Top 10 mobile phones for the holidays (San Diego Transcript column)

Here are my recommendations for some of the best mobile phones for giving or receiving this holiday season. Each is new this year and offers something special. Prices quoted are with a new 2-year service commitment, unless noted.

10. LX160 by LG (Sprint) -- Simplicity at its best
For those who prefer just a simple cell phone without all the extras, this LG (NYSE: LPL) phone will please. It has a good user interface, making it easy to adjust settings. Call quality is excellent and it's one of the smallest, yet usable phones around. Cost $0. us.lge.com.

9. LG Voyager (Verizon) -- Messaging, TV, music in a small package
The smallest 3G phone with a large screen and QWERTY keyboard, the Voyager opens like a book to reveal a full keyboard, screen and stereo speakers. On the outside is a second large, touch-sensitive screen. The Voyager takes advantage of all of the extra-cost Verizon (NYSE: VZ) services including its V Cast mobile TV (based on Qualcomm's MediaFlo), navigation and music. It has a 2-megapixel camera and camcorder. It has a closed operating system, so you will need to access the Internet and e-mail using Verizon's menuing system and can only add its applications. $300. us.lge.com.

8. Sony Ericsson K850i (AT&T)
Sony Ericsson's phones are hugely popular in Europe, but they are hard to find in the United States. The K850i, one of its latest models, works on the new Tri-Band HSDPA and Quad-Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks for around the world connectivity. It has a great 5-megapixel digital camera with auto focus and xenon flash and internal photo editing capabilities. It's very small and beautifully finished. ctinyc.com and other online dealers. Unlocked with no contract required. $500. sonyericsson.com.

7. Samsung G600 (AT&T, T-Mobile) - Thin phone, great camera
Samsung's latest ultra-thin slider phone has a built-in, 5-megapixel, auto focus, digital camera with flash. It's beautifully constructed and just won England's Mobile Phone of the Year award. No carrier has been announced yet, but look to AT&T or T-Mobile. It's available online, unlocked for $400. ctinyc.com and other dealers.

6. Nokia N95 (AT&T, T-Mobile) -- The everything phone
The N95 is one of Nokia (NYSE: NOK)'s hottest phones, jam-packed with almost every imaginable feature, including a 5-megapixel auto-focus camera, video camera, a second 1 mega-pixel camera, an MP3 player and an excellent navigation system. It's available from Nokia, unlocked for use on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks. $700.

5. Centro (Sprint) -- Bargain-priced Treo
Palm (Nasdaq: PALM)'s latest smart phone is the lowest cost 3G smart phone ever and works much like a Treo, albeit in a slightly smaller size and toy-like, plastic housing. It runs the thousands of Palm applications including SlingBox, Kinoma and hundreds of games such as my favorite, Astroware's Sudoku. $99. palm.com.

4. BlackBerry (Verizon, Sprint) -- Best world phone for Verizon, Sprint
RIM's BlackBerry 8830 world phone (available in a Sprint and Verizon versions) has both a CDMA and GSM radio that will work on most countries' networks. Sprint's GSM is unlocked while Verizon's is locked, but lets you keep a single number. The phone provides all of the functions of a BlackBerry 8800 including a trackball and built-in GPS. Both have 3G capability. $300 rim.com.

3. The Mogul and Tilt (Sprint, AT&T) -- A computer in your pocket
These similar models made by HTC are the closest of all phones to a pocket computer. Running Windows Mobile 6 Professional, a quirky but powerful operating system, each has a large screen and slide out QWERTY keyboard. As the name implies, the Tilt's screen can tilt up from the keyboard.Both run on its carriers' 3G networks and have built-in WiFi. The Windows OS allows you run thousands of applications such as SlingBox, Zagat and games. Both have 3-megapixel cameras. Mac users will need to buy third-party software for syncing. $300. htc.com.

2. BlackBerry Curve 8310 (AT&T) - Best e-mail phone

IM's latest Curve comes in crimson red and silver with all the benefits of a BlackBerry in a small, rounded package, without compromising its keyboard and screen. Now, it has built-in GPS that works with Garmins's new $99 downloadable application. $300. rim.com.

1. Apple iPhone (AT&T) -- The best phone, media player combo
Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)'s iPhone is simply the coolest and most desirable new phone this year, and it's impacting the thinking of phone designers around the world. While it's not perfect, it gets most things right, some far better than anything else. Its built-in iPod, photo album, browser and touch-screen interface are second to none. Its negatives are its short, non-removable battery that barely gets through the day, the inability for the user to add applications and the painfully slow speed of the AT&T data network. $400. apple.com.