New, inexpensive (under $150) cellphones for the holiday- 2008

Thanks to industry newsletter FierceWireless.com for this helpful overview we’re offering to parents looking to buy that first cellphone as a gift. These are the “new” phones that have just come on the market at various price-points. There are, of course, free phones as well, depending on the contract you sign.

Starting with the least expensive (just considering the phone price only)…

Click on the link under each label for more details about features.

Motorola VU204
Verizon Wireless- $29.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=2

Pantech Slate
AT&T Mobility- $49.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=4

Samsung Rant
Sprint Nextel- $49.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=8

Motorola i576
Sprint Nextel-$70 (with a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=1

Pantech Matrix
AT&T Mobility- $79.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=3

Blackberry Pearl 8130
Alltel- $79.99 (after $100 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=5

Samsung Propel
AT&T Mobility- $79.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=7

UTStarcom Quickfire
AT&T Mobility- $99.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=10

Samsung Highnote
Sprint Nextel- $99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=6

LG Rhythm
Alltel Wireless-$119.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=0

Samsung Sway
Verizon Wireless- $119.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year service contract)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=9

Wild Card
Virgin Mobile USA- $89 (pre-paid service details at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/rates/minute.do)
http://www.fiercewireless.com/slideshow/pics-holiday-handsets-under-150?img=11