New Phones Target Motorola's Rusty Razr

"I think Sony Ericsson's Walkman line will be the biggest story of 2007," says Sanford Bernstein analyst Paul Sagawa. "It's already selling well with a lot of momentum."

And if email phones finally have a shot at cracking the mass market, RIM's diminutive Pearl might be the gem to do it. Its big screen, thin body and camera pack a lot of appeal into a small form. Already a small hit with its controversial "sure-type" keypad that packs two letters on one key, analysts say plans are in the works for a crowd-pleading qwerty-style keyboard.

Meanwhile, some are already saying reports of the Razr's demise have been exaggerated.

"We've already written Razr's obituary," says Charter's Snyder. "But it is still the best-selling phone -- especially at lower prices."