Cell Phone Chatter: The Top-Selling Phones of 2006

I like tech products, but have to admit that the whole world of shopping for cell phones is totally baffling to me. So many products, plans, providers, etc.--it's no wonder some people go into a store and buy pretty much the first plan that fits their budget, to avoid hearing the confusing details on a zillion different options.

For me, the process of choosing the right wireless plan starts with the phone. That's the product that I'm going to be carrying with me; using it to enter numbers, store contacts, call people, etc., so it's got to be convenient, easy to use, and something I can be comfortable using every day.

Just choosing the right phone can be a mind-boggling task in itself, but fortunately you can draw on the experiences of other people as a guide. A company called Wirefly, which helps people compare and shop for wireless phones and plans, just released its guide to the most popular cell phones of 2006. Better yet, it doesn't just list model names, such as the Motorola RAZR; it tells you which phone and provider combination was most popular. This is extremely helpful, since the same phone can be used with several different networks, and having a top-rated phone on a network that isn't right for your usage patterns or geographical area won't be a good match.

With phone-number portability, folks are no longer stuck with bad phones or carriers for years simply because they want to keep the same phone number. People are changing phones and plans more than ever, so the phones that show up at the top of this list are ones that the most folks have chosen to plunk down their hard-earned money for.

So if you've got your eye on the Motorola v220, for example, and want to find out how it compares to other cell phones that work on the Cingular network, this site will tell you.

Cell phone buyers have more choices than ever before, and this site gives you the information you need to narrow down the options and pick the best phone and plans for your specific needs.