Most Popular Cell Phones

Motorola topped the list of Wirefly's most popular cell phones in 2006, with the ubiquitous RAZR grabbing the top three positions on the list.

Other Motorola offerings, such as the v360, i850 and i710 captured another 5 positions on the list, while Ericsson (4th) and Samsung (10th) rounded out the Top 10 (see below).

Wirefly should know, as their company web site is the internet leader in comparison shopping for wireless cell phones and calling plans. According to the company, 9 out of the top 10 cell phones sold by Wirefly in 2006 were camera phones and 30% had built-in music capability.

In other trends, Wirefly noted that phones with more functionality through increasingly robust operating systems were being brought to market with the Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry 8700 series, and Pocket PC's like the Verizon XV6700 among the most innovative and practical. Another big trend was for cell phones and services designed exclusively for children and related GPS tracking and geo-location services like those introduced by Sprint and Disney.

Overall, however, the trend was for slim and sleek, in a variety of colors. Consumers still want choice, but the RAZR was the overwhelming favorite, integrating form and function into an attractive, user-friendly device.

Wirefly's List of Top 10 Cell Phones:

1. Cingular Wireless RAZR by Motorola (in various colors)
2. T-Mobile RAZR (in various colors)
3. Verizon Wireless RAZR (in various colors)
4. Cingular Sony Ericsson z520a/z525a video phones
5. T-Mobile Motorola v360
6. Verizon Wireless Motorola v276
7. Sprint Nextel Motorola i850
8. Sprint Nextel Motorola i710
9. Cingular Motorola v220
10. T-Mobile Samsung T309

For more information about wireless cell phones and various plans from leading providers, visit Wirefly.