Let's face it; cell phone should be able to do more than share your shopping lists with your significant other at the grocery store. Today's cell phones are being used to move data, including photos, video, and music, between your phone and PC. Mobile Action, Inc., a California-based company, has become a player in that game with their new Handset Manager 9.0, a neat little device that enables phone-to "VPC synchronization and data sharing, and greatly expands the capabilities of most late-model cell phones available on the market today, including more than 500GSM, WCDMA, and CDMA 2000mobile phones models.

In practice, Handset Manager is nothing more than a little device that works like a smart USB cable. Add a software package, and voila, you, your cell phone, and your desktop or notebookPC are in business. Two of the coolest features are the MP3 audio clipper and editor and the video composer that allow you to create, edit, and share music and movie files between your laptop or PC and your picture or video-capable mobile phone. As an added bonus, users of multimedia-ready mobile phones can produce and exchange ring tones and short films.

My second-favorite feature is the Sync Manager, a powerful tool that allows users to establish a one-click connection between the mobile phone and the PC, allowing you to synchronize and manage your personal contacts and calendar functions. This allowed me to share pictures, video clips, and animation with friends and family. But best of all, thanks to my Bluetooth-ready phone, the Handset Manager 9.0 supports MSN Messenger and Skype so I can keep in touch with friends, family, and business associates while on the go.

Now I can travel much more lightly these says, and am often able to leave my notebook computer at home. I can also charge my phone battery through a USN cable, and when I need to write lengthy messages, I can use a Bluetooth-enabled virtual keyboard and a wireless mouse. How impressive is that"

Sync Manager talks with Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express to access and browse the internet, and manage and edit pictures. I can back up and manage all of my contact telephone numbers from my PC or notebook computer, Talk about powerful tool!

In addition to USB Data Suite, the Handset Manager also comes with configurations for Bluetooth Data Suite, infrared Data Suite, and Memory Data Suite. Thanks to the Handset Manager I have unleashed a multitude of powerful features and functions I didn't even know existed. I must confess that I am hooked. I can't function without my mobile phone, nor can I survive without my Handset Manager.

What I liked: The convenience and clarity.

What I didn't like: The USB cable is a bit too short for my taste using a desktop PC.

Is it worth the money? You bet, at $54.95 for Bluetooth Wireless Data Suite ($43.95 for the Infrared Data Suite), it's one of the best investments I've ever made.

For more information: usa.mobileaction.com

Compatibility? The Handset Manager 9.0 is available for the following phones:

LG VX6100
Motorola i850
Sanyo MM-8300
LG MM 535
Sony Ericsson S710a
Motorola RAZR V3
Sharp GX25
Siemens CT66
Nokia 6670
Sagem MyX8

For a complete list of compatible phones for The Handset Manager 9.0, go to usa.mobileaction.com/jsp/storefront/usb_supported.jsp.