What type of mobile user are you?

The mobile phone industry has been one of the greatest technological success stories of the past 20 years. Experts often try to put their finger on different types of mobile phone behaviour. One recent study commissioned by Motorola caged off different types of mobile user into species of birds – e.g. if you used your phone principally on the move, a confidant, talkative, busy modern urbanite, you might be a ‘swift’, or if preferred to keep your mobile and your conversations more discreet, you might be more ‘owl’ than anything else.

While we stay safely clear of such colourful categorisations we will help lay out a few groupings which can help put you on the right track to getting the most out of your new mobile.

You spend a lot of time away from home and out of the office but you still need to be in constant contact. You rely on your mobile as a communications lifeline – forgetting it simply isn’t an option.

You’ll have or need some of the most cutting edge gadgetry – much less strictly for show than out of necessity, as you’ll make plenty of use of synching, sharing and scheduling services.

What to look for:

You’ll need a very high minutes tariff with added data usage, a very capable 3G smart phone and a Bluetooth headset. And don’t forget the vital car kit to keep safe and legal whilst driving.

You’re always on the look out for the very latest technological advances and as a result, you’ll want to get your hands on anything that represents a step forward, e.g. 3G, streaming or broadcast TV, mobile internet – the second it becomes available.

Whatever your talk time and free text requirements, you’ll surely be paying close attention to which operators are offering the newest handsets and providing the most from the cutting edge of technology.

What to look for:

The very latest in funky features, cutting edge mobile design and a tariff that lets you take full advantage of the wonderful world of wireless, with great deals on data minutes for keeping informed via the web.

Whilst not necessarily afraid of technology, you’re not a perfect match for it either. You might never have had a mobile before – maybe not out of fear, but out of lack of need… until now.

What to look for:

You’ll likely want something straightforward and sturdy, a phone and a tariff that will give you the best combination of usability and old fashioned functionality. Maybe you want to dive in with both feet, but don’t be talked into paying for any entertainment features you don’t think you’d use.

Your thumbs move so quickly around your keypad that sometimes it’s just a blur. You can do it with your eyes closed. Texting is your game and your friends always know where you are and what you’re up to via the magic of the written word.

What to look for:

If you text much more than you chat, look for a mobile with a hard wearing keypad and a tariff that includes a high amount of free texts – and one that’s not going to cost you the earth if you go over your allocation.

Wherever you go, you want to record it and remember it forever, but lugging a camera about isn’t always practical. Since you take your mobile everywhere it makes sense that it doubles up as a camera, so you can snap away and video the very finest moments.

What to look for:

A phone with a high resolution camera (2 or more mega pixels) and lots of memory - preferably with a removable memory card, to store all those photos and videos, and a tariff with a good deal on picture messages if you’ll be wanting to share your art with your friends.