Column:

The Problem: In a perfect world, my cell phone would work like my toaster. I would push one button and get what I want. I could use it anywhere, anytime.

There wouldn’t be any dropped calls. And I could switch between carriers as easily as I switch between types of bread. In short, it would do what I needed it to do, and at a reasonable price.

The Solution: We aren’t there yet, but new services and handsets are beginning to make life easier, especially for those who didn’t grow up in this seemingly techno-crazy world.

If you think about it, the cell phone industry is just like health care and commercial air travel, no one’s happy with it. Sure someone can send and receive pictures, exchange email and even pay parking meters with some of the newer smart phones. But, as they say, “life sure would be simpler if it just weren’t all so complicated.”

I lost my cell phone once. It fell down one of those storm drain pipes. At first, I was afraid I would be unproductive without it. After a just few hours of being “phoneless,” I began to feel quite peaceful without the constant interruptions. I actually enjoyed it.

For those of us who can’t afford to just chuck it all away, or who like the security of being able to call family and friends from anywhere at anytime, here are a few things to consider:

The phone industry will undergo significant change the summer of next year. The big push is for devices to be independent of cell service. This means one phone will be able to work with a variety of services. This will give everyone, including phone manufacturers, more choices. Right now, your cell phone only works with the cell phone company who provides the cellular service. If you change plans, you have to change phones.

Moreover, there’s little incentive for handset innovation, since the cell-phone providers control which handsets will work on their network. Towards the end of next year all this will change. Look for Google to offer something new and different.

The iPhone by Apple is a winner. It has many features, but you don’t need to use the ones you don’t want. And the ones you do want are easy to use by simply touching the appropriate icon on the screen. There is no need to learn a new vocabulary of features.

You want to make a phone call? Touch the icon that looks like a telephone handset. Need to check your email? Touch the icon that pictures an envelope. Want to access the Internet? Touch the Safari (compass) icon and you can surf the Web on the phone’s surprisingly clear 2-inch by 3-inch screen on which you can view as many as 3,000 photos you can store on the phone. No more having to settle for a snap or two of your grandchildren tucked away in your wallet.

For more information and a demo of the phone, go to the nearest Apple Store, Ala Moana Mall or Kahala Mall.

As for the rest of us, the ones who really don’t need nor want all the features, you may want to consider a simplified phone, like the Jitterbug: www.jitterbug.com. It doesn’t have a lot of features, but it does offer what the others don’t, a larger keypad, easy-to-use buttons, brighter text and better volume control. Check out the Web site.

Also, for those seniors who just want a phone without all the bells and whistles, Verizon has created the Coupe, above. The Coupe is a phone specifically designed for consumers aged 65 and older. Key features include: enlarged font sizes; speakerphone key; color codes (for volume, battery and headset), and advanced voice recognition.

The Coupe phone — which has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal — also provides safety for its users, as it has dedicated keys that provide quick and easy access to emergency contacts such as 911.

Verizon Wireless is also offering America’s Choice 65 Plus calling plans, which takes a “back-to-basics” approach to wireless phone use, offering all of the features prime-timers want, without the extra services that may not interest seniors. Check out the Web site www.verizonwireless.com.

Finally, if/when you’re planning to travel abroad, take a look at the new global phone from National Geographic: www.Cellularabroad.com/travelphone. Among its many features, it offers unlimited free incoming calls in 65 countries, no contract and toll-free 24/7 customer service from the handset.

Now, if only they guaranteed that when you call customer service, an actual person would answer the phone!

James Kerr is Chief Geek at SuperGeeks, a Hawaii-based computer consulting company offering outsourced IT services. Please send questions, comments and suggestions to help@supergeeks.net.

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