Gabbing on the Go--in Style

It'

s amazing what today's cell phones can do on a digital network. Their latest trick: accessing the Web to check the weather, look up a stock price or find out if the Rangers won. They can also read e-mail, send a short text message, keep a calendar and respond to voice commands. But the one thing they can't do is offer reliable service. Is it any wonder that a majority of mobile phone users have stuck with old-style, no-frills analog service? Analog is more expensive, but it's everywhere, while digital networks still suffer from spotty coverage, even in big markets like New York. What good is that calculator or that call-waiting feature if you can't make a call? To be sure, digital carriers are racing to fill their coverage holes, pumping billions into upgrades, and service will steadily improve. In the meantime, go digital with care.

--TIPS: WATCH WHERE YOU ROAM
STREET CRED A national network (AT&T, Sprint PCS) is not always the best choice. Some local and regional carriers have attractive roaming deals. Pick whoever does the best job in your backyard.

FALL BACK Dual-mode phones are preferable if you live in the country or even just an hour or two outside a major city, because they'll search for an analog signal when a digital one isn't available.

WEB HELP Compare handsets, services, coverage areas and prices online at , , or before you buy.

WINNER
QUALCOMM THIN PHONE
The Qualcomm Thin Phone is comfortably svelte: a mere .67-in. thick and just over 4 oz., yet wide enough for easy dialing (you don't have to use a fingernail to hit the buttons). Priced at $80 to $150 (depending on model and service plan), it's one of the least expensive to include a built-in browser for accessing the Web and reading e-mail. The internal battery provides a respectable 2 1/2 hr. of talk time and 40 hr. of standby time; a clip-on battery pack adds life (and weight). The pull-out antenna redirects microwaves away from the head. Available in single or dual mode (see Tips) from PCS carriers Sprint and PrimeCo and regional CDMA carriers (AirTouch, GTE Wireless, Ameritech, Bell Atlantic).

Alternatives
--NEXTEL i1000 PLUS
This $200 Motorola model made exclusively for Nextel's service offers two separate phone lines, speaker-phone capability and two-way radio service for connecting to any other Nextel subscriber in a 200-mile radius--great for co-workers and couples who need to keep in close touch ("I'm in labor, over") and want to save money (radio calls are two-thirds cheaper). Available in most major metropolitan areas.

--NOKIA 7100 SERIES
Our best pick for big spenders, the 7100 combines beautiful design (slightly curved, it feels better held against your jaw line) with the best digital features (voice dialing, built-in Web browser, storage space for 1,000 contacts). A small wheel makes for quick and easy scrolling through menus, call lists and news bites. $500 from GSM carriers such as Omnipoint and PacBell and from TDMA carriers such as AT&T. Available early 2000.

--MOTOROLA L7089
Imagine touching down in Paris or Sydney and being able to call your hotel from the tarmac. This tiny tri-band phone is built to operate on the world's three GSM frequencies, so it works everywhere--except in Antarctica. If you rarely go overseas, the $400 price tag is steep. But "my phone works in Cameroon" makes great party talk. Just be sure you've got good GSM service where you spend most of your time Stateside.