You’re confronted with literally thousands of choices when choosing a cell phone. Which phone should you go for? Which network should you go with? Which calling plan should you pick? Do you need the extra features the cell phone companies tempt you with? These choices may seem overwhelming, but it's not as difficult a choice as it may appear. Here's how to make the choices to get the right network, cell phone, and calling plan for you.
Choosing a network
The first choice might surprise you; rather than choose a cell phone, start by deciding which cell phone network to go with. The major factor here is coverage: does the network work where you are? Each network offers maps on their websites where you can enter your address to see if their network covers it; use this feature. Don't just check your home address; check your work and the places you visit regularly, because you'll be using your phone on the road.
If your preferred network doesn't cover your home, cross it off the list, because the carrier probably won't want to sell you a phone. But don't discount a network if one location you visit occasionally isn't covered; the networks have arrangements that let a customer of one network temporarily use another, (called roaming), although this may sometimes involve extra cost. Make a note of this and remember to check the roaming cost when you pick a calling plan.
You should also remember that loyalty is overrated; you don't have to stick with your existing network if you want to switch. If you have a cell phone and want to keep the number, you can transfer the number to a different network, a process that usually takes only a few hours. The networks call this number porting, and that way, you can switch carriers but not lose your number. The main gotcha with this is making sure your old network doesn't hit you up for an early termination fee. Because switching networks involves ending your contract with your old carrier, they will often try and charge you for ending the contract if it isn't finished (most contracts last two years). If you aren't sure, call your carrier before you switch and ask them how long the contract is, and what their early termination fee is. If they think you are planning on leaving them, they might give you a month or two of free service to persuade you to stay.
Another factor to consider is whether or not a lot of people you call use a particular network. Some networks offer free calls to phone numbers on the same network. Again, you should make sure this feature is included when you get to the calling plan if that's an important factor for you.
Choosing a phone
The first step in choosing a cell phone is deciding which type is right for you. Here are the different types and the pros and cons of each.
Candybar – The simplest phones, candybar phones such as the BlackBerry Pearl have a screen and keypad on the outside. While this simplicity means they are usually cheap, they only have keypads with number keys, which makes typing e-mails a slow process. The external screen is more prone to scratching, though.
Flip – Flip phones, like the Motorola Razr V3, flip open to reveal the screen and keypad. Some, however, have screens on both the inside and the outside of the flip-out cover (such as the Razr2 V9), which offers the best of both worlds. The advantage of flip phones is that they are smaller and thinner than candybars, and are often more comfortable to use. However, keeping the phone small also means there is just a keypad (not a full QWERTY keyboard). In addition, the small battery often means a shorter battery life than larger phones. Flip phones are good picks if you are looking for the smallest, sleekest phone and aren't worried about battery life. However, they are a bad choice if you are looking for extended battery life or want to send a lot of e-mails or text messages.
Slider – Putting the keypad underneath a sliding panel leaves more space for the screen, so phones like the Samsung Blast can have bigger screens than their flip cousins, and often feature larger keypads that make dialing easier. However, the sliding design is more complex than the flip approach, which makes it more likely to break or otherwise malfunction.
Sliding QWERTY – These phones are much the same as normal sliders, but have a full QWERTY keyboard behind their sliding panel. Phones like the Helio Ocean and Verizon EnV offer full QWERTY keyboards that are great for e-mail but make the phones heavier and bulkier.
QWERTY – Many BlackBerry and Palm Treo phones offer a QWERTY keyboard on the outside of the case. This makes the design simpler (there are no sliders for things to get caught in), but also means the keyboard is smaller, which can mean slower typing.
There are lots of phones that don't fit into these broad categories, however. Apple's popular iPhone is a candybar, for instance, but doesn't use a physical keypad; you enter numbers on the touch screen. If you aren't sure which type is right for you, go to a store that has a selection on display and spend some time trying them out. Do a number of common tasks. How quickly, for instance, can you dial a number, look up a contact in the phone book, or send a text message? Then decide which of these features are most important for you, and pick the type that lets you do the most important things the fastest.
Choosing a calling plan
Once you've chosen the network and the phone, it's time to look at the calling plans they offer. The main choice here is how many minutes you want. This is often difficult to work out, but the easiest way to do this is to look at your last three or four bills, if you have a cell phone already. Average the total number of calls you make, or if you are looking to get a family plan with multiple phones, total all the lines and average. Then look for a plan that includes slightly more minutes than this; that way, you will be paying a regular amount every month, but won't have to pay for minutes you don't need. Many plans (such as AT&T's Rollover plans) allow you to carry unused minutes over to the next month, but they usually come with conditions, so make sure you read the fine print.
Each carriers also offers its own unique features that are worth considering. T-Mobile's MyFaves, for example, provides unlimited calls to five selected numbers, and Sprint's free incoming plans don't charge you for incoming calls. Choosing between these can be difficult, but they can save you a lot of money; if you only call a small set of numbers frequently, T-Mobile's MyFaves or Alltell's MyCircle could make your plan a lot cheaper. But make sure the plan you are choosing includes these features; carriers often don't offer these on their cheapest plans, so it might be worth considering a slightly more expensive plan if it ends up saving you money in the long run.
If you are planning on using your phone a lot for e-mailing or Web browsing, you should also look at adding a data feature. Most calling plans don't include data (such as sending e-mail or Web browsing), instead charging you per kilobyte of data you receive. Most carriers allow you to add Web browsing for a small fee (T-Mobile charges $5.99 a month, AT&T charges $9.99 and up), but this often comes with limits. The AT&T $9.99 SmartPhone Connect feature, for instance, allows for 5 MB of data a month (which can quickly get used up) and doesn't include e-mail. If you start using features that aren't covered, or go over your limits, this can get very expensive very quickly. So make sure you know what the limits are.
Choosing a network
The first choice might surprise you; rather than choose a cell phone, start by deciding which cell phone network to go with. The major factor here is coverage: does the network work where you are? Each network offers maps on their websites where you can enter your address to see if their network covers it; use this feature. Don't just check your home address; check your work and the places you visit regularly, because you'll be using your phone on the road.
If your preferred network doesn't cover your home, cross it off the list, because the carrier probably won't want to sell you a phone. But don't discount a network if one location you visit occasionally isn't covered; the networks have arrangements that let a customer of one network temporarily use another, (called roaming), although this may sometimes involve extra cost. Make a note of this and remember to check the roaming cost when you pick a calling plan.
You should also remember that loyalty is overrated; you don't have to stick with your existing network if you want to switch. If you have a cell phone and want to keep the number, you can transfer the number to a different network, a process that usually takes only a few hours. The networks call this number porting, and that way, you can switch carriers but not lose your number. The main gotcha with this is making sure your old network doesn't hit you up for an early termination fee. Because switching networks involves ending your contract with your old carrier, they will often try and charge you for ending the contract if it isn't finished (most contracts last two years). If you aren't sure, call your carrier before you switch and ask them how long the contract is, and what their early termination fee is. If they think you are planning on leaving them, they might give you a month or two of free service to persuade you to stay.
Another factor to consider is whether or not a lot of people you call use a particular network. Some networks offer free calls to phone numbers on the same network. Again, you should make sure this feature is included when you get to the calling plan if that's an important factor for you.
Choosing a phone
The first step in choosing a cell phone is deciding which type is right for you. Here are the different types and the pros and cons of each.
Candybar – The simplest phones, candybar phones such as the BlackBerry Pearl have a screen and keypad on the outside. While this simplicity means they are usually cheap, they only have keypads with number keys, which makes typing e-mails a slow process. The external screen is more prone to scratching, though.
Flip – Flip phones, like the Motorola Razr V3, flip open to reveal the screen and keypad. Some, however, have screens on both the inside and the outside of the flip-out cover (such as the Razr2 V9), which offers the best of both worlds. The advantage of flip phones is that they are smaller and thinner than candybars, and are often more comfortable to use. However, keeping the phone small also means there is just a keypad (not a full QWERTY keyboard). In addition, the small battery often means a shorter battery life than larger phones. Flip phones are good picks if you are looking for the smallest, sleekest phone and aren't worried about battery life. However, they are a bad choice if you are looking for extended battery life or want to send a lot of e-mails or text messages.
Slider – Putting the keypad underneath a sliding panel leaves more space for the screen, so phones like the Samsung Blast can have bigger screens than their flip cousins, and often feature larger keypads that make dialing easier. However, the sliding design is more complex than the flip approach, which makes it more likely to break or otherwise malfunction.
Sliding QWERTY – These phones are much the same as normal sliders, but have a full QWERTY keyboard behind their sliding panel. Phones like the Helio Ocean and Verizon EnV offer full QWERTY keyboards that are great for e-mail but make the phones heavier and bulkier.
QWERTY – Many BlackBerry and Palm Treo phones offer a QWERTY keyboard on the outside of the case. This makes the design simpler (there are no sliders for things to get caught in), but also means the keyboard is smaller, which can mean slower typing.
There are lots of phones that don't fit into these broad categories, however. Apple's popular iPhone is a candybar, for instance, but doesn't use a physical keypad; you enter numbers on the touch screen. If you aren't sure which type is right for you, go to a store that has a selection on display and spend some time trying them out. Do a number of common tasks. How quickly, for instance, can you dial a number, look up a contact in the phone book, or send a text message? Then decide which of these features are most important for you, and pick the type that lets you do the most important things the fastest.
Choosing a calling plan
Once you've chosen the network and the phone, it's time to look at the calling plans they offer. The main choice here is how many minutes you want. This is often difficult to work out, but the easiest way to do this is to look at your last three or four bills, if you have a cell phone already. Average the total number of calls you make, or if you are looking to get a family plan with multiple phones, total all the lines and average. Then look for a plan that includes slightly more minutes than this; that way, you will be paying a regular amount every month, but won't have to pay for minutes you don't need. Many plans (such as AT&T's Rollover plans) allow you to carry unused minutes over to the next month, but they usually come with conditions, so make sure you read the fine print.
If you are planning on using your phone a lot for e-mailing or Web browsing, you should also look at adding a data feature. Most calling plans don't include data (such as sending e-mail or Web browsing), instead charging you per kilobyte of data you receive. Most carriers allow you to add Web browsing for a small fee (T-Mobile charges $5.99 a month, AT&T charges $9.99 and up), but this often comes with limits. The AT&T $9.99 SmartPhone Connect feature, for instance, allows for 5 MB of data a month (which can quickly get used up) and doesn't include e-mail. If you start using features that aren't covered, or go over your limits, this can get very expensive very quickly. So make sure you know what the limits are.
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