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.

---

Getting the Most of Your Cell Phone Batteries

Are you planning on buying a new phone in the... Read More

Buying a New Business Phone System

Buying a new business phone system is one of the... Read More

Camera Cell Phones -- More Uses Than You Could Have Imagined

I was shopping in the large superstore with my five-year-old... Read More

Knowing the difference between Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans Will Save You Time and Money

Many people go looking for cell phones without too much... Read More

Cell Phone Abuse - Tips to Curb Employee Abuse

Looking for a way to save your enterprise or government... Read More

The Cell Phone Store

Effectively everybody wants the hottest and best cheap cell phones... Read More

Cell Phone Abuse: Are You A Victim?

Like millions of others, you may be the victim of... Read More

Choosing a Voice Mail System

Voice Mail put simply In its simplest form a voice... Read More

Recycling Mobile Phones

Recycle Cell PhonesTechnological advancements providing users with improved reception through... Read More

The Pros and Cons of Camera Cell Phones

All the major phone manufacturers are cashing in on the... Read More

DECT - A Brief Explanation and How We Could Benefit From It

DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. Unlike analogue cordless... Read More

Camera Cell Phone Samsung

Camera cell phone by Samsung ? description.Samsung manufacture a large... Read More

Calling Cards and Prepaid Phone Cards To Help You Save Money

You can now save quite a bit of money on... Read More

Prepaid Cell Phone Plans ? Are They For You?

Most Americans have cell phone plans with contracts that call... Read More

The Benefits of Digital

Analogue is the process of taking an audio or video... Read More

International Calling Made Simpler And Cheaper

When people make international calls from their cell phones or... Read More

Be In When Youre Out

Busy entrepreneurs cannot be at their desk twenty four hours... Read More

Local Search on Cell Phones will Derail Yellow Page Directory Usage

Local Businesses have Been Slow to Capitalize on Search Engine... Read More

Cellular Phone Contract Tips

Choosing a cellular phone contract and choosing a cell phone... Read More

Will Your Cell Phone Work in an Emergency?

If you're one of the millions of cell phone users... Read More

Ringtone Creation Software - Creating Raves or Waves?

Okay, so we all know that you can change the... Read More

Sorting Through Your Cellular Phone Options

Some people purchase a cellular phone for emergency use only,... Read More

Camera Phones - Are They The Real Deal?

It's no surprise If you've become interested in the new... Read More

Camera Cell Phone Verizon

Camera cell phone by Verizon ? offer with a service... Read More

Making Sense of Cellular Phone Minutes

Cellular phones are different from your land-line home phone in... Read More

Cell Phone Plans ? Choices Abound!

The Future Is FlexibleGone are the days when the only... Read More

Location Sensitivity - Cell Phone GPS

This is basically a system to locate the handheld when... Read More

Negotiating a Cell Tower Lease: Getting Help

A recent survey of the FCC's antenna structure registration database... Read More

Mobile Phone Unlocking

In the world today, you will but a phone, and... Read More

The Different Cell Phone Accessories Available

Where do I start? Always start with the essentials. If... Read More

4 Dazzling Midrange Cell Phones

Your next cell phone can be a stripped down model... Read More

3G Technology

A 'third generation' wireless communications technology having evolved from first... Read More

Cell Phone Reviews ? Why Do Them?

Well let's be honest some people just don't bother doing... Read More