When it comes to cell phones, I am a complete addict. I spend hours poring over reviews and daydreaming of the day the US rolls out HSPDA.

For many people, a cell phone is just a device that allows voice and text conversations. Things like cameras, speakerphones, and custom ringers are niceties that just aren't that important.

For me, a cellphone is not only my vain desire to have something "unique", but an extension of my geek. Where most people are barely aware of this whole "bluetooth" nonsense, I am obsessed with not only the bluetooth, but the actual bluetooth implementation. No OBEX? My nigga please. I worry about things like a phone with an MP3 player, but no A2DP. I mean, WTF. And seriously, could a fucking manufacturer get with the 2.0 spec? Fer chrissake.

I digress.  

I've had a lot of phones over the past couple of years.

• Kyocera Slider
• Danger Sidekick
• Sendo X
• Nokia 3600 (lasted about 4 days)
  
• Nokia 7280
• Nokia 6800
  
• Nokia 7610
  

Noticing a trend here? All phones that are relatively uncommon, several that were either unavailable or in short demand in the U.S., most with some sort of geeky feature.

Which brings me to my point. I am out of phones to lust after. Oh sure, there are a few on the horizon (the VK 2010, the Sony-Ericsson K800i, etc), but nothing that just really makes me say "wow!". It's sort of left me hollow. If only someone made a phone that just knocked my socks off....fuckers.

 

That said though, I've found an amazing company. ImportGSM. These guys have an amazing system. Not only do they import neat phones, but they are reasonable in price ( Mobile Planet, formerly Expansys, has a better selection, but their prices are really steep. ). Here is the coolest thing: They buy back phones for credit towards a new phone.  

Additionally, they offer 1 year warranties on their phones. For someone who frequently buys phones from outside the US, you have no idea how handy this is. Try and get warranty service on a defective battery, when they won't even offer you support. Doesn't happen. 

Other cool things they offer are lifetime (Lifetime!?) warranties (for a fee, of course) and a loaner program. I appreciate their loaner system, they actually issue you a "non-crappy" phone when you make a warranty claim, then you send yours back. Zero down time. Hot shit, IMHO.

All in all, these guys seem like an awesome company, perhaps if someone releases an interesting phone, I can provide a review of their service.