Reader's question:
I'm currently looking to replace my old Motorola cell phone. What phones will provide good battery life, talk time and phone quality that I can easily text with? It should preferably also be Mac compatible, though I'm not looking for high-end multimedia features like the Apple iPhone is offering. Christina
Editor's answer:
First of all, Apple provides an overview of Mac compatible phones here, as well as an overview of third-party iSync plugins here. A small application called BitPim should also solve Mac compatibility issues with CDMA phones from carriers like Verizon Wireless, Sprint and others. In addition, there are a few other tricks to get your cell phone Mac compatible, but they are on the upper end of the DIY scale.
Then, let's move on to the phones themselves. You should consider buying a messaging phone with QWERTY thumbboard or a standard multimedia phone with a numeric keypad. Several new phones we've tested in these categories have impressed when it comes to the features you're asking for.
The best choice for you in the QWERTY messaging phone category would be the Palm Centro, LG enV2 or T-Mobile Sidekick 2008. Check out a comparison of these phones here. It's worth noting that the Palm Centro is available in four slightly different models.
In the standard multimedia phone category, you should consider Sprint's brand new Motorola RAZR VE20 and Sany Katana Eclipse. Check out a comparison of them here. On the other large networks, you should consider the LG Chocolate 3, Nokia 5310, Nokia 5610 and the Motorola Z9. Check out a comparison of them here.
That said, you mentioned the Helio Ocean two-way slider with both numeric and QWERTY keypads in your e-mail to us. Right now, Virgin Mobile is in the process of acquiring Helio, so it's worth noting that you will eventually end up as a Virgin Mobile customer if you buy a Helio phone now. Word on the street also has it that there's a Helio Ocean 2 phone coming soon.
Pantech, which manufactures the Helio Ocean, also offers the Pantech Duo two-way slider on AT&T. The Duo is a Windows Mobile Standard phone, and like the Helio Ocean, a Pantech Duo 2 could be released soon.
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