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It’s that time of the year when the country erupts in a fountain of light and sound. It’s a time when spending insane amounts of money is considered... well, let’s be honest, it isn’t even a consideration for festive folk, and that comprises pretty much a rather chunk of the populace. So, if you’re looking to buy a new mobile phone, here are some colorful choices for this season.

Samsung INNOV8 i8510 – Rs 46,000 (with 16GB card)
Here’s a phone that has other handset makers cowering as it’s India’s first 8 megapixel camera phone! Of course, it’s only a matter of time before the LGs and Sony Ericssons get there, but for now this one reigns supreme. Nokia users who are thinking of switching because of the camera have nothing to worry about; the INNOV8 runs on a typical Symbian OS with a Series60 UI. So the transition will be smooth.

This smooth slider handset has plenty to offer, with a media player that reads DivX and WMV files, internal GPS, Stereo Bluetooth, a 3.5mm earphone/TV out socket, Wi-Fi, and a whopping 8GB/16GB of internal memory with microSD card support as well. It’s the camera of course that will really make an impression. It features image stabilization technology with face detection and smile detection. Better still, it has a FireWorks scene mode.

BlackBerry Bold 9000 – Rs 35,000
If you think you're not really interested in buying a business phone for Diwali, think again. The Bold aims to satisfy all your mobile needs, from business to entertainment. It’s an elegant handset with style and a user-friendly interface. With a superb display sporting a 480 x 320 pixel resolution with 65K colors, videos and images look vibrant.

With a 2MP camera, 1GB of internal user memory with microSD support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth with A2DP, the Bold fares quite well in the connectivity department. The new BlackBerry OS 4.6 also adds to the already attractive look and feel of the handset. The Bold also has DivX, XviD and WMV file support for videos, and a built-in GPS module. The full QWERTY keypad and TrackBall navigation are a bonus. It seems RIM’s days as a strictly-for-business handset manufacturer are over.

Nokia E71 – Rs 20,000
Another versatile handset for business users is Nokia’s E71. It’s an extremely slim and sleek handset with a sturdy feel – after all, it weighs 127g! The steel finish for the body only enhances its style quotient and overall appeal.

This well-equipped handset offers features that range form Stereo Bluetooth to Wi-Fi, internal GPS, and 100MB of internal user memory with microSD card support. The full QWERTTY keyboard makes typing quick and painless. There's a 3.2MP auto-focus camera (not its best feature), and complete office functionality for reviewing and editing MS documents, PDF files, and ZIP files. The E71 also features a media player for audio/video and an FM radio.