Nokia 5185i

Nokia's 5100 series phones have long been popular starter phones for cell phone newbies, and the 5185i follows in this tradition. Whereas this candy-bar-shaped mobile's ample figure and bland cosmetics will draw a big yawn from design aficionados, its low price, user-friendliness, and customizable faceplates will appeal to first-time buyers or those on a budget. At first glance, it seems as if the 5185i is a carbon copy of its predecessor, the 5180. But dig into the specs and you'll discover a few changes. It's been upgraded from a dual- to a tri-mode (1900 CDMA/800 CDMA/AMPS) system and has short-text messaging (SMS) capabilities. Also, instead of a fixed-mount antenna, you get a retractable one. Otherwise, these cellular siblings are practically identical in both form and function. The four-line, backlit, alphanumeric display is easy to read under any lighting condition, and the rubberized dial-pad keys are responsive and backlit. Navigating the 5185i's menus is a walk in the park, and programming the phone also is a breeze. Most of the standard features are on hand, including a 99-number phone book, caller ID, call history, and voicemail. As noted, Nokia has added SMS functionality for sending short text messages to other SMS-enabled phones, which indicates that the 5185i is targeted at young adults. But the capability must be activated with your service provider and may cost extra to use.