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

More Info on the myTouch 3G

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

More Info on the Motorola CLIQ

 

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