What do mobile phones say about you? Are you someone who needs to have all the call information at your fingertips? Do you prefer cell phones that make a bold statement or those that are completely discreet? When you choose mobile handsets, be aware that you need to select carefully. More than anything else, the types of mobile handsets available for mobile phones affect how you use the phone every day, so make sure that you choose wisely.

Here's a guide to mobile handsets and the advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Small and Neat Mobile Phones

If you like your mobile phones small, neat, and discreet, then you will probably favour clamshell mobile phones. These are often tiny phones, so small that it's difficult for women to find them if they drop to the bottom of their handbags. Men will find it easy to slip these phones into a handy pocket, and they don't weigh too much. These cell phones are called clamshells because they snap shut like a clam, though without the damage to unwary fingers.

Clamshells are also called flip phones because you have to flip them open to use the phone. Some people like the fact that you have to open a flip phone to make a call; others dislike the fact that flipping the lid open is the only way to answer a call. On the plus side, clamshells keep the screen and keys protected.

Out in the Open Mobile Phones

Clamshells don't suit everyone, because some people prefer cell phones where everything is out in the open. Candybar mobile handsets are flat rectangular phones similar to a bar of chocolate, and you can get them in every size from Snickers to Lion Bar. With candybar mobile handsets, all the buttons are exposed. It makes it easy to get access to the screen and keypad, so making and answering calls is simple. However, that exposure is a double edged sword. The screen is often dusty and may get scratched unless you have a case, while you have to keep the keypad locked, so you don't make a call by mistake.

Slide, Baby, Slide!

If neither of those mobile handsets tempts you, then perhaps you prefer Matrix style mobile phones. Yes, the slider is here to stay. It may look like a candybar or a clamshell, and it protects the screen and keypad. You get the dual advantage of a compact shape for storage, with a larger area available when the phone is in use. Like the clamshell, these cell phones have to be opened for you to use all the features, but there's no denying that mobile handsets that slide have a certain appeal.

Smart Phones

Finally, if you need a phone that does it all, then a smartphone may be your best bet. Smartphone mobile handsets are bigger and bulkier because they have to combine the functions of a phone and a PDA. They include an alphanumeric keypad as well as enough memory for an operating system. These are great mobile phones which are very versatile. However, these cell phones are also likely to be costly.

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