A whole spectrum of models are available in the market catering to both the low end segment and the upper strata. These are equipped with diverse features, making you feel empowered while on the move. You can pick up handsets from as low as Rs 8,000, to an upper end sophisticated powerhouse that can make your pocket lighter by a lakh.

Says Anil Nayar, executive director, Airtel, ``Modern handsets offer a wide variety of features. From simple communication instruments to chic fax-mail contraptions--literally everything can be packed on your palm. Much depends on what you need it for and the price you are willing to pay.''

Every other handset manufacturer in the market is offering features to adapt to different situations, lifestyles andpockets. Some, like Nokia, are also selling themes on the handsets, like the tune of saare jahaan se achhaa, to commemorate 50 years of Independence. The companies are vying with each other in offering superior operating times, better call management, feather touch operations, convenience functions and add-on features which include games on the handsets to PC connectivity.

On the consumer behaviour to handsets, Nayar says, ``Indian buyers fall within a highly price sensitive market. This is also reflected in the usage of the cellphones.''

At the entry level you have Alcatel, Motorola D160 and D128, Ericsson GA 628, Nokia 610, Siemens S6 & S3, Philips Twist and Diya. These are priced between Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. In the intermediate segment models such as Siemens S10 & S4, Nokia 5110 and Sony CMDX-1000 are available, with prices ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000.

The premium segment has a price tag ranging between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 and offers models such as Philips Genie, Sony Z1,Nokia 6110, Ericsson G41788 and Motorola 8700. For those looking at a still higher level there is a super premium segment with exclusive models like Motorola Star Tac and Nokia 9000 & 9110 at around Rs 1,00,000.

The price of a model basically depends on the features offered, the value added services and the service provider. But there is no use buying a premium handset if you do not require the offered facilities like PC connectivity, image messaging, programmable quick access menu with graphic items and very high memory.

The basic features you should consider are the weight, the display, the key-pad and the menu system. Much progress has been made in making your handset light, considering that in early 1980s the best in the world weighed a couple of kilograms. (In 1982, Nokia's first `portable' phone, the Nokia Senator, weighed 9.8 kg, as much as a year old baby!) Today most of the phones on offer weigh less than 200 gm with the lightest being 87 gm.

A handset typically weighing between 150 gm and 200gm is light enough to give a desired level of comfort and portability. Light weight performers like Motorola Star Tac 160 (87 gm) and Philips Ginie (95 gm) are also available, but the lighter the model, heavier the price tag. One of Nokia's newest models, 6110, weighs only 137 gm and combines light weight with value added features.

A cellphone's LCD (display) is the vital window to all your communication needs. Naturally, the bigger the display, the better your chances of understanding the phone operations. The latest models offer a high contrast full graphics display with varying font sizes to give maximum information in a single glance. And if you are going to play games very often on your phone make sure that the display provides enough room for the icons to comfortably dance around.

To make your dialling process convenient it is important that the handset offers a user friendly key-pad. Look for aesthetically positioned, large keys, offering ease of use. Make sure that these are backed by fluorescentdisplay to enable use at night. Also, go in for a handset that provides key-pad lock function which ensures that buttons will not be accidentally pressed when the phone is not in use.

When you go in for a state-of-the-art handset, you will naturally look at long operating times, lest you have to recharge too often. The operating time basically comprises two parameters--talk time and standby time. The talk time is the time for which a fully charged battery will support a continuous conversation, while the standby time denotes the maximum time that a fully charged battery will last if the phone is continuously switched on but no calls are made. Power requirements for both the modes are different.

It is unlikely that you will get a lightweight model with a high battery life. You need to compromise on one of these two features as the battery adds to the weight of the cellphone, and the life of the battery is directly proportional to its weight.

There are two types of batteries--lithium ion and NiMH. Lithiumion batteries come in slim and extended versions while NiMH type are available in the standard version. These are available in capacities of 400 mAh, 600 mAh, 900 mAh, 1,500 mAh and 4,000 mAh. The talktime and the standby time depend a lot on the battery used. For example, Nokia 8810 with a slim 400mAh Li-ion battery gives a talk time of 30-60 minutes and a standby time of 15-60 hours. With a standard 600mAh NiMH battery, the talk and standby times are improved to 100-170 minutes and 36-133 hours respectively.

You should also go in for the right memory options to match your needs. A typical cellphone can store up to 200 names and numerals. Apart from the features on the handset you can enhance operations according to your needs by paying your cellphone service provider. These can include caller line identification, automatic roaming facility, internet access, conference call facility etc. You can also check-out the accessories like hands-free car kit, desktop charger, mobile charger, belt clip and ear-phoneattachments.

Still, for many potential users the handset cost is a major barrier for entry in the cellphone circuit. Says Nayar, ``Handset cost is a barrier to entry. In dollar terms the cost of the handset has come down but with the rupee falling the customer does not get benefits of the fall in international prices. The customs duty are also high at 52 per cent. If these come down, the price of a handset can be reduced by almost a third.''

On the possibility of free handsets to users as is the practice in the West, he says, ``This is feasible only when you have a good social security and a credit system. Today if I give a handset free to a customer there is no guarantee that he will not sell it off in some other city. Given the conditions here I don't think that free handsets to users are feasible anywhere in the near future.''

With rapidly changing technology manufacturers are packing as much information as possible on your palm. But to meet all your needs today, the best handsets require additionalfeatures. There is still progress to be made in meeting your total communication needs in a stand alone handset.