* We're all familiar with Caller ID. Well, some wireless phones include something called Picture ID, which allows you to associate your caller's picture with his or her number.

Once you have submitted your selections, PhoneScoop's search engine will give you back a list of phones that meet your criteria, and which carriers are likely to offer them. Now your real fun begins -- trying to actually *find* these models and get best price.

Do go to your preferred carrier's store to see and hold models you are interested in. A salesperson may even be helpful and knowledgeable about phone's features (but don't count on it!)

But before you sign, be sure you also visit your carrier's website - many offer deals for those who order their service online, which could result in some significant savings.

Note that cool models suggested by Phonescoop may cost you a pretty penny at dealer. Here is a sample of what you're likely to find for $50 and under at this writing:

** Nokia 3395: Has alarm, calculator, currency converter, can accept custom faceplates, includes 35 ringtones and capacity to download 20 more plus a ringtone composer, five games, text messaging, voice dialing and wireless Internet. Battery life nearly four hours, seven days standby. (Free from Cingular Wireless)

** Motorola T193: Alarm, calculator, calendar, custom faceplates, 11 ringtones, one game, a headset jack, wireless internet using high speed data technology, and text messaging. Battery Life is four hours, four days standby. (Free from T-Mobile)

** Kyocera KWC 2235: Has alarm, calculator, 25 ringtones plus you can customize them using Kyocera desktop software, high speed wireless internet capability, four games, headset jack, text messaging, voice dialing and voice memo. Battery life is just under four hours, six days standby. ($49.99 from Verizon)

** Samsung SPH-N240: Has alarms, calculator, calendar, to-do list, two games, GPS, headset jack, 20 builtin polyphonic ringtones, voice dialing. Battery Life is just two hours, eight days standby. ($49.99 if purchased online with new service by Sprint)

So that's what you can get for nearly free. How much more can you have if you're willing to shell out $100-$400?

Let's look at one of most popular phones on market right now: Motorola v60.

The v60 is a clamshell-type phone with a second display feature on front cover, which allows you to see who's calling without first opening phone. (Convenient if you're screening your calls.) You can customize its look with replaceable front and back covers -- one of several accessories which make this model love of wireless phone junkies everywhere. These include an FM stereo headset and MP3 player as well as a nifty handsfree car kit.

Other built-in phone features include an alarm, calculator, calendar, games, text messaging, voice dialing, voice memo, and wireless internet capability. Battery life is four hours talk and up to 10 days standby.

Almost every carrier in my area offers a version of v60 with prices varying from $199 to $299 -- for NEW customers. Depending on carrier, existing customers may have to pay close to retail price of $379 (listed on Motorola's website for purchases without new activation of a plan).

For some inexplicable reason, once your contract ends and you decide to upgrade to a newer phone, many of carriers will charge you retail - even if you re-up with a new two-year contract. In my opinion, this is a great way to encourage your long-time customers to switch service providers.

But bottom line is: are extra features in "premium" models enough to warrant paying extra money? The description of Motorola v60 above doesn't differ all that much from that of another Motorola model, T193, which one carrier is *giving away* to new customers. In fact, it's got just about every feature most home-based entrepreneurs would need.

With mobile phones, you may not be able to have it all... but by doing your homework and careful comparisons, you can come close -- and save money to boot. Which is better music to my ears than any old ringtone!

Enter your zip code to access a list of each wireless company currently operating in your area.

At this point, you could spend hours visiting websites of these companies and comparing rate plans (trust me, I did that while researching this article). What I discovered is that -- at least in large metropolitan areas -- competition is working. Here in Los Angeles, there are six different companies to choose from, with plans that meet my needs ranging in cost from $510 to $614 per year, with most of difference due to price of telephone handset. Once you factor out cost of phone, price differential was much less - only about $20 per year between all six companies.

IT'S NOT THE MONEY, IT'S THE COVERAGE

So your choice of wireless carrier should be based upon something tougher to quantify and of way more importance than rates: service and coverage areas.

Unfortunately, no wireless carrier is able to give you perfect coverage 100% of time. They all have some dead zones where they are prone to dropping calls. But if you choose a company with excellent coverage in areas you are in MOST of time, you may never experience these problems.

So DO visit carriers' websites and DO select plan that best suits your service needs - but not before you study map each company posts showing their coverage areas. If you will be using your phone at home most of time and your neighborhood is in an area with poor coverage, you can cross that carrier off your list.

Narrow your search farther by returning to WirelessAdvisor.com and checking out their message board focusing on providers in your area. There are two kinds of posts here -- first from people who are asking what others think of X-company or Y... and what their customers think of their service. Most of posts are complaints and many are quite specific about parts of town where they have experienced problems. These are extremely busy boards - if you do not see your target neighborhoods already discussed here, post your own question -- you will soon get plenty of opinions from those who have been there!

Then, if any of your friends or family uses provider you are considering, invite them over and ask if you can try out their phones in areas you are likely to use them. Nothing beats first-hand experience when making a decision you may have to live with for one or two years.

Finally, most providers offer a no-penalty 14-day trial period allowing you to return phone and cancel service without paying exorbitant termination fees (which range from $150 to $200). Make sure you ask about this and make a note of it on your contract in case you and your new provider don't work out.

A wireless phone could be answer to your business communication needs, and may even save you money. But before you go that route, it is imperative that you carefully figure out what those needs are and match them to what's available in your area. New products and rate innovations are coming online all time. We'll look at some of those in Part 2 of this series.