Everyone has their opinion on which mobile phone you should buy, but which mobile phone is really right for YOU? Whether you are a student, casual user, or business man/woman, there are a wide variety of options for a diverse group of users. Trying to decide which one is right for you can be a daunting and confusing task. Knowing what you’ll primarily be using the phone for should help make the decision easier.

Let’s start with the three basic genres of mobile phones/devices which include the smartphone, multimedia devices and basic talk/message phones. The smartphone category includes devices like the Blackberry Curve and Palm Treo. These types of phones are available with touch screens and all are 3G compatible. They often include business applications such as email, calendar, and contact organizers that sync seamlessly with personal computers. Many include document viewing and editing capabilities, as well as multimedia and GPS applications. They should have Bluetooth capabilities and most have cameras and/or camcorders included. Think of these devices as handheld computers that increase productivity tenfold in a business environment.

Standard voice and messaging phones are the least expensive and simplest cell phones. These devices are great for the casual user who doesn’t need all the multimedia or business applications. If you plan to use only standard voice and/or text features, these phones are for you. Examples of these devices include the LG Rumor 2, which features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for quick text messages and an MP3 player. The LG Lotus is a sleek little flip phone with a fun QWERTY keyboard and some basic Sprint Video/music features.

Full media phones are all the rage right now with a diverse group of users, from students and trendsetters to parents and grandparents who want instant access to videos and pictures of their little ones. These phones include all the latest features and access to the most popular downloadable applications; they are similar to smartphones like the Blackberry, but generally appeal more to a social media crowd. These are usually stylish touchscreen phones that include email access, streaming video capabilities, web access, MP3 players, cameras, camcorders, Bluetooth, GPS, and Outlook contacts and calendar synchronization.

Examples of these “everything” phones include HTC Touch Pro 2, HTC Hero and Samsung Instinct. Other similar phones include the Palm Pre, which is available exclusively through Sprint and won Best in Show and The People’s Choice Awards at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. The HTC Hero is Google’s latest Android phone, which is Google’s answer to the iPhone. It has a highly customizable user interface with an amazing touch screen. It easily syncs with Outlook email, contacts, and calendar, has a 5-megapixel camera, supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and enables streaming of web apps. There are also thousands of downloadable applications, such as games, productivity suites, and music.

Find out your needs and uses for a cell phone, then take a look at what type of phone best suits your needs because paying more for things you’re not using is simply unnecessary.