The perfect cellphone

Buying that perfect cellphone has become a tightrope between watching your bank balance, looking for the right features you want and making sure you aren't sporting the same model as your panwalla.

The fact hat there are so many options to pick from, doesn't help matters. Some harp on the music while others tempt you with the slimness and finesse of their ware. So if you have been tearing your hair out over question like ‘should I buy a fashionable number thinner than a supermodel is dancing to?' here are a few pointers that could help you in your quest for that perfect talk-mate:

The basics: With cellphone companies clamouring to squeeze in innumerable features and functions into tiny handsets sometimes the most critical functions of the phone tend to suffer, so here is a checklist of a few ‘must-haves' to look for:

First off, check for a good voice quality, because what use is a great phone, if you can't hear callers when driving down a highway? Go for a phone with simple navigation interface. Any phone that requires over three menu selections just to type an SMS is a goner straight off!

Another factor of critical importance is the battery life. Get one with a battery that will last longer than a few days. Here, ignore the ‘stand-by' battery life; instead look for one that gives a good battery life during normal day-to-day use.

Bluetooth is a must. Bluetooth lets you connect with any (Bluetooth enabled) phone in the vicinity and transfer data such as ringtones, pictures or even SMS for free. While on the topic of connectivity, look for a phone that comes with EDGE or 3G technology. These simply mean that while accessing the internet via your phone the data will be sent faster, and you will be able to browse websites quicker.

Design factor: Look and feel is probably one of the most important deciding factors while buying a phone. Each design factor has its unique characteristics, so you'll want to think carefully about which is best for you. For instance, flip phones are useful if you frequently keep your mobile in a pocket when on the go, simply because shape prevents accidental dialling. The coolest-looking flip handsets today are also the skinniest; a couple of models to start with would be Motorola's Razr V3i and Samsung's MM-A900.

On the other hand, candy bar-style phones can be sturdier and, for many users, easier to use. For candy bar style, you could look at Sony Ericsson W-series phones such as W810 or Samsung's slim ultra edition series.

Lastly, slider models can provide the best of both worlds. Many people find the sliding action pleasing—if you are one of them, Nokia's 5300 Xpress phones are worth a look. And yes, no matter what you pick, before making your decision be sure to hold the mobile in your hand and next to your ear to see how comfortable it is.

Feature check: If you thought picking a design was hard, choosing the right feature set isn't any easier. As a thumb rule, you shouldn't buy anything more than you need, so don't let any sales pitch bulldoze you into buying an expensive handset full of unwanted features.

If you want a handset just to make calls, stick with something simple. Nokia 6030 and Samsung X210 could be good options here.

Alternatively, if you'd like entertainment options on your handset, look for a phone with a good inbuilt camera, an MP3 player and streaming video quality. Thanks to the popularity of iPods there is a slew of music phones in the markets, nearly all the models today can play music. But a few of them—such as Sony Ericsson's walkman series and Motorola's Slvr L7—are better equipped to do so than the others.

For camera phones a 2 megapixel would be the only option to look at. The ones with a lower resolution or VGA versions are a complete no-no. The ones with good camera reviews are Sony's K 790i and Nokia's N-series phones.

Finally, if you're going to use your mobile for email or organisational tasks,it is best to go with a higher-range model or smart phone or even a PDA. Blackberry's Pearl or Samsung's Blackjack could be worth a look.