You're buying this for: Family members still in the technological backwaters who want to do more than dial. Someone whose current phone contract is ending. Business people who want a little more fun than a typical BlackBerry provides.

Price range: $150-$800

Features to look for: Everyone wants a skinny phone, but if you've got big thumbs or just aren't used to tiny touch screens, look for a keyboard or an old-fashioned stylus. Having wireless Internet capability is handy. And if the phone allows it, streaming video needs to be smooth and have clear audio.

An "unlocked" phone doesn't have to be used with a particular carrier. The phones found at stores operated by wireless carriers usually are engineered to work only on that company's network. Many phone brands, such as Palm, are sold by multiple wireless companies, but some, including the new Apple iPhone, have relationships with a particular company (in that case, only AT&T).

Compare the little things and ask the not-so-obvious questions: How big is the address book? Can you take a photo and then immediately e-mail it to someone? Can data, including photos and the address book, be downloaded to a personal computer? Does it come with the software? How long does the battery last? How long does the battery stay charged when performing a complex function such as streaming video? What would the phone cost to replace under the plan? Check into insurance -- you could buy it as part of the gift.

What they don't tell you: Focus on the features your recipient will use most. If taking sharp pictures is important, for instance, you'll want more than the common 1.3 megapixel camera.

Check on connectivity -- which wireless technology the phone is compatible with, such as CDMA or GSM. In general, if you're giving a phone to someone who will use it in overseas travel, choose one using the GSM technology, the more prevalent technology abroad. T-Mobile and AT&T are major GSM carriers. Sprint and Verizon Wireless are major carriers that use CDMA.

Note that some handset manufacturers selling unlocked GSM phones, such as Nokia, also make CDMA versions. Our picks:

Apple iPhone, $399 with a two-year contract with AT&T; apple.com. You can't beat the iPhone, though your gift won't have the cachet it might have when the product debuted in June. It has a touch screen that's easy to use, a screen that makes watching videos a dream, and it automatically syncs photos with your PC or Mac when you dock. Connectivity: GSM

Nokia N95, 2-gigabyte model is $699 and 8-gigabyte version is $779, both at nokiausa.com, both unlocked. Considered one of the best phones for snapping photos, the N95 has a 5-megapixel camera. Has Wi-Fi, GPS and cool slide-out keyboard and music controls. Connectivity: GSM.

NokiaE61i, $499.99, unlocked, nokiausa.com. This is no slim pocket phone, but the qwerty keyboard (arranged just like a tiny computer keyboard) and wide screen make sending e-mail and Web browsing easy. Has Wi-Fi, an MP3 player and a 2-megapixel camera. A good choice for business use. Connectivity: GSM.

Palm Treo 755p, $249.99 with a two-year contract with Sprint, palm.com. Also works with Alltel. The keyboard is easy to use, as is the touch screen, and it looks slick in burgundy or midnight blue. There's no Wi-Fi and that great qwerty keyboard means this won't be the slimmest phone, but the touch-screen features bold, easy-to-read letters and the phone's size makes it difficult to lose. Connectivity: CDMA.