How old is your son? if he is a teenager, start with just the basic cellphone and see what developes from there. i have a Nokia fliphone and love it. i have no need for all the fancy gadgets, since i normally just talk to my wife and family. every situation is different. i have had T-Mobile for five years and love it. things to watch out for: set a strict limit on text messaging. you can keep up with his useage on the internet. overlimit talking is very expensive, so decide on the amount of talk time he will require and make sure he understands the limitations. you are going to have to bestow a lot of trust in your son for the first 60 days. that he will abide by the restrictions you give him, concerning phone useage. it can get out of hand really fast, so you keep a watchful eye. if his safety is your main concern, you can have only 911 installed and thats it. your son will not like this, but the decision and payments are up to you. be a watchdog over the phone bill you are going to have to pay. trust is the name of the game with a child and a new cellphone.