For Cellphones, an Enticing Array of Add-Ons

FINDING a gift for someone who seems to have everything can be easier if that someone has a cellphone. A mobile phone can be enhanced with cases, chargers, speakers and other options to make it more than just a plain old handset.

Price Protection

With Internet connectivity, multimedia functions and personal-organizer features built in, many wireless phones are grabbed out of pockets or and purses all day long, subjecting them to dents and dings, drops and damage. A quality case can add a layer of protective material around the phone and maybe even a bit of style as well.

Otterbox (otterbox.com) makes a large selection of form-fitting protective cases for the iPhone, several BlackBerry models (including the Curve, Pearl and Bold) and certain models of Palm’s Treo smartphones. Prices are $20 to $100, depending on the type. The $50 Defender case for the BlackBerry Bold, for example, covers the phone in three layers of material — including polycarbonate and silicone — to absorb shakes and shocks.

For iPhone owners who might prefer style over shock absorption, Digital Lifestyle Outfitters, or DLO (dlo.com), makes cases in several fabrics including leather, silicone and moisture-resistant neoprene, a synthetic rubber. For even more choices, Accessory Geeks neatly organizes cases by manufacturer and model at accessorygeeks.com.

Powering Up

Giving the handset a little extra oomph in the power department can also make for a happy owner. The $80 WildCharge mat (wildcharge.com) can juice up a Motorola RAZR V3 or BlackBerry Pearl or Curve without your having to wrangle cables or wires. The WildCharge kit comes with a form-fitting case for the phone. To recharge the battery, you just lay the phone on a charging mat, which plugs into a standard outlet, where electrical contacts on the case connect with the mat to charge the phone.

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Combining phone protection with power is also the concept behind Mophie’s $100 Juice Pack (mophie.com), now available for the iPhone 3G as well as for the original iPhone. In addition to cradling the iPhone in a soft-grip case, the Juice Pack’s integrated external battery can supply up to six hours of additional talk time after the iPhone’s main battery runs down.

An alternative device that uses solar panels or muscle power to charge a phone’s battery could make an appropriate gift for a camper or environmentalist. The site 21st Century Goods(21st-century-goods.com) is among those offering sun-powered and hand-cranked chargers for phones and other gadgets.

And then there are those who stray so far from the beaten path that their cellphones’ carrier signals show barely a bar. For them, an accessory like the $150 Cell Ranger signal booster (getcellranger.com) can amplify voice and data signals where coverage is weak. The Cell Ranger, which comes with a U.S.B. connection for powering it from a computer or a 12-volt connection for drawing power from a car’s electrical system, comes with an antenna for catching weak signals.

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Speaking Out

With their sleek design and touch screen interfaces, many new phones seem geared toward a hands-on experience. But when it’s time to make calls, a hands-free add-on like a Bluetooth headset can be more convenient, freeing the caller to take notes, review presentations or play a discreet round of Bejeweled Twist.

Most Bluetooth headsets work alike — they loop over the ear to provide a lightweight headphone and microphone where you need them, so you can leave the phone on the desk or in the pocket. The headset wirelessly transmits the audio from the phone to the earpiece over a Bluetooth radio frequency from up to 30 feet away.

A small headset is easy on the ear, and Aliph’s latest Jawbone headset ($130 at jawbone.com) is also easy on the eye. Available in five colors and half the size of the company’s original model, the new Jawbone has a textured look and can be made to fit in either ear. The tiny earpiece also contains sophisticated technology to eliminate background noise and improve call quality.

BlueAnt Wireless (myblueant.com) has several lightweight Bluetooth headsets as well, including its $190 InterPhone headset and intercom kit, which fits inside a motorcyclist’s helmet for roadworthy communication. Drivers who don’t yet have dashboard Bluetooth in their cars might be interested in BlueAnt’s Supertooth 3 portable speakerphone, which clips to the sun visor and can even announce the name of the caller.

Logitech’s Pure-Fi Mobile speakers ($150 at logitech.com) can work as a Bluetooth-enabled speakerphone as well, but they’re more fun as a portable boom box for music stored on the phone. The Pure-Fi Mobile speakers can stream music in stereo from phones and other gadgets equipped with the stereo Bluetooth A2DP technology, and the rechargeable battery lasts for about 12 hours. The speakers also come with auxiliary and U.S.B. connections to bring big sound to the computer or portable music player.

One last thing to consider: Research can play an important part in the quest for a perfect gift. So before shopping, it’s a good idea to find out the make and model of your intended’s wireless phone. Giving an incompatible charger or an ill-fitting case may bring as much joy as a tie that’s too wide or pants three sizes too large.