Cell Phone Buying Guide

Staying in touch with family and friends is easier today than ever with a cell phone. Cell phones are small and compact and pack a lot of power, which makes it easy to stay in contact. The many features now available on cell phones give even more reasons to purchase a new cell phone. If you bought one years ago, you don’t know what you are missing with the newer ones.

Today cell phones come in all kinds of sizes, all kinds of weights, with all kinds of features. There are well-known brand names such as Sony, Motorola, Ericson, Nokia, and Samsung, as well as many other cell phones from manufacturers not as well known but who still offer a good quality phone.

You need to choose a phone that will not only fit your budget but also allow you to do what you want the phone to do. You need to decide if you want an analog or digital phone…TDMA or CDMA…or GSM. You may need to get a dual mode phone that is a phone that works in an analog and a specific digital mode. This type of phone would be great if you do a lot of traveling.

There are several kinds of digital cell phones including TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) and there is the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is used throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is expanding throughout North America. Each type uses a different bandwidth. You need to be familiar what type is available where you live. If you live in a larger metropolitan area, then all should be available. If you live in a more rural community then you should check out what service is available in your area before you buy.

One of the most important decisions to make regarding the type of phone you purchase is what kind of battery you get. The most common battery technologies are the Li-ion and the NiMH. The Li-ion stands for lithium ion and is more expensive but provides more power, lasts longer per charge, and is much lighter. The NiMH stands for nickel-metal hydride.

When looking to the batteries for your cell phone, check out the fast recharging batteries as well as those that are long lasting. Also check out the amount talk time available per charge as well as the standby time when purchasing a new cell phone.

Another important consideration when buying a new cell phone is the visual display. All cell phones have a LCD display but some features may be more useful to you than others. Some of the displays are backlit allowing you to see the screen in low light areas. Also the size of the displays varies and there are color displays as well as monochrome. Color displays tend to require more memory as well as cost more when you buy the phone.

There are many regular features available on cell phones these days including the basic phone directory, call back, speed dial, redial. However others, such as voice activated functions, or vibrating modes can be really valuable.

If you are going to be connecting to the Internet via your cell phone you may want a larger display. Wireless Internet on your phone is available on some models.

Cell phones have many different feature options available and many affect the price of the cell phone. However, many of the features can make you very efficient and may be well worth the cost if you use it. There are functions like text messaging, wireless Internet, PC synchronization, MP3 players to name just a few. There are also picture phones that allow you to take and send pictures, much like a digital camera. Some come with games as well.

You should consider a headset if you will want to be hands-free when you use the phone. You may also want to consider a speakerphone connection for the cell phone you are going to purchase. Find out if the connection is proprietary and what options are available for the headset and/or speakerphone.

Check out the accessories that can make your cell phone even more useful, like a car adaptor, or a rapid charger/built in charger. The ability to store incoming phone numbers can also be a function that can pay for itself over time. You may also want to check out personalized ring tones or other custom sounds that you can use with your phone.

You will need to research the best type of provider for you, so make sure you know how you are going to use the phone. If you will need a lot of minutes in the evening and on weekends, make sure that the plan you choose will offer a plan that covers that cheaply. If you only will use the phone in emergency situations, then you may want to choose a plan that allows you to pay only for minutes used. Some companies offer phones with a specific number of minutes available for a set fee, then you can purchase additional minutes as you need them.

Be sure that you check out the service plan of the carrier you are going to use. Research carefully the roaming charges, extra charges for long distance, as well as overage charges. It can be better to purchase a plan with more minutes than you think you will need, because somehow you always use them.

Get yourself a new cell phone and start talking. Keep in touch with family and friends and start communicating.  
 
 
Article By Karla Soule, May 2004.