There are so many choices in cell phones today that making a decision about which is going to fit your lifestyle can be a daunting task. What you want and need in a phone is often totally different from what your best friend, spouse or coworker desires. Take, for example, the Samsung Classico S7350 and the LG Arena KM900. These are just 2 of the more popular models available today.



When functioning strictly as a phone, they are practically indistinguishable. Both are quad band, GSM and HSDPA compliant. The factory installed battery on each supplies nearly 4 hours of talk time before needing to be recharged.

The next most important feature to the average consumer is the camera. With built in LED flash, auto-focus and 5 mega pixels, there is nothing to make one more desirable than the other.

The entertainment capabilities are the first place these phones start to assert their uniqueness. Both are can play downloadable Java games. Both have built in FM stereo and MP3 players. Only the Arena has an audio output jack. If you want privacy while listening to music or watching videos, your only option is to use a Bluetooth device with the Classico. The supported video formats can also carry some weight in your decision. Both support the standard DivX, XviD and MPEG4 formats. But only the Samsung Classico S7350 allows you to enjoy H.263, H.264 and WMV9 formated clips on your phone.

If messaging and emailing from your phone are daily rituals you perform, you can't go wrong with these 2 models. They are identical in capability when messaging. Push e-mail ensures you will get that key memo as soon as it is sent. MMS and predictive text will help you stay in touch with friends and family.

The traveler will have some interest in the connectivity supported by each phone. And this can be a critical set of features. With A-GPS support, you won't get lost while carrying either of these cell phones. Both can support Bluetooth and USB connections. Getting on a GPRS and HSDPA network no challenge for either phone. 3G, however, is only supported by the LG Arena KM900. It is also the only phone capable of establishing Wi-Fi connections.

In today's high tech society, the memory capablity of a cell phone is gaining increasing importance. If memory is important to you, you may find yourself leaning toward the Arena. While both have a Micro SD slot, the 8GB internal memory of the Arena dwarfs the 90MB installed on the Classico.

The final area worthy of examination is the interface itself. The Samsung Classico S7350 is your classic slider phone. Push the screen up to reveal the classic buttons necessary to make a phone call or send a text message. The LG Arena KM900, on the other hand, takes full advantage of touch screen technology. Using icons and list menus, the navigation is fairly intuitive. Everything you need is right on the screen.