Today, mobile phones are ubiquitous. Walk down any street and count on your hands the number of people chatting to their pocket-sized best friends - you'll run out of fingers in minutes. Fortunately for those without cellphones who wish to join the heaving masses, mobiles have become so commonplace and the market is constantly swamped with newer models, resulting in plenty of opportunities to save money on new mobile phones.

Nokia mobile phones are well-established for delivering high quality and dependable handsets. The Finnish communications company is still growing, despite leading the portable communications market in Europe for a decade. The Nokia N95 has recently been awarded the prestigious TIPA award for 'Best European Mobile Imaging Device', and other Nokia phones made over 5 years ago are still in common usage today. Nokia's latest N-Series of phones have almost all received critical acclaim throughout Europe.

Nokia's primary competition comes in the form of Sony Ericsson phones. Sony have made a name for themselves for the quality of their products, and their migration into the world of mobile phone technology has been no different. However, they have received criticism that their technology is notably more expensive than its competitors, and other brands have surfaced to take advantage of the more affordable end of the spectrum.

Samsung phones have also become a popular choice for mobile enthusiasts, preferring to offer most of their range in 'slide phone' format, concentrating on portability and ergonomics as well as practicality.

With so many deals online as well as on the high street, it's not difficult to get a great deal on the latest mobile phone handset. Pay As You Go phones remain popular, but to get the best price for your handset, contract phones are the way to go.