New Phones Target Motorola's Rusty Razr

Cell-phone makers want to make 2007 the year they finally cut Motorola's (MOT) Razr down to size.

Since its 2004 introduction, the world's best-selling handset has sold more than 50 million copies -- while remaking the entire mobile phone industry in its unforgiving skinny image.

But now, the Razr, which fetched $600 in its must-have days, is moving into middle age as a freebie in promotional giveaways by cell-phone carriers. And with the Razr losing its icon status, some new models from rivals like Apple (AAPL), Nokia (NOK) and Research in Motion (RIMM) are angling to become the next top seller among all cell phones.

If the buzz factor is any clue, Apple's (AAPL) heavily hyped, as yet unnamed iPod phone may have the best shot at taking the sales crown.

An informal survey of cell-phone industry insiders and analysts indicates that an iPod phone introduction, expected sometime in 2007, will generate the most chatter.

"The iPhone will certainly be a winner from a publicity point of view," says Charter Equity Research analyst Ed Snyder, referring to a commonly used term for the coming iPod phone. (Apple is apparently unable to use the name iPhone, since the term has already trademarked by Cisco (CSCO).)

Still, Snyder notes that whether Apple can turn the attention into blockbuster sales is another question altogether.