I like to call them "superphones" but the industry phrase is "smart phones," and the best of the bunch still exist in our collective imagination and in sparkling light-on-black press photos on the internet: the Apple iPhone (due out June 29), the LG Prada ("late summer") and the Foleo, a companion to the Palm Treo (more "late summer").

While many of the details are known, of course, I haven't actually touched any of these superphones. But that's part of the deliciousness. I can already tell you which one I want to have in my big purple knitted bag immediately (the iPhone) and which I'm fine admiring from afar, and on the cover of US Magazine (LG Prada) and which I might only buy if I was far more idle and in possession of way more disposable income than I now have (Palm Foleo).

Face it: the LG Prada phone is not about utility. The Prada phone is all cool. That said, it seems to have lots of the same great features of the iPhone: the nice high-res camera, the touch screen, the pretty sleek shape. It does e-mail and IM and music and internet, all with space-agey sounds.

But how does it rate?

What is it? The LG Prada is a mobile phone that you can also use as a prop for photo shoots when you and your 105-pound friends are putting together your runway portfolios (score two cool points). And, as a bonus, you can take photos for said portfolios, and then set them as your wallpaper with the cool click of your French-manicured finger. Like the iPhone, it plays music and movies (score two cool points), it takes photos (score one each on usefulness and coolness), it has a touch interface (another point each for usefulness and coolness).

How much? It's certain that the LG Prada will be offered over the Verizon (NYSE: VZ) network, although it's not certain how much it will be in the U.S. In Europe, the phone is selling for (about) the equivalent of $800, so we'll go with that: $800.

I know, you're all waiting eagerly for the release of the iPhone, Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ: AAPL) long-awaited mega phone. Or maybe you've decided you're an upscale type and are willing to wait even longer for the U.S. release of LG's Prada phone (currently sold in Europe for about $800 USD, and to be offered on the Verizon (NYSE: VZ) network), expected in "late summer" 2007. Didn't you realize there's a third option for the status-hungry, dripping-with-money types?

For only $300,000, or thereabouts, you could be dripping in mobile phone-ness with the Vertu "Signature Cobra," pictured here. Only eight of the phones -- encrusted with 439 rubies and wicked emerald cobra eyes -- will be produced, but you'll have to special-order. Vertu is known for its excessively fashionable technology; its phone service features a "concierge" button which connects you to personal assistance for travel, restaurants, and events.

While the concierge sure beats the Apple iPhone's ability to Google "Starbucks" and then call and order 4,000 lattes (haha Steve! you're such a funny one), I think I'd rather have yummy technology than eye-popping jewelry. And wouldn't it suck if you left your phone in a cab?