Smart Phone Reviews and Buying Guide:

We have been waiting years for a small device that you can carry in your hand and access the Internet, make phone calls, take digital photos, and play music. The latest phones from Apple, Nokia and LG all have capabilities that we mention above, but some function better than others. The marketing blitz that promoted the Apple iPhone was perhaps more hype than anything, but there is no mistaking that the iPhone has revolutionized how consumers look at cell phones and what they should encompass. The iPod took music playing to a whole new level and Apple followed up that success with the iPhone which should continue to sell well now that Steve Jobs has lowered the price a bit to roughly $400. Other cell phone manufacturers have seen the interest that the iPhone has produced and they too realize high priced phones can sell if they have the necessary features that the consumer or business person is looking for.

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The Blackberry device is very popular amongst the business crowd as they can access their corporate email accounts which is something the iPhone lacks. Nevertheless, there are millions of people who want the iPhone because of its large, clear screen and Internet capability. The music and cell phone are well received, but Internet access in the palm of your hand is priceless. The one complaint on the iPhone and its ability to access the web is that the network it uses to get on the Internet can be slow. Once AT&T and Apple improve upon that I think millions more would buy one. Nokia is a veteran cell phone manufacturer and their N95 is an eye catching smart phone that costs closer to $750 but the digital camera on this model is 5 megapixels and takes great photos. The one issue that I have as a consumer is that these phones have perhaps too many features and the price reflects that. If I already own an iPod Nano and have my music capability taken care of, I am essentially forced to buy another music player in the iPhone. Much of the $399 I'm not sure I would need right now. Eventually when my Nano becomes obsolete then the iPhone would take over its duties. You really have to be a gadget geek to buy one of these devices because right now they are ahead of the curve in terms of technology and overall use. In a few years almost all cell phones will be capable of doing the things these phones do and they will be much cheaper as well. Experts say that the cell phone reception on these phones is not that impressive and it's a little ironic since these are touted as the latest cell phones. Having used an iPhone a few times I must say that even if it wasn't a cell phone I would still purchase it for Internet access and email capability through Yahoo and Google email accounts. Consumer Reports just recently did a writeup on "fun" smart phones and they compared the Apple iPhone, Nokia N95, and LG Prada KE850. We have included some specs on each phone below with restrictions and capabilities.

Apple iPhone:

Let's start with the most popular of these phones, the iPhone. The biggest drawback to this cell phone is that it is only compatible with the AT&T wireless network for phone calls. You need to have a 2 year contract in order to activate the phone. Rate plans start at $59.99/month and go up to $219.99/month depending on minutes you need. The 3 1/2 inch screen is what makes this phone so appealing to those wanting to surf the Internet. The touch screen is incredible and it's quite easy to navigate through webpages or photos with the simple swipe of your finger on the screen. The 8GB flash drive for memory will hold all your music, photos, or videos. The 2.0 megapixel camera is not worth using if you plan on printing out the photos. The wireless data is run on the AT&T Edge network or a Wi-Fi network if you are at a place like Starbucks. People have said using the EDGE network is very slow and tedious. The GSM phone makes all your cell phone calls with ease and you can input your favorite ringtones if you wish. The built-in recharageable lithium ion battery will give you talk time of up to 8 hours and 6 hours on the Net before it needs to be charged back up again. I was amazed at how clear the video playback was on the screen. A friend of mine had an old Three's Company episode and I must say it wasn't that bad watching it on a small screen. Receiving email is also pretty seamless on the phone for those that use Google or Yahoo. Corporate users have been reluctant to get this phone due to it's inability to work with corporate email accounts. Still the best choice for a single multimedia device you can carry in your hand. You can view full details and photos online for the iPhone HERE

Nokia N95:

Nokia has been a major player in cell phone technology and they continue to push the envelope with some of their phones. The Nokia N95 sells for roughly $750 and comes unlocked which means it can work on any wireless network that you go with, unlike the iPhone which functions only the AT&T network. Reviews say the voice quality is just "ok" on the phone but they say the 5 megapixel digital camera is one of the best on the market within a cell phone. The N95 has Wi-Fi for Internet access, is capable of having a GPS navigation system, and allows you to get great video footage that can be played back on a TV. The screen is just 2.6 inches and the lack of a QWERTY keyboard makes typing tough. For the price, it's hard to recommend this phone unless it comes down to compete with the iPhone on features. You can check it out online HERE.

LG Prada KE850:

This phone for $550 is not even close to the iPhone with the touch screen capabilities. The music player is ok but the inability to be able to search by artist or album is really frustrating. Also, the phone limits email messages to be just 300KB in size. The big plus is the 3 inch screen size and the phone supports Bluetooth stereo headsets. The 2 megapixel camera, like the one on the iPhone is not good enough to consider your digital camera source. I would have to think that since the iPhone has come down in price that this Prada branded phone will only be bought by the rich and famous like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears who want it to match their purse or shoes. You can find more details online for the KE850 HERE..

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