Pick the perfect phone for your dad or grad

Ah, June. A season of graduation and gratification. If you were thinking about buying a new Windows Mobile phone for your dad or a recent graduate in your life, you might have been a bit stumped when you started shopping around. Did you walk up to your mobile phone carrier’s counter and find yourself staring at more than a dozen phone models? It’s true that the number of Windows Mobile phones to choose from is staggering—but staggering in a good way. The wide variety means choice and flexibility—which also means that you can find the right phone for anyone. With a little guidance, you might find that choosing the right phone is simpler than you anticipated.

Take a moment and think about the person you are purchasing the phone for. Is he a gaming, music, or video junky? Is she a tech-gadget geek, a wanna-be photographer, a hard-working professional, or a complete beginner when it comes to technology? Once you know the personality type you’re shopping for, the list of phones for each shrinks considerably.

Find the profile that best matches your dad or grad, and then follow the links provided to learn a little more about each phone before selecting the one that is the perfect fit.

Recently introduced to the wonders of the Internet, this type of person has a hard time finding the right button to push to answer a call on the ringing box in their hand. Some dads (and even grads) resist owning a mobile phone until they see all the cool things you can do with them. If your dad has finally given over to the idea, you may want to start him out with a basic model. In no time at all, he’ll be checking sports scores, taking pictures of the family, or looking up directions to his class reunion. To find the perfect phone for the tech novice, look for a Windows Mobile device with a straightforward layout that contains all the powerful features they will come to love.

Phones that work: AT&T Pantech Matrix Pro™, AT&T Samsung Epix™, T-Mobile Shadow

Does your dad or grad sit at the computer playing World of Warcraft or Leisure Suit Larry at all hours? Does he switch his ringtone and the background screen at the slightest whim? Does he text message, Facebook, and tweet with lightning speed? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you’re likely shopping for a stylish phone that is quick (3G) so that games run well and that has a high-resolution screen to help reduce eyestrain and to deliver the best possible graphics. You’ll also want to choose a phone with loads of memory (or at least a CDMA slot so you have the ability to extend the memory with an additional memory card). This will help ensure that not only will high scores be saved, but also there will be plenty of room to store text messages, e-mail, and other pictures or data on the phone.

Phones that work: AT&T Samsung Propel Pro, Verizon Samsung Omnia™, AT&T LG Incite, Sprint HTC Touch Diamond™, Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X1a

Is there no technological or electric-powered gadget too obscure or complicated to escape your dad’s or grad’s notice (and wish list)? What the most technologically advanced phone shopper wants is obvious—the latest and greatest on the market. Look for the phone with the best camera, the most memory, highest resolution screen, fastest processor, best memory capability, and of course, the sleekest design. Cameras on mobile phones get better every season. Look for a 4- or 5-megapixel camera and the ability to control the shutter and/or flash. When it comes to memory, you’ve got some wiggle room. Good memory capability is approximately 128 MB RAM or 256 MB ROM; however, mobile phones that come with a CDMA slot (a place to insert an additional memory card) make up for a phone with less built-in memory.

Phones that work: Verizon Samsung Omnia, Palm® Treo™ Pro, Sprint HTC Touch Diamond

Free time? Never heard of it. If the dad or grad on your list is always busy responding to e-mail, updating a calendar, traveling, and generally getting things done, you need to be on the lookout for a phone that includes a large amount of memory to enhance productivity, 3G speed to help him be more efficient, and an easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard (a keyboard that mimics the layout of a computer keyboard). You’ll also want to select a phone that comes with Windows Mobile Professional and Microsoft Office Mobile because these programs will help your dad manage his work from anywhere he has his Windows Mobile phone and access to the Internet. He’ll be that much more efficient when he can open, edit, and e-mail Office documents on his phone. He’ll even be able to effortlessly sync his contacts and calendar with his Windows-based PC.

Phones that work: Verizon HTC Touch Pro™, AT&T LG Incite, Verizon Samsung Saga™, Palm Treo Pro, Sprint HTC Touch Diamond, Sprint HTC Touch Pro™

The gift of a new Windows Mobile phone will be a sure-fire success. After all, no matter what type of person your dad or grad is—from the tech novice just learning the many advantages of a Windows Mobile phone, to a super-powered professional, making the most of Windows Live Search—a new Windows Mobile phone is the perfect gift.