Syncing software and a phone for Mom

Q: I have a Motorola Razr V3 and want to transfer pictures from it to my laptop. The phone has Bluetooth, of course, and it came with all the accessories including a USB cable and a CD titled Motorola Phone Tools, which I have installed in the laptop. I still don't know what to do, though. Can you help me with this problem? I use the phone overseas, so it's not connected to any U.S. service provider.
—Alan

A: There are a variety of ways for you to transfer photos from your Razr to your laptop. The Motorola Phone Tools software that you mention is Motorola's own brand of cell phone syncing software. With cell phone syncing software, you can transfer many types of files, including photos, between your phone and your computer with the help of the USB cable. If you've installed the software correctly, you should be able to take advantage of the photo-transfer functionality by selecting the Multimedia Studio option from the main menu. It's important to remember, however, if you attempted to connect your phone before installing the software, your computer won't be able to recognize your Razr. Even if you did install the software first, you may need to install the correct drivers on your computer as well. The software should tell you how to do that through a series of prompts, but if you're still confused, refer to the software section on Motorola's Web site.

Q: My neighbor, who is a Cingular customer, bought the Samsung SGH-D807 slider phone, which I think is really sexy. However, it's not offered under Verizon's plan, which I use. Is there any way I can buy the SGH-D807, then get Verizon to mess with it to make it compatible with Verizon?
—Abbas

A: Unfortunately, Abbas, you're out of luck. The SGH-D807 is incompatible with Verizon's network. The phone operates on a technology called GSM, which is used in the United States by Cingular and T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint, on the other hand, use a different technology called CDMA. Because GSM and CDMA work in different ways, you can't transfer a phone designed for use on one network to use on another, just as you couldn't make a VHS videotape work in a Betamax VCR. It just can't be done.

If you're after a stylish phone, though, Verizon does have a few options. The LG VX85000 Chocolate features an attractive slider design, while the Motorola V3m and the Samsung SCH-A990 have slim profiles. What's more, all three of these phones include many of the same high-end features as the SGH-D807, such as Bluetooth, a megapixel camera, and a music player.

Q: My mom needs a cell phone. She needs national service, wants a really cheap plan, and will use the phone just to make calls. I'm thinking either Sprint ($30 a month) or Verizon ($40 a month) with one of their free phones. What would you recommend?
—Rafael

A: If you're looking simply for the least expensive individual plans, you should consider T-Mobile or Sprint. For both carriers, the cheapest national plans are $30 per month. Verizon and Cingular charge $10 more per month for their cheapest national options. But before you pick a plan on price alone, I suggest doing some research to find out which carrier provides the best coverage in the area where your mom will make calls. You can start by asking her friends and neighbors which provider they use and inquire if they're satisfied with their coverage.

You should also consider whether it's economical to have her sign up with your carrier, since many providers offer free mobile-to-mobile minutes for callers on the same network. If you think she'll be talking to you most often, a mobile-to-mobile plan could save you both money. You can even consider a family plan, though, many carriers require all participants to reside at the same address. Another option is a prepaid plan if you think she'll use the phone for emergencies only. You don't want to pay for more minutes than you'll need, and a prepaid plan lets you buy blocks of minutes at a time.

Choosing a basic model for your mom is a great idea. Not only are bare-bones phones cheap (often even free with service), they also don't offer a lot of features such as a camera that your mom says she won't use. Our top basic phones list can point you in the right direction. Just remember that basic phones tend to be smaller in size, so if your mom is older and wears glasses, be sure to look for something with large numbers on the keys, an easy-to-read screen, and an option to change text font size.