What’s new with cellphones

Are you one of the many who feel like your current cellphone is starting to look like a relic and now tempted to ditch a perfectly working cellphone for one of those new fancy-colored models? For whatever reason, do not feel alone. I have been requested by an abundant number of readers to provide them my opinion on the current selection of new cellphone models, and if they should make that purchase.

Buying a cellphone is more of a personal experience. With the multitude of cellphones available these days, it is important that you carefully consider your needs, budget and lifestyle. After some research which you should definitely undertake via interviewing friends, checking cellphone shops or looking at the products’ websites, you will also find that no one cellphone contains all the possible features. As such, you would have to make a prudent choice of a cellphone based on your real requirements. Let’s say that your primary usage and habit is sending 300 text messages daily, you would then have to zero in on a cellphone model that is mid-sized, at least installed with a four-line screen and comes with soft keypads for effortless thumbing. This would then eliminate those mini-cellphone models that require you to use your nails to press its keypads. Truthfully, I would never spend too much money on a cellphone. Why? This is a fragile electronic device that you carry everyday with you, making it susceptible to every element such as rain, shock, theft and a lot more. How long do you think it can really live through all that risks? Not only that, technology and cellphone fashion is evolving so fast that your precious new phone model may become the butt of everyone’s jokes only after a year! As such, just budget a modest amount of money within your means and go for a model that would provide you the best value for your hard-earned peso. Your personal lifestyle is also another important factor. I mean it would be quite impractical for you to purchase an expensive Nokia 8855 alloy-encased executive cellphone if you are a dive instructor who spends most of the week on the beach. Allow yourself to consider these key determinants and draw a list of possible cellphone candidates based on your research.

What cellphone model would I recommend? I am too much of a practical fellow. As such, I tend to shy away from first generation products as they always surely carry some bugs with them. I have been using a Nokia 6210 now for over a year and it has served me very well. In fact, because of its abundant memory, battery capacity, perfect size and form, wireless support and more, I believe that this is the best value cellphone in the market today. Of course, it is not a new model, but a tried-and-tested reliable model. I tend to stay away from phones that brag about MMS and GPRS capabilities. These services, though very innovative and claim to allow you the fun of multimedia messaging and the mobile Internet, are still in their infancy stage. The current content is very limited; carrier networks are still very immature and cellphone units still carry inherent problems. As such, why risk and pay the premium for functions that you will not use and which may serve to leave your phone going back to its manufacturer for repair? Among the new phone models, I have seen some interesting ones but I have not actually gotten much actual user experience. That is except for the Nokia 8310, which most of my friends have complained about having numerous bugs, ranging from hanging to outright failure. I have come to like the Nokia 5210 for its reasonable price, sports functions and design and functions which are reminiscent of older models which are tried and tested, thus more reliable. Another interesting Nokia model is the 6510. This is actually my favorite of the new models. It has great memory capacity that is enough for 500 names, 150 text messages, a voice recorder, text alerts, various wireless supports and even an FM radio! The fanciest cellphone model I have seen is the Sony-Ericsson T-68i. It’s the first colored cellphone with a 256 color graphic display. It allows you all basic cell functions and more like any digitized photo as a colored wallpaper, profiling a number with a digital picture, typing a text message of 1,530 characters, voice control, mobile Internet, MMS, digital onscreen notes and more! My friend’s unit must be very durable, it actually survived a dunk in the water closet. All these functions sound truly appetizing, but really, just buy models in which you can imagine using these new fancy functions. Keep in mind that you’re paying for all the extra frills. Bon appetit!

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I recently came across this really interesting SMS-based wireless service called FEMME. This application was developed to remind women of their fertility or days when they are ovulating and sex can lead to pregnancy. FEMME can work in two ways. First, it can be used by women who want to get pregnant – it will also send them a text to remind them of their fertile days so they know exactly when they can try to conceive. And second, it can also be used as a natural method of contraception (based on the rhythm or calendar method). Check it out now and send "FEMME" to access code 488 from your Smart or Talk ’N Text mobile phone.

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Patrick R. Garcia is managing director of Bidshot Wireless Services. For comments or suggestions, text your message to 233011 (Globe) or 243011 (Smart) or e-mail [email protected].