Russel is talking phones. One of my favorite gadget subjects.
So I see on Nokia's web site they have two new 3G phones that will work in Panama on current (soon to come networks).

Number one for Cable and Wireless (Booh!!!) is the new

Nokia 6200
Which is a color GSM/GPRS/EGPRS phone with support for GSM850, 1800 and 1900 bands. Key for Panama of course being GSM850. It has 118KBps data speeds. Java Midlets and a bunch of other cool features, but strangely no bluetooth and the gui is only Series 40. For more see InfoSync.
Next up is the

Nokia 3585i
This is more interesting for me as it's a 1xRTT phone, thus usable on Bell South Panama.
The phone has got your typical 144kbps speed data, GPS and legacy network compatibility. It even has Java Midlet support, but sorry this phone is boring.
No color, no bluetooth, no nothing. It looks like a £30 Pay as you go phone from a British supermarket.
What is wrong with Nokia, I know American's have been slow on going for the advanced phones, but there is a market for them. The Japanese and Koreans have far more cool phones out there for this market and will win it. Read what InfoSync has to say here.