2009 Best mobile phones, Part II

Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless), boasts an amazing display and the benefits of Android 2.0, together with a faster Web browser, Google Maps Navigation applications,  better messaging and contact management. Excellent call quality is provided, a long talk time, and an obviously improved speed over previous Android devices. Unfortunately, the QWERTY keyboard is a bit flat and the dialpad control is restricted to the home screen, while music and video capabilities remain behind competitors` level. The Motorola Droid lacks dual-mode functionality for world-roaming capabilities and does not support Bluetooth voice dialing, but in spite of its design issues and some missing features still remains one of the strongest and fastest Google Android platform devices offering Verizon customers a very competitive touch-screen smartphone.

Palm Pre (Sprint) demonstrates unparalleled multitasking capabilities and notification systems covered by a vibrant display with multi-touch functionality, a solid Web browser and good multimedia integration.  Pre also offers a good call quality and a few wireless options, including 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. Still, the keyboard remains cramped while the battery life drains quickly making the smartphone really sluggish at times.Palm Pre has a few minuses, lacking expansion slot, video-recording possibilities, onscreen keyboard and Flash Support. The Application Catalog is in a beta stage, having a limited number of titles and a limited number of features and performance issues which makes it less ideal for on-the-go professionals. The hardware could need some improvements but Palm has developed a solid OS, capable of competing with its rivals and setting a new standard in the handling of smartphones and information managing.

LG Vu (AT&T) is a very appealing touch-screen phone with a 3-inch display and haptic feedback. Features include AT&T Mobile TV, HSDPA speeds, a 2.0 megapixel camera, full HTML browser, and a qued-band support. The 2.0 megapixel camera is flash-lacking and involves a learning curve with the touch-screen. Video streaming might be a little choppy. LG Vu has a few remaining touch-screen ambiguities but its full features and quality performance makes it one of the most desired LG models.

Samsung Eternity is another attractive smartphone, with an intuitive touch-screen interface, offering a solid assortment of multimedia features and definitely good quality of the calls sustained by an impressive battery life. Eternity`s virtual keyboard isn`t available when entering message recipients, is flash-lacking, without Wi-Fi and voice dialing and a week 3G connectivity. The new Samsung model can be considered a multimedia success but due to its lacking of full e-mail support it`s not quite a business-friendly device.

RIM BlackBerry Bold (AT&T) has one the sharpest displays seen on a smartphone and offers a very satisfying multimedia performance. The smartphone features a HSDPA support, more productivity tools and an updated OS. Wi-Fi , GPS, Bluetooth and a very strong e-mail support are included and can be accessed through the full QWERTY keyboard. Still, the Bold can be quite bulky and expensive with a Web browser not very easy to navigate. The brilliant display and other enhanced features, like productivity tools and multimedia performance deliver a well-rounded smartphone suitable for mobile professionals.