Saved by the Bell: A Guide to Student Phones
A back to school guide on phones perfect for students.
Aug. 1, 2007 — -- Most students don't want to hear the words " back to school."
One thing young scholars can take solace in is the new gear that comes with back-to-school shopping time. With notebooks, textbooks and backpacks taking care of the academic part of school, students still need the socializing supplies -- the cell phone.
Here are a few of the latest phones that stand the test of the academic lifestyle, all the while keeping parents' pocketbooks intact:
Provider: T-Mobile
Price: $200
The Sidekick franchise has been popularized by actors and athletes lugging around their "hiptops" in the public eye, and sales have been strong as a result. The third installment features a full keyboard to text, e-mail and IM to your heart's content. The Sidekick 3 also comes with a 1+ megapixel camera and MP3 support. Also, 1,000 minutes of monthly talk time costs around $40 in addition to another $30 for the unlimited sidekick data and messaging young people can't seem to live without.
Provider: Verizon
Price: $150
Verizon's answer to the Sidekick, the LG enV also includes a full keyboard for the text inclined. The enV also features a high-resolution, 2 megapixel camera, which may come in handy for nights on the town. The phone does support VCast, Verizon's streaming music and video service, so you can pump the tunes or watch a clip of your favorite show through the enV's stereo speakers. With Verizon's America's Choice plan, you can get 450 minutes and unlimited texting to anyone for $60 a month.
Provider: Sprint
Price: $100
For the music aficionado, there is the Upstage by Samsung. The Upstage provides a special flip-over design in which one side lets users chat, text, snap photos and watch videos. On the flip side, the phone doubles as an iPod nano-esque MP3 player that lets you wirelessly download songs for 99 cents a pop. The MP3 player also supports Bluetooth headsets, so college students can take it anywhere, including the gym to work off the "freshman 15." For $40 a month, users can get 450 minutes, including unlimited night and weekend calling; unlimited texting is $10 more. For an extra 15 bucks, users can get music, TV and streaming Sirius satellite radio.
