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Ericsson accessories hard to come by

Cost: $130 ($80 with possible $50 mail in rebate)

Nokia 7160

Pros: Infrared (IrDA) for communication with PC

Profiles (different sets of settings easily switchable)

Wireless access to Internet (service at additional cost)

4 games

Cons: Largest phone offered

Sliding number cover flimsy; possible breakage

Cost: $100

Ericsson A1228d

Pros: Easy read menus

Free with contract agreement

Cons: Newer model available (2228-mysteriously not available as of 3/18/01)

Heaviest phone (8 oz) with terrible talk time (digital-105 minutes)

Cost: Free with agreement

Sprint

Note: All sprint phones have Internet access available at an additional cost

Motorola Touchpoint 2100

Pros: Voice activated dialing

Games

Data/Fax capable

Cons: A tad thick/gawky

Built in speakerphone only half duplex (works like a walkie-talkie)

Cost: $150

Sanyo SCP 4500

Pros: Full duplex built in speakerphone

Voice activated dialing

Supports text messages

Cons Phallic in shape

Cost: $180

Samsung SCH 8500

Pros: Small design

Built in Internet minibrowser

Cons: Expensive

Active flip has large connections-very often break or are damaged

Cost: $200

Samsung SCH 3500

Pros: Built in minibrowser

Rated #1 by Consumer Reports, Fall 2000 *see note at end of report*

Cons: Rather low talk time (2.5 hours in digital mode)

Arms that hold earpiece break frequently

Cost: $150

Kyocera QCP 2035

Pros: Two way text messaging

Vibrate alert

Sprints cheapest phone

Cons: Not quite as trendy looking as some of Sprints other options

Cost: $100

Motorola Timeport P8167

Pros: Built in vibrate alert

Great reception, great menu access

Can receive text messages

Cons: All ringer options high pitched and irritating

Very costly

Three-colored screen not available through Sprint (only Verizon)

Cost: $230

Verizon

Nokia 5185i

Pros: Accessories very easy to find-especially faceplates

Tri-mode

Cons: Phone book only holds 99 numbers

Lacks many popular options

Cost: $50

Kyocera QCP 3065

Pros: Built in Palm Pilot w/software

Vibrate alert

Tri-mode

Cons: Large size

Fragile flip cover

Cost: $399

Motorola StarTac 7868

Pros: Small size

Tri-mode

Cons: Weak battery

Lacks many options most phones have standard

Cost: $149

Audiovox CDM 9000

Pros: Data capable

Can receive text messages

Tri-mode

Cons: Weak battery

Phone book only holds 99 entries

Cost: $60

Motorola Vulcan V8160

Pros: Smallest phone available

Web enabled

Cons: Too small for comfortable use

Expensive

Cost: $199

**Also available through Verizon: Kyocera QCP 2035 and the Motorola

Timeport P8767, reviewed through Verizon**

Recommendations

For general and personal use: For the average person’s needs, Verizon and Cingular Wireless make the most sense with their expandable coverage plans and inclusion of free night and weekend calling with all plans 19.99 and up (does not always apply to Verizon). As a college student I find I use 95% of my minutes in the evenings and on the weekends, and my phone is off the majority of the daytime. Unless a more advanced phone is desired, the Ericsson’s and Nokia’s are reasonably priced and come with a wide array of options. Hidden costs are minimal and with three options for coverage, roaming charges can be reduced to a bare minimum. A plan for thirty to forty dollars offers between 200-400 peak minutes, which is often more than enough for general use. Verizon and Cingular offer caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, call forwarding and voice mail, all free of charge.

For business use: Sprint’s nationwide coverage attracts many, while offering the most peak minutes at the lowest rates. Watch for promotions where you can quickly double the minutes of a plan for the original price; they seem to have them every few months. All calls for most of their plans within the continental United States classify as “local calls” as long as you are within their digital coverage while the call is in progress. Features such as caller ID and voicemail are presented as options, but rarely can you get all the options you want without having to pay an additional cost. These “pick and chose” promotions can be misleading, as they have hidden costs. The Samsung SCH 3500 and the Motorola Timeport are great choices, with the Samsung being the most cost-effective of Sprints available phones in that it offers the most options for the lowest cost. While the Timeport is quite expensive, it is the best phone on the market and can act as a modem with the proper cable. This can be quite handy for those who frequently use laptops and need an Internet connection available to them.

Other Options: Some of Sprint’s plans are still month-to-month; this is an asset to those who don’t want to be tied down to a contract. This is a very expensive option but can be cost saving if a phone is only needed for a short period of time. Another cheap alternative to a yearly contract (all starting at 19.99) is prepaid cellular service. Usually the phone is included, and for around sixty cents a minute you can get prepaid communications with a prepackaged phone and calling card. Oftentimes this is a strictly analog phone (less reliable), but can be of

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