There are a host of phones that would make great holiday gifts.  Besides the iPhone 3GS, I recommend the Blackberry Curve 8520 in White, which is a nice basic smartphone option, abet without all the bells and whistles of a 3G phone.  The screen is not touch but you don’t really miss it much.  And the addition of a trackpad, as opposed to the ball used on earlier models, is a much-needed improvement.  Other key features include: dedicated media keys, video recording, wireless e-mail, a media player for music and video, and corporate data access.  I love that the phone is so lightweight and it connects speedily to the network.  The only drawback to this phone is that the camera is a scant 2.0 in megapixels, so you won’t really be counting on it for any great party shots.  Coupled with the new T-Mobile Complete plan, the Curve 8520 is the first time that consumers have an affordable Blackberry option.  T-Mobile Complete is a prepackaged, no-annual contract plan that allows the benefits of a monthly pay-as-you-go plan without those awful ugly phones that usually scream pay-as-you-go!  And best yet, the first month of service is free!  For perfect holiday gifts, check out the T-Mobile Complete kits nationwide at Best Buy and Walmart.

For a more advanced option, try the new Blackberry 9700. The first model with 3G smartphone technology and WiFi calling capabilities, this is the most advanced Blackberry available.  The 9700 features include:  a 624mz processor, worldwide support on 3G network, the same innovative trackpad as the 8520, a full-QWERTY keyboard wireless e-mail, a built in GPS, and a video and music player.  Although I wish they had gone to 5.0 megapixels, this camera feature is a vast improvement over the 8520, at 3.2 megapixel with autofocus, flash, and support for microSD cards up to 32G.  The T-Mobile version will also have something called quad band radios, a feature which, I will admit to, not fully understanding the purpose of.

While T-Mobile was the first to launch both the Curve 8520 and the Bold 9700 Blackberrys, you can now also get them at AT&T.  But personally, I prefer T-Mobile as the plans are far more reasonable.  AT&T seems to still be in the stone ages in terms of packages.  I mean honestly, who in this economy wants to be stuck in lengthy contracts and paying upwards of $150 dollars per month on cell phone charges for unlimited calls, messaging, and webs?  T-Mobile offers both affordability and mobility.