| Nothing in the history of human technology has gained | | | | use as well. Some phones have additional options such |
| as much popularity or necessity as the cell phone | | | | as larger capacity batteries for an additional charge, |
| other than maybe the personal computer. They allow | | | | this may be an option you will need. |
| you to be in contact all of the time anywhere in the | | | | Phone Screens |
| world (providing you have reception). You can do | | | | Now if you plan to use your phone almost exclusively |
| more than just talk these days. These phones let you | | | | for phone calls then your screen shouldn't be too much |
| surf the web, play games, text, and even send and | | | | an issue. As long as you can see outgoing and |
| read email. Digging through the many service plans and | | | | incoming calls, you should be okay. If you plan on |
| accessories can be a very difficult task for even most | | | | utilizing a 3G or higher device a larger screen will be |
| veteran users. Read on to learn how to get the | | | | necessary to properly view the web, emails, etc. Make |
| perfect service plan and phone for your wireless | | | | sure you are able to tweak with the back light settings |
| needs. | | | | of your phone before you buy it to check it's visibility |
| Choosing to buy a cell phone and a service plan to | | | | under different lighting situations. |
| match is going to take some research and some | | | | Touch Screens |
| work, so do not expect to find your perfect match | | | | While the concept of the touchscreen phone is |
| overnight. Cell phones are no longer just a convenient | | | | relatively the same, not all touchscreens function the |
| way to keep in touch audibly, they are a lot more since | | | | same. Some screens can register more than one |
| their first appearance in high tech culture. These days | | | | touch activation at one time. This kind of screen is |
| you may find yourself checking your e-mails, sending | | | | called a multi-touch. A multi-touch screen will let you |
| pictures and text messages, keeping track of your | | | | manipulate an object while it is being touched such as |
| stocks or world news, editing and reading business | | | | swivel, twist, zoom, drag, etc. Single touch screens |
| documents, listening to your favorite MP3 songs, or | | | | register one touch at a time with your finger and while |
| adding new personal and business contacts via your | | | | it may seem less zesty, it can also help save you from |
| laptop computer. | | | | accidentally doing more than you intended to. A good |
| When shopping for a phone, your choice of wireless | | | | touchscreen phone should allow you to adjust |
| service can alter which type and model you will be | | | | sensitivity settings that work better with your own |
| using. A wise plan of action is to shop for your carrier | | | | personal style, or should we say, personal touch. |
| first. Finding out the best coverage and monthly pricing | | | | Keypads |
| plans for your area will make your experience with | | | | If you are purchasing a smartphone then you will be |
| your phone more enjoyable. Remember, even the best | | | | running into what is called a Qwerty keyboard. These |
| phone will be worth squat to you if you do not have a | | | | keyboards have the alphabet on them as well as |
| good carrier. While some accessories will work with | | | | punctuations to help type out emails and texts more |
| many models, most phones will work only with one | | | | efficiently. Qwerty usually comes as an addition to the |
| mobile carrier due to the exclusivity of their networks. | | | | dialing pad. Aside from smartphone keypads, make |
| Most providers lock their phones so you are less likely | | | | sure your numeric dialing pad is just as easy to use. |
| to leave their wireless network so remember that the | | | | Smaller buttons can tend to get in the way of each |
| wireless network is your phone's life support. | | | | other causing miss dials. If you must sacrifice your dial |
| Smartphones | | | | pad for convenience of size, make sure your phone |
| What is a smartphone? Basically it is a cell phone but | | | | comes equipped with voice activated dialing. Obviously |
| with the added capability of running document type | | | | this will help you make calls easier, not to mention help |
| applications and comes with a alphabet keyboard style | | | | you comply with local cell phone laws. |
| pad, usually it is the Qwerty. Aside from that, the | | | | Operating Systems |
| smartphone has more memory and a larger screen | | | | If you are purchasing a smartphone then you will want |
| for browsing the Internet and sending emails. As far as | | | | to understand a little about the operating systems |
| media goes, a smartphone is also a perfect way to | | | | available. Just like your computer has an operating |
| watch movies, video, and listen to MP3s. Most | | | | system, so does your phone. Here are the current |
| smartphones are now also 3G phones. | | | | operating systems: Windows Mobile OS, Palm OS, |
| 3G Phones | | | | Symbian OS, Mac OS, Google Android |
| 3G cellular phones are basically third generation mobile | | | | Palm OS: Good Productivity Software and Easy |
| technology phones that allow you to transmit data | | | | Learning Curve |
| (Internet) in larger amounts at a much faster rate, 2 | | | | Microsoft OS: Microsoft Office and Great Phone |
| megabits to be exact. This is far faster than the | | | | Compatibility |
| original speeds previously available (19 kilobits per | | | | Symbian OS: Good Productivity Software but |
| second). So if you have documents you need to send | | | | LessUser Friendly |
| to your boss or associates, a large amount of email | | | | Mac OS: Optional Paid Download Applications |
| messages to send, need to surf the web for research, | | | | Google Android: Optional Download Applications |
| or need to send video or images often then this is the | | | | Common Cellular Phone Features |
| generation of phone you will be wanting to acquire. | | | | Mobile phones come with all types of internal |
| While a 3G phone is a great technological | | | | management features such as phone book, calendar, |
| advancement, a third generation phone is only going to | | | | speed dial, call history, voice activated dialing, photo |
| be as good as the network it is on. As a matter of | | | | albums, dial pad lock, and more. As well, many phones |
| fact, some areas may not carry 3G services at all, so | | | | come equipped with hardwired features such as |
| make sure to ask your dealer if your area can even | | | | speaker phone, cameras, and even walkie talkie |
| take advantage of the data speeds. | | | | features. As you can imagine, there are many |
| Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon all claim to | | | | additional options that you may want or need so pay |
| carry the same data rates for their select 3G phones. | | | | close attention to features available with the phone |
| The keyword spoken is "select". Make sure you | | | | you would like to buy and make sure it is going to |
| understand which phones will actually be compatible | | | | perform all the tasks you require . |
| with the 3G networks and what speeds your actual | | | | Headsets |
| phone can handle as well. You will want to ask if your | | | | If you drive while using your phone or just prefer to not |
| phone is compatible with either the EvDO or HSDPA | | | | have your phone pressed up against your face |
| networks, if not, then you may want to seek out | | | | throughout the day, a headset will be an accessory |
| another phone that is. | | | | you will be wanting to have with yours. In many cases |
| GSM Phones | | | | it will come with a headset, but if not you can pick up |
| While there is a wireless standard for the United | | | | one for a fair price. Typical headsets are attached to |
| States, many countries will use additional wireless | | | | a wire and in the case you don't want wires make |
| standards that can cause many problems for any US | | | | sure you get a bluetooth equipped phone for wireless |
| citizen traveling abroad with their US bought phone. | | | | conversations. Most smartphones come bluetooth |
| GSM stands for the Global System for Mobile | | | | equipped. |
| communications. If you plan to travel outside of the | | | | Choosing Your Cell Phone Provider |
| United States then you will want to entertain the | | | | While many wireless carriers will boast in their |
| possibility of owning a Quadband phone. Quadband | | | | commercials of their network reliability, only usage will |
| means your phone runs off of four world frequencies | | | | tell. Ask friends and co-workers which networks they |
| being USA (850 Mhz and 1900 Mhz), Europe, and Asia. | | | | use for their phones and if you still are not sure go |
| If you plan to travel to rural areas within your own | | | | with a carrier that gives you a 30 day trial basis. The |
| backyard (United States) then look into purchasing a | | | | major carriers with the most vast networks are |
| tri-mode phone which can run off of an analog channel | | | | Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Nextel, and T-Mobile. It is |
| and two digital frequencies for additional coverage in in | | | | suggested you go with one of these carriers for the |
| those low coverage areas. | | | | best chance at getting reliable coverage. |
| Phone Body Styles | | | | Choosing Your Calling Plan |
| It is becoming where no one person has the same | | | | National calling plans are usually the best packaged |
| style of phone these days. They have different names | | | | deal, even if you use your phone locally. Always try to |
| such as the candy bar (phones that slide open from | | | | find a plan that offers free roaming, roaming charges |
| either the side, top, or bottom), the swivel (phones that | | | | can soar if you ever leave your network and many |
| twist to expose the phone functions), and the ever so | | | | people don't even know when they have so controlling |
| common clamshell (flip phone). A quick tip to | | | | roaming costs can be difficult. If you travel outside the |
| remember when choosing your phone style is that if | | | | country, international roaming is a package add-on |
| your phone comes equipped with the keypad exposed | | | | must. |
| on the outside, make sure it has a key lock. You do | | | | Choosing Your Data Plan |
| not want to be calling everyone under the sun while | | | | If you plan on using your phone for email and the web |
| walking with your phone in your pocket. | | | | then a data plan is something you will want either |
| Style vs. Function | | | | bundled or added on to your monthly bill. Accessing the |
| Regardless of the newest trend or fad, make sure the | | | | Internet without such a plan can run into the hundreds |
| style you choose is one that works for you. Testing | | | | when charged by the minute and at a higher price. |
| the comfort of the phone against your ear is not | | | | Choosing Your Minutes |
| commonly practiced, but you will find quickly you will | | | | Free nights and weekends may have you thinking you |
| have wished you had tested it once your ear gets | | | | need less minutes, but be warned, each carrier has |
| sore and raw from your various hour long | | | | their own definition of what "night time" is. Make sure |
| conversations. Also practice answering the phone to | | | | you know when your calls are free and what time |
| see how easy it is for you to operate and see the | | | | their weekends start and end. Pick a minute plan that |
| caller ID, having an easily accessible phone can help | | | | goes over what you think you'll use to spare yourself |
| reduce unnecessary last minute stress when finding | | | | the bill of going over. Minutes go up in price once you |
| your phone in the first place. Although smartphones will | | | | max your limit. If the minute plans look to complex |
| add some bulkiness for talking, their keyboards are | | | | because of the amount of minutes, divide them by 60 |
| necessary for ease of many functions such as typing | | | | to get the numerical equal in hours. |
| and web browsing. You may have to sacrifice some | | | | Your Contract |
| talking comfort. If you can find a medium between | | | | The best deals always come with the lengthier |
| function and comfort, you may have found your | | | | contract. 2-3 year contracts usually allow you to get |
| match. | | | | the best calling plan as well as the best phones for |
| Batteries | | | | less or free. While this may be the route you wish to |
| Newer phones can give you a lot of talk time | | | | go, remember that leaving earlier can be very costly |
| compared to the cellular devices of the past. These | | | | when it comes to cancellation fees. If your phone is |
| days a phone can give you up to 4 hours of talk time | | | | expensive, make sure to get a warranty and |
| and up to 14 days if used with a standby function. | | | | insurance plan for your phone so if anything happens |
| Remember, not all phones will have this lasting power | | | | to it, it can be replaced. |
| but more and more are getting this power efficiency | | | | Replacing Your Home Phone? |
| added to their battery life. It is important to remember | | | | If replacing your home phone then making sure your |
| though, that the higher the bandwidth your phone uses, | | | | service will include E911 is going to be vital for obvious |
| the more battery life can be drained from your phone. | | | | safety reasons. Ask your provider and inform them |
| Also remember that the more functions you use on | | | | you are replacing you home phone. |
| your phone, the more battery life you can expect to | | | | |