[Tips] How to Buy a Cell Phone

Few tools of modern technology have also become prevalent as cell phone, which allows you to be in touch (almost) all the time (almost) anywhere. And you can do more than just talk - modern phones allow send and receive e-mail and text messages, and even browse Web. Analysis through the marine service plans and phones can be difficult, but we will go through what you need to know to get the phone and service plan that you need.

The picture Learn how to decide which phone is right for you, learn about the network, and much more. more

Explanations specialists We accept in-depth look at the low and high end, at the end of the characteristics of mobile phones and service plans. more

Cell Phone Shopping Tips Before you start shopping, read our recommendations to get the best solutions for cellular phone and service plan. more

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Mobile phones are more than just convenient communication tools: they allow to check e-mail, sync with the calendar and contacts on your PC, dial a number by the sound of your voice, watch the latest news on the Internet, take pictures, play games, send text messages , View and edit documents, listen to music and much more. But choosing a phone - and your plan to go with it - requires some legwork.

Your choice of phone may depend on your choice of wireless services. If you buy the carrier, you must first find out which carrier offers the best coverage and the best monthly service plan in your area. Then you have to choose a selected range of telephone service provider offers. Except for the few phones, most phones work only on one supplier system because carriers have mutually exclusive networks, and many carriers lock their phones so you can not take the same phone to another provider.

Third generation mobile communication technology, called 3G, is becoming more widely available. This should encourage the data transfer performance to 2 megabits per second from the more general data transmission speed of 19.2 kilobits per second, and this is especially handy if you use the phone for wireless access to data, such as e-mail, text messages And the Web.

The availability of 3G services remains a mixed bag. Sprint and Verizon Wireless use of data, optimized for Evolution (EvDO) network, which provides average download speeds of 400 to 700 kbps and download a potential maximum speed of 2 Mbps. Cingular network 3G, called High Speed Bort-Land Package Access (HSDPA), available only on certain phones. (Cingular for HSDPA is also available for use with PC cards.) HSDPA promises average download speed of data transmission from 400 to 700 kbps with bursts to more than 1 Mbps. Currently, most Cingular phones still support Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution (EDGE), which promises to transfer data at speeds of 384 kbps and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), with an average speed of 40 kbps, but going up to 115 kbps.

The main characteristics of the phone

Wireless standard: World travelers are more affected by wireless standards, compared with users on the basis of strictly in the United States. This is because most of the world uses networks based on GSM, which is a global system for mobile communications standard. U.S. carriers, however, use different networks in addition to GSM. U.S. carriers work on CDMA (code division multiple access), TDMA (time division multiple access), iDEN (more integrated digital network), AMPS (advanced mobile phone service), GPRS (general packet radio service), EDGE (expansion speed data transmission for Global Evolution), and / or EvDO (evolution data optimised) standards. Cingular is working on the AMPS, EDGE, GSM, GPRS and TDMA networks. Nextel iDEN network uses exclusively. Sprint and Verizon Wireless run on CDMA and EvDO; Verizon also uses AMPS. T-Mobile supports GSM and GPRS networks. It is important to note that while Cingular is working on both GSM and TDMA networks, services and phones, which use them, not talk.

Wireless mode: Dual-mode phones that send and receive both digital and analog signals, tend to be more reliable than a single-mode models. In rural areas where digital service is often spotty or nonexistent, dual-mode phone can fall back on an analog signal that the service, though roaming fees may apply. Remember that use analog mode consumes more energy than batteries using digital mode. If you use the phone mainly in big cities, where digital service is widespread, you can stick to a single-mode models, which are often cheaper than dual mode phone.

Support Group: The more bands of radio phones, it takes more frequencies. Quad-band phones, as their name implies, are working on four bands. Theoretically, they provide better coverage than three times, two, or one band phones. These so-called world phones are compatible with the four GSM frequencies - 850 MHz (prevalent in the United States), 900 MHz (prevalent in Europe), 1800 MHz (prevalent in Asia) and 1900 MHz (also available in the U.S.). As a result, they operate worldwide. You can also find three modes of work, phones that the two digital frequency bands, in addition to analog networks, especially handy feature if you travel to rural areas.

Design: You can choose one of flip-open as grab-type phones; nonflip, candybar-style phones; slider-style phones - apparently - slide open and swivel phones, twist open. Flip phones may be more difficult to use, on the one hand, because the cover may be heavier than the base, and low-end models may be missing some room on the dashboard screen. Fortunately, many new phones sport dual screens - a small, external LCD to cover, plus an internal display. If you buy nonflip phone, make sure it has a keyboard lock that prevents inadvertent dialing - useful function if you used the phone in your pocket or purse.

What kind of phone you choose, check its ergonomics. Is it comfortable against your ear, and you can hear callers without constant adjustment? Can you use your phone with one hand? How about hands-free use: Can you safely hold a phone to your ear to scrunching your neck and shoulder? In addition, look for accommodation Headsets nest - the connector is located on the top of the phone is often more convenient than the one located on the side.

Size and weight: Part of what makes the phone easy to use its portability. A typical standard cell phone weighs about 4 ounces, and most do not flip-model on the size energy bar - 5 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1 inch thick. Anything higher is considered high. The exception is the PDA phone, as the Palm Treo or BlackBerry devices. While these hybrid units continue to receive less and cumbersome, they will be more than the basic cell phone, and you should bear this in mind, if you plan to use a long telephone calls.

Battery life: Most new phones allow at least four hours of conversation and two to six days in standby mode. Some phones may be up to 14 days or more in reserve. Please note that the use affects the life of the batteries, as well as the signal strength of your cellular service. Phone, which is constantly looking for signals will run himself down quickly. Depending on the phone, recharge the battery should take about an hour or more. When you buy a phone, consider the possibility of optional accessories such as batteries and greater capacity portable charging adapter for use in the car.

Screen: If you are going to send and receive text messages, browse Web, or use the phone organizer, make sure that the screen to snuff tobacco. The six lines of text enough for most people; anything less will make your eyes - and your fingers - more from the scroll. Some phones allow adjust the font size in accordance more text on the screen, but more digits you in the package, tinier they receive. Consider a PDA phone, if you plan to go online and send many messages, many models come with a large LCD.

LCD, unlike the lights and strengths are also important. Phones we have seen show marked differences in viewing quality. If your phone allows you to adjust these settings, you can make text and graphics easily readable - even in bright places. These days, most phones offer color screens that are easy on the eyes.

Keyboard: If you can not figure out how to use certain functions on the phone for several minutes (with or without consultation guide), try another. The keyboard layout and menu system should be intuitive. Buttons should be flexible and easy to click. Check the navigation buttons on the keyboard. Joystick-style knob on some phones can make quick menu navigation. Most phones are equipped with up / down and left / right arrow keys. The buttons that serve little easier than flat or sunk keys.

Many phone and PDA several standard cellular phones come with a small QWERTY keyboard. May tiny keys does not suit everyone, but they can save a lot of time, if you plan to use the phone to send e-mail messages and editing office documents. Even very small QWERTY keyboard, usually much easier to use than software-based keyboard touch-sensitive screen.

Voice messages and organizer: Mobile phones bombard you with the call-management functions - voice-activated calling, voice recording phone book, call history, typing speed, and so on. The activation of some functions (such as the number, call waiting and three way calling) depends on your service plan. Most phones also security features that can restrict incoming and outgoing calls, lock the keyboard, as well as protect or mass-delete records phone book. Some phones also provide speakerphone. Some of them even two-way radio function, which will connect you with other same carrier, and in many cases, such messages do not count as airtime - a huge benefit for IT personnel and other personnel roving.

If you want to talk on the phone without a hands-free (necessary if you are using a phone while driving), find the model that comes with a headset or earphone. If you do not want disorder with cords, consider that the phone supports Bluetooth, it allows its coupling with a wireless headset Bluetooth.

Wireless transmission of data: almost all new mobile phones capable of doing tasks such as sending and receiving e-mail and instant messages, download custom ringtones and simple games, or connecting to the Internet (usually through a minibrowser, which was created to work best with text-only version popular sites such as Amazon, Google and Yahoo). Such features, however, depend heavily on your provider and your service plan.

Going online, while awaiting an elevator that's cool idea, but most phones connect at low speeds: only up to 115 kbit / s on the GPRS network and up to 384 kbps on EDGE; 3G networks, such as EvDO, faster connections to speed up to 2 Mbps.