Cell phone brands

Apple

Though a newcomer to wireless handsets, Apple jolted the telecom world in 2007 with its revolutionary iPhone, an AT&T exclusive, which provides superb ease of use via a large, highly interactive multitouch screen, and a customizable icon-driven interface. It also has robust multimedia capabilities, including one of the best music players we've seen in a phone. Its e-mail application is among the easiest to set up. The third-generation iPhone is a better performer than previous models, adds a higher megapixel camera that can record video, voice control, and support for advanced GPS navigation applications.

HTC

Taiwan-based HTC, which started out manufacturing Pocket PC PDAs, has moved aggressively into the smart-phone arena with its Touch series, Shadow, and Dash. These phones are known for their relatively large displays and QWERTY keyboards. They run on the Windows Mobile operating system, which makes navigation intuitive to Windows PC users. HTC also introduced the first phones to run on the Android operating system: the myTouch 3G and G1 "Google" phones. The company might not be as well known as other brands because many of its products have been branded under the T-Mobile name.

LG

Considered a leader among cell phone brands, LG has introduced such popular handset lines such as the Chocolate, and EnV, and other models geared toward music aficionados and heavy texters. Its lineup ranges from basic models to those with full QWERTY keyboards and large touch-sensitive screens that adroitly integrate solid phone features and robust multimedia, including live TV service and messaging applications. LG’s Prada, which debuted in Europe in 2006, holds the title of the phone with the world’s first complete touch-screen interface. The company was also among the first to add QWERTY keyboards to conventional cell phones. Its brand is well-represented among major carriers.

Motorola

Motorola is an industry trendsetter, introducing the now iconic clamshell phone design back in 1996, when it introduced the StarTac line. Other well-known lines include the music-centric ROKR, and fashionable RIZR and RAZR designs. Motorola also offers some noteworthy smart phones. The Motorola brand is well represented among major carriers. Motorola has a large selection of phones that run on Sprint Nextel's push-to-talk service, which is very popular with business users.

Nokia

Though Nokia is the world's leading handset maker, its phones are not as widely available through U.S. carriers, from whom most U.S. consumers buy their phones. Nevertheless, Nokia offers a solid lineup of phones for AT&T and T-Mobile users. And the company also offers a broad lineup of smart phones, many of which are sold unlocked, including the N and E series, which feature relatively high-megapixel cameras, and other fine features and capabilities.

Palm

This smart-phone manufacturer, which once was the market leader, has lost ground to more enticing offerings from Apple, RIM, and Microsoft. But the company has recently ditched its aging Palm operating system for webOS, which powers the Pre and future models. Like its predecessor, webOS has a user-friendly touch-screen interface that provides relatively easy access to its many features and applications. But it also enables multiple apps to run concurrently, links their functions more intuitively, and adds more-advanced Web, multimedia, messaging, and search tools.

Pantech

This relative newcomer to the U.S is Korea's leading handset manufacturer, known for its tiny clamshell handsets that made their debut in the U.S. years ago. Pantech has since introduced a handful of other models, including compact smart phones with an innovative dual-slider design that provides the user with a separate keyboard or keypad as needed. Pantech smart phones typically run on the Windows Mobile operating system, which is similar to Windows and makes navigation intuitive to PC users. Pantech's Breeze phone, which has large-numbered buttons, is geared toward people who need a phone that is simple to use.

Research in Motion (RIM)

The company's trademark BlackBerry smart phones are well-entrenched in the business world. They boast one of the best operating systems for e-mail, which is also among the easiest to set up—especially on T-Mobile. Push capability automatically sends e-mails to the phone so that you don't have to check it manually. Most models have easy trackball navigation, but lack touch-screen support. And on many of those models, you can't create and edit Office documents such as Word and Excel. But RIM has begun targeting consumers with smart phones equipped with Wi-Fi, touch screens, and Office-document editing.

Samsung

This cell phone brand is well known for its innovative designs. Samsung has one the largest lineups of phones catering to music aficionados and heavy texters. Its phones are widely available from most major carriers. The company was among the first to add QWERTY keyboards to regular cell phones, and even developed a phone for people who need large buttons that are easy to see and master. Some Samsung phones use touch screens to adroitly integrate solid phone features with robust multimedia, including live TV service and messaging applications. Samsung smart phones are popular with business users. They run on the Windows Mobile operating system, which is similar to Windows and makes navigation intuitive to PC users.

Sanyo

This phone maker has a relatively small product line, including fashion-focused models, which it markets exclusively though one carrier: Sprint Nextel. Offerings mostly fall under entry-level and mid-level market.

Sony Ericsson

This joint venture between the Japanese Sony Corporation and Sweden's Ericsson offers a wide range of handsets, from low-end budget models to multimedia powerhouses. Its product line includes the music-centric Walkmans and the camera-focused Cyber-Shots.

See also:

Bluetooth headsets

Cordless phones

GPS Navigation Systems

Cell phone service