Selecting a Cell Phone
More Than Just a Phone
Selecting a cell phone is no longer just about mobile communication - it is now a lifestyle choice. If you don't select the phone that fits your personality, you won't be happy with it. New cell phones are beginning to have little in common with earlier cell phones. The new models feature color screens, digital cameras, high-speed internet connections, multimedia games, and music playback. In case you were wondering, you can also use them to make phone calls. It's only a matter of time before everyone has these features on their cell phones.
Text messaging or "texting" is now available standard on most cell phones. It is similar to instant messaging except that messages are sent and received by cell phones instead of computers. Multimedia messaging allows you to send audio, video, and pictures as an attachment to a text message. Multimedia messaging was once seen as entertainment, but is rapidly becoming valuable to the business world. Real estate agents take photos of houses with their cell phones and employment agencies may use camera phones to photograph job applicants - all away from their office.
Dial In On the Options
Cellular providers in the United States use either GSM or CDMA technology. When you buy a cell phone, it is tied to either GSM or CDMA cellular network, but can't be converted from one to the other. If you ever switch cellular providers, you may also need to switch phones. Most cellular providers now have high-speed data networks. These data networks work with high-end cell phones and special network cards you can purchase for laptops. Data networks usually transmit data slightly faster than a dialup internet connection. These networks are still being developed and are yet to be available everywhere. Look for higher speed networks to be much more common by 2006.
If you want to purchase a camera phone, consider what quality of photos you need to take. Most camera phones have less than a one megapixel resolution, which produces low-quality images. If you need to take clear photos, look into a camera phone with 3 or more megapixels.
Voice Dialing and Bluetooth are becoming standard in many phones to make it easier and safer for people to use their phones while driving. Voice Dialing allows you to speak a person's name into your phone, which will automatically find the person in your address book and dial the number for you. Bluetooth lets you connect a headset to your phone without wires. Some luxury cars are beginning to offer Bluetooth connectivity so that you can take calls in your car through the built-in speaker system.
Some newer cell phones are being designed with an emphasis on entertainment. They can be used to play music MP3 files, stored video and even movies, and video games. In general, the newer phones are all getting smarter and more specialized.
After you're done choosing the features that you want, don't neglect the practical aspects. Look at how often you will need to change the battery, whether the screen and keypad are too big and too small. Also, caveat emptor: most cellular providers lock you into a one or two year contract when you purchase a phone from them. If you cancel your service, they will charge you an early termination fee.
About The Author
Deryck Richards is the founder and managing partner of Desktronix. With an extensive educational background in computer information systems, Deryck currently manages hosting and data center operations for Desktronix. He also provides system administration and technical support directly to small businesses as he has since 2000. His areas of expertise include networking, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh systems and he is the author of The Guide to Technology for Small Business. For more information on Desktronix, visit www.desktronix.com.
Latest News
 ABC News | Car Cell Phone Use More Hazardous Than Chat With Passengers Washington Post, United States - 2 (HealthDay News) -- Drivers talking on a cell phone are more distracted and more prone to error than if they were speaking with a friend sitting next to ... Cell Phones More Distracting Than Chatty Passengers Study: Cell Phones More Distracting Than Passengers in Car Cell Phones For Drivers Could Lead To New Legislation |
More users happy with their cell phone service San Jose Mercury News, USA - Toney also said that generally, people's expectations for reliable cell phone service has gone down. He said people have gotten so used to dropped calls, ... |
TechFaith and QIGI Launch i6-Goal, First Android-Powered Phone in ... CNNMoney.com - TechFaith is an original developed product provider focused on research and development of cell phone solutions. Based in China, TechFaith employs ... |
Too attached to your cell phone? Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - By Jim Osterman | Monday, December 1, 2008, 08:19 AM I never thought about how attached I have become to my mobile phone until recently when a story popped ... Black Friday? Cyber Monday? Here comes 'Mobile Tuesday' |
 NewsOXY | For Cellphones, an Enticing Array of Add-Ons New York Times, United States - By JD BIERSDORFER FINDING a gift for someone who seems to have everything can be easier if that someone has a cellphone. A mobile phone can be enhanced with ... Blackberry maker disappoints with its Storm Wise consumers will compare smart phones before they buy Review finds BlackBerrys cool but don't beat iPhone |
Cell Phone Users Increasingly Satisfied With Their Service InformationWeek, NY - ... more than 50000 cell phone users. As in most other recent surveys, Verizon Wireless came out as the stand-out carrier for most people, although T-Mobile ... Survey Finds Cell-Phone Satisfaction Consumer Reports: Saving On Cell Service Verizon trounces competition in wireless quality survey |
Comes With a Ribbon, but No Strings New York Times, United States - By DAVID S. JOACHIM CHOOSING the right cellphone to give can be difficult, but once that choice is made, there’s another big issue to consider: How to get ... Teens Want Hot Phones, Parents Want Cool Prices |
Over 89 Days Using My Mobile Watchdog™, DA’s Office Nabs 40 ... Business Wire (press release), CA - Jefferson County investigators are among the heaviest law enforcement users of the software that monitors and tracks cell phone threats, contacts and ... |
Regulators hang up on cell tower backup rules Washington Post, United States - Federal regulators have rejected proposed changes by the Federal Communications Commission that would require all US cell phone towers to have at least ... Wireless industry wins skirmish in backup-power debate |
Most Mobile Users Carry Phone 'At All Times' Marketing Vox News - Nearly 60% of mobile-phone users say carry their cell phone with them "at all times" — including inside their home — and a growing number say their device ... |
Resources
-
Cell Phone Numbers Magic reverses Cell Phone numbers
Cell Phone numbers magic retrieves Cell Phone numbers and Mobile Phone numbers and reverses them too!
-
Celltrace.com - GLOBAL - Mobile Phone Protection, Detection and Retrieval System.
Unique Virtual Cell Phone Protection, Detection and Retrieval System