How to Buy a Cell Phone

When choosing a cell phone there are several different aspects to consider. We'll cover some of the basic information below.

The first step is choosing a calling plan. Decide whom you will be calling when and how often you will talk. Try to give yourself a little breathing room in your plan. If you think you are going to use 500 minutes a month choose a plan that has 600 minutes. Minutes that are over the minutes included in your plan are usually very expensive. Some plans now feature carryover minutes, this allows you to take unused minutes from on month and carry them into the next. Also pay attention to the calling periods. Some plans give free night and weekend calls. The definition of night varies from provider to provider, some start as early as 7pm others as late as 9pm. Choose the plan that best matches your needs, and is within your budget.

Once you have a calling plan you can choose a phone that is compatible. The most important feature to be concerned with is battery life. Batteries give you two numbers stand-by and talk time. Talk time will always be less as it uses more power to talk on your phone than for it to be waiting for a call. Again you are looking for a battery life that matches your lifestyle.

The next things to look at are the features offered on the phone, like web access, cameras, MP3 playback, text messaging and more. Don't buy a phone with Internet access if you aren't going to use it. If you buy a phone with the newest features you will usually pay premium price for it. Don't waste your money on a feature because it's new or trendy, prices will usually come down in 6-8 months.

Do you plan on using your phone while driving? Many states have laws that require you to operate the phone in a hands free mode, make sure your phone has that capability. If you are going to carry your phone anywhere other than on your belt you will probably need a case to protect it, and you from dialing accidentally.