Smartphone choices
Let’s talk about the real biggies now – big designs, boatload of features and high on prices too! No, smart phones are not business phones, strictly speaking; they are just smart with far too many cool features to just have the business tag attached. Multimedia offerings (even a Blackberry - the Pearl- known for its business features offers camera features, office functionalities beginning with a smart OS (smartphone edition), connectivity functions such as e-mail, text messaging, web access; PDA features, GPS addition – combine to make a smartphone smart. The most important criteria, I would say is its multi-tasking environment similar to that of a computer; easy switching without the need to close one application to access another. Also, the availability of software to perform specific tasks makes smartphones all the more popular.

The undoubted leader in the smartphone segment is Nokia with Blackberry chugging behind to carve a niche for itself. Powered by Symbian OS, the Nokia Series 60 platform phones - N-series as well as E-series are known to be reliable picks. While the N-series focuses on multimedia, the E-series has been particularly known to push e-mail browsing; these are also reputed for their internal memory, faster processor speed and large screen size, enabling better display while browsing. The E61i, E62, the E90 are some of the hits in the E squad.

Gamers too need to look out for the latest N-series phones as these phones are N-Gage compatible devices offering loads of game titles to choose from.

Now, let’s touch upon the touchscreens! Clearly, the biggest hit in 2007, touchscreen phones are becoming a hot favourite amongst smartphone users. These phones run on the Symbian UIQ platform that allows interactivity with the phone through touch. If you are not a Symbian fan, you could check out the Windows mobile-based smartphones. The phones in this category offer QWERTY keyboards and large touchscreens apart from other features. Windows mobile offers a computing environment similar to that of its desktop counterpart, on these phones – that explains why these phones are biggish and more expensive than their counterparts. The HTC Touch was the most talked about touchscreen phone of the year while Palm got some rave reviews too for its high-priced Treo 750.

Other touchscreen phones here

Having talked a great deal about smartphones, I would like to say, while it feels good to tote a smartphone – flaunt its GPS or blab about the feature blahs blahs, your decision should be based on your needs. Smart devices may not always be smart choices – but right picks are always smart picks.

Also read Face-Off: E90 vs P1i smartphones