I have a set of rules for mobile/cell phones.
Battery life in standby > 5 days
no flip
no external antenna
must have a belt clip accessory, preferrably without a leather case
must have a large populous using it. I hate being leading edge. I prefer stability over wacky features I won't use anyhow.
It limits my phone choice, but, my average phone has lasted 5 years. I do miss my nokia 6160. I think I have 3 years in on my current phone and it still works like the day I got it -- and still has the plastic on the crystal.
I had two of those Qualcomm Palm Pilot phones in 3 weeks. First one was really my fault. They didn't have a belt clip so I had it in my shirt pocket when I went to check the water in the pool. The second one had a faulty antenna -- they offered to replace it and let me know it would take 5 weeks.
So, I went back to my old trusty Nokia 6360.