| To choose a cell phone used to be relatively easy. | | | | of these phones to do it. |
| You would compare the plans of the various cellular | | | | The advanced cell phones are typified by the |
| carriers, and choose the carrier that offered the most | | | | Blackberry and the iPhone. They offer more advanced |
| economical service for your intended usage. The cell | | | | functionality, including the ability to get to your work |
| phone was a secondary decision. Changes in | | | | email, and a browser that behaves more like Windows |
| technology have made this a much more complex | | | | Internet Explorer. For example, Windows Mobile 6.1 |
| process. | | | | acts very much like the desktop version. For more |
| The first step is no longer picking the carrier, but | | | | complex websites, there is a beta application called |
| deciding how you will be using your cell phone. The | | | | Skyfire that will run almost any website exactly like on |
| primary function used to be voice, but that has | | | | your desktop. For those who chose the iPhone, it is |
| become secondary. The first question to ask is if you | | | | already very close to duplicating desktop functionality |
| want a "3G" phone. The new 3G phones run on a | | | | right out of the box. |
| different network than the older voice phones. My | | | | The advanced phones also typically include organizer |
| son's girlfriend and I use the same cellular carrier. On a | | | | and calendar functions. When I want to dial Dave |
| trip, we found a location where I had no service, and | | | | Johnson, I start to type in Jo and immediately his name, |
| she had full bars, because the high speed networks | | | | along with any other names containing Jo are |
| my phone runs on were not strong, while the old voice | | | | displayed. The power of these phones is amazing, |
| network that her phone uses were. When you have a | | | | including movies, GPS navigation, television, and |
| 3G phone, all your functions, including voice, run on the | | | | Windows Office mini-aps, and a full discussion is |
| data network. | | | | beyond the scope of this article. |
| So why would you chose 3G? The 3G network is | | | | Once you have chosen a phone type, then you should |
| faster for data services, such as texting and Internet. If | | | | check the coverage maps for the carriers to see who |
| you just want voice, a non-3G phone is fine. But if you | | | | best covers your mobile territory. These maps are |
| want texting and Internet, a 3G phone is the right | | | | now divided between voice and data, so if you are |
| choice. | | | | getting a 3G phone, be sure to pull up the data map, |
| Among 3G cell phones, there is a further subdivision. It | | | | not the voice map. |
| doesn't have a consistent name, so we will call the | | | | You should also try to find out whose coverage |
| division between standard and enhanced. A standard | | | | delivers the best service. You can do this by surveying |
| 3G cell phone can be distinguished from an enhanced | | | | friends and neighbors to find out their experience. You |
| by the price of the data package. The unlimited data | | | | can also attempt to secure a demo phone from a |
| package for the enhanced phones is more expensive. | | | | cellular store to check it for yourself. If you are getting |
| The standard package will allow you to text, and get | | | | a 3G phone, the data rate is very important. Try to get |
| Internet data using a specialized phone-browser that | | | | a speed test run from each potential carrier. You can't |
| gives you menus of Internet data that you can access. | | | | do that in the store, because they often boost their |
| If you want to get to Yahoo mail, or gmail, or one of | | | | speed in the store to give an overly positive impression |
| the other common emails, you will be able to find one | | | | of their data speed. |