Set Up for a Sequel?

As the cell phone industry gears up for another holiday season, some may wonder what the new wave of coming attractions will bring. In the wake of the Apple iPhone, what's the next big thing? What will drive competition among the world's best known cell phone makers? At Wirefly, we've noticed one significant trend heading into autumn - the sequel.

Thanks to the global success of Motorola's RAZR, many of the most popular cell phone models now carry identifiable names, not numbers. It sure seems easier to market and brand a Blackjack, Katana, or Chocolate than an "insert confusing model number here."

So, to that end, the cell phone manufacturers have borrowed a chapter from Hollywood. Keep it familiar. Rely on continuity. Give people what they already know they like. In other words, put out a sequel.

The Motorola RAZR2 is already here, and available for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. We've also recently seen LG's Chocolate II (see, we're now seeing roman numerals come into play!), along with two new versions of Sanyo's Katana. Plus, the Motorola Q9 is right around the bend.

What follows is a closer look at the Top Five Sequels of the Season. Sit back, and enjoy the show:

1) Motorola RAZR2 for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless

. The Wirefly Cell Phone Blog took a look at the RAZR2 when we first got our hands on it, and our reviewer loved it. It certainly features a sleeker look than the original RAZR, but that's not all - from the overall structural quality of the phone, to the new external screen and the upgraded software, the RAZR2 is a big step forward for Motorola.

The RAZR2 sports an iPhone-esque touch-screen on its exterior; that bright and beautiful display is actually functional. Manage messages, calls, and music at the touch or sweep of a finger. The brand new RAZR also has more than ten times the processing speed of its older sibling, making transferring files and moving from menu to menu a breeze.

Get the Motorola RAZR2 for AT&T...for Sprint...or for Verizon Wireless.

2) LG Chocolate II for Verizon Wireless

. Also known as the LG Chocolate VX8550, the Chocolate II is a huge improvement over the original. The one widespread criticism of the first incarnation of the Chocolate involved its impressive looking interface - the touch-sensitive keypad lacked tactile feedback, and using the phone became more difficult that necessary.

The Chocolate II changes that. With much improved controls, LG's new version is easier to use and even better looking. The scroll wheel is mechanical; it retains the cool factor by implementing a "trace motion light" that follows the movement of your fingertip. LG also introduced some subtle vibrations that help with the learning curve. Throw in some impressive multimedia features, and the LG Chocolate II is worthy of its heritage.

Get the LG Chocolate II for Verizon Wireless in blue...or in maroon.

3) Sanyo Katana II and (4) Sanyo Katana DLX for Sprint

. Not to be outdone, Sanyo recently unveiled two new versions of its well-received Katana cell phone for Sprint customers. The Katana II comes in several colors, and its main claims to fame involve size and memory. This revision of the original is more streamlined; it's smaller than its predecessor, with cleaner lines and a shinier look. On-board memory is also upped to 21MB, and Bluetooth capabilities are upgraded to Bluetooth 2.0.

Meanwhile, the Katana DLX boosts the performance of the family by tackling full-featured multimedia applications. The DLX boasts a 1.3-megapixel camera, EV-DO support for Sprint's Power Vision, and a music player that interacts seamlessly with Sprint's Music Store - all squeezed into an attractive slim frame. The DLX is available in dashing colors like champagne, pink satin, and platinum ice, and may well be the best Sanyo cell phone we've seen.

Get the Sanyo Katana II for Sprint...or the Sanyo Katana DLX for Sprint.

5) Motorola Q9 for AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and Alltel

. We're not sure why the successor to the Motorola Q smartphone is dubbed the "Q9" - perhaps we missed a few installments along the way. But this exciting addition is coming very soon, and promises to lift the Q line to new heights. With an updated, modern look and improved productivity elements, the Motorola Q9 is one of the more anticipated cell phones of the fall.

The Q9 comes in several variations, covering each of the participating carriers. The standard Q9 is even more ergonomic than the first Motorola Q; it remains less than 1/2" thick, but optimizes the full QWERTY keyboard to a greater extent. The keys are bigger, and you'll have more room to type. The Q9 is loaded with Windows Mobile 6.0, streaming stereo Bluetooth, and a full multimedia player.

But that's not all - the Motorola Q9m for Verizon Wireless actually takes multimedia a step farther. With a customizable Today screen, and a specially designed Motorola Media Player user interface, the Q9m is ideal for use with Verizon's V-CAST.

Track the Motorola Q9 for AT&T...for Verizon Wireless...for Sprint...or for Alltel.

About Wirefly

Wirefly (www.wirefly.com) is the online leader in one-stop comparison shopping for cell phones, wireless service plans and wireless accessories. Wirefly is an authorized dealer for every major cellular carrier in the U.S. Wirefly also offers discounts and services not available in retail wireless stores, including real-time online order status and tracking, and the guaranteed lowest price – online or anywhere else -- on cell phone devices from Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, LG, BlackBerry and many other cell phone handset manufacturers. Wirefly.com has been named Best of the Web by Forbes magazine as the “best all-around number portability portal” and “Best in Overall Customer Experience” by Keynote Performance Systems. For more information on Wirefly, its wireless products and its services, visit www.wirefly.com.