The best show in the history of CTIA has come to an end, but among the load of new all-touch, QWERTY and multimedia phones, what should you really pay attention to?
In recent years, the hottest phones on display at CTIA in Las Vegas have rarely been U.S.-targeted, but we knew that this year's show would be totally different. The American cell phone market is currently about to become more vibrant and volatile, both in terms of network models and cell phone models. The risks at stake for industry players are obviously higher than ever, but so are the development pace and the willingness of trying new cell phone interfaces and technologies. For consumers, this will mean a whole new world in terms of choices in the years to come, and we choose to look at this year's CTIA as the beginning of a new wireless era in the U.S. For the first time in history, we can also present a 10 hottest phones list from CTIA, consisting exclusively of U.S.-targeted cell phones and smartphones. If you are looking for even more exclusive in-depth content from CTIA, make sure to check out our full coverage (not yet completed), or tune in to CTIA 2008 Live on infoSync TV.
CTIA Wireless 2008 Hottest Cell Phones
1. Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 - Anticipation: Extreme
 The second time we've seen the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1, this was the first time we were allowed to play with it a bit and touch the screen. The panels software is still in serious beta, but it has some nice potential. Basically, the panels are customizable Today screens that can act as general information displays, specific apps and programs, or portals to the internet...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current Sony Ericsson phones
» Compare new and current business smartphones
2. Samsung Instinct - Anticipation: Palpable
 The Samsung Instinct is a surprising phone in many ways. It is surprising how similar the interface is to the iPhone. Don't think clone, it's more like a fraternal twin. It has its own visual flourishes and subtleties, and the overall effect was very smooth. The phone is still in beta, but many of the interface design features, like skimming through lists, worked nicely, better than we've seen on any non-Apple device so far...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current Samsung phones
» Compare new and current all-touch phones
3. LG Vu - Anticipation: Moderate
 The LG Vu is a nice, polished phone that does a fine job handling AT&T's new Mobile TV network. The interface isn't perfect, far from it, but compared to other multimedia phones on AT&T's network, with one notable exception, it is the most fun of the bunch. Best of all, AT&T's mobile TV network looks great on this phone, from the video playback to the onscreen program guide...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current LG phones
» Compare new and current AT&T phones
4. BlackJack 2 with Windows Mobile 6.1 - Anticipation: Moderate
 There are a few nice tricks up Windows Mobile 6.1's sleeve, but mostly you'll just be stearing at the frilly, new shirt. The today screen gets some spit and polish, with some organizational help as well. What impressed us the most, though, was how snappy the OS seemed running on a Samsung BlackJack 2. The graphical interface seemed much more responsive...
» Full verdict and Gallery
» Compare new and current Windows Mobile smartphones
» Compare new and current budget smartphones
5. LG enV2 - Anticipation: Moderate
 The original enV frustrated us with its stodgy, Verizon Wireless interface and tiny twin screens. So we were happy to find the enV2 included not only a larger internal screen, ditching the large external screen for a smaller window. It also features an improved interface, which brings some of the key features of the device to the forefront...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current Verizon Wireless phones
» Compare new and current consumer QWERTY phones
6. Motorola Z9 - Anticipation: Moderate
 Motorola has a lot to learn when it comes to multimedia slider phones, but they definitely have the market cornered when it comes to polished metal and shiny, fingerprint prone surfaces. So, the Z9 isn't the slimmest slider we've seen, and it isn't very small, but it does look nice, even though it picked up our prints like a CSI team. The phone has some nice features, including GPS for navigation using AT&T's upcoming AT&T Navigation service...
» Full verdict, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current Motorola phones
» Compare new and current multimedia slider phones
7. Samsung Access - Anticipation: Moderate
 The Samsung Access is much better looking in person than it is in pictures, but it still isn't an especially attractive phone. What it lacks in looks it makes up for with AT&T's Mobile TV service, which looks great on this boob tube device. The onscreen guide was helpful and modern looking, and reception was especially clear, though the signal was admittedly getting a boost from local sources at CTIA 2008...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current MediaFLO phones
» Compare new and current multimedia candybar phones
8. Motorola V950 - Anticipation: Slight
 Just when you thought Motorola didn't have a single RAZR left in them, here comes the Motorola V950. It's the most rugged RAZR yet, meaning it's also the largest, which would kind of defeat the purpose of the RAZR, until you realize that this is also a Nextel Direct Connect phone. Not the old iDen sort of Nextel phone, this is a CDMA Nextel phone...
» Full verdict, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current rugged phones
9. Samsung Alias - Anticipation: Slight
 The Samsung Alias is really a minor update to the SCH-U740. In fact, the biggest change might just be the name. The phone gets a new paint job, now in a grey-silver exterior. The keys are painted better, so they are a bit easier to read. There might be another millimeter's worth of room around the keyboard...
» Full verdict, Video, Gallery and Specifications
10. RIM BlackBerry Curve (Sprint) - Anticipation: Slight
_it00.jpg) There isn't much surprise in seeing a BlackBerry Curve on Sprint, but that doesn't mean it isn't a welcome addition, especially the BlackBerry 8330 Curve, which packs GPS for Sprint Navigation. Additionally, Sprint has loaded the phone with Sprint TV and Sprint Music, instead of just relying on the standard BlackBerry stack...
» Full verdict, Gallery and Specifications
» Compare new and current BlackBerry phones
» Compare new and current Sprint phones
Runner-up: Alltel's LG Glimmer - Anticipation: Slight
 We would probably be more excited about this phone if it wasn't an Alltel exclusive. Unfortunately, the plucky little carrier doesn't cover our testing grounds in the Northeast, but that doesn't make us curious about this LG Shine with a touchscreen. The interface is similar to what LG has done on the AT&T Vu, which is a good thing, because it features loads of colorful icons and an easy to navigate tabbed browsing system...
» Full verdict, Gallery and Specifications
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