There’s a lot of talk about smart phones lately, and most of the talk is surrounding the release of the new iPhone, the 3G S. Apple continues to do an impressive job marketing their products, and with their legion of die hard Apple fanboys, it’s almost a guarantee that every new product will give them even more bragging rights. Attempting to make a comeback is an offering from the once dominant Palm, the Palm Pre. Most of the reviews that I’ve read about the Pre are fairly positive. The release didn’t have the lustre or hype that was seen with Apple, but the make-or-break effort may be enough to keep the company afloat for long enough to see their app store fill and a second version of the phone released. To finish the trifecta of smart phone buzz, I’ll mention the ever elusive gPhone. While we haven’t been formally introduced to this Google offering, at least not in North America, Mountain View, much like it’s neighbours in Cupertino, has an amazing ability to generate buzz.

There are some that might suggest the iPhone has no competition – we don’t even have a confirmed name for the gPhone, ION, MyTouch, etc. device, and the Pre, which was under produced and under marketed. However, with a laundry list of features missing from 2 generations of iPhone, like no changeable battery, no expandable memory slot, no MMS, and questions about security, there are some that choose not to believe the hype.

In the end, it’s important to choose the phone that is right for you. Do you do a lot of mobile browsing and searching, take and send pictures and/or video, or send emails and keep organized? Start by identifying the features that are most important to you and your needs, and eliminate the device or devices that don’t make sense. Furthermore, you may need to check in your area whether there is an Apple-certified repair shop or Phone Doctor in case your iPhone needs a quick repair.

In the end, you may find that you don’t even need a smart phone, or the one that seemed the worst choice is the best solution – or it may confirm what you suspected all along. Like web hosting, choosing a cellphone or PDA is something that can only go more smoothly with a little bit of reasearch.