Buying a new Cell Phone ?

Posted on October 12, 2008
Filed Under Gadgets |

About the only piece of technology that now advances faster than that of computers is the cell phone but this can annoy many buyers; many buyers become dismayed at the almost non-stop stream of new models to choose from. Strangely, many buyers overlook certain important things before making their purchase; below are some facts every user should know before upgrading.

Battery life can be a problem although they normally last longer than they used to, cell phones now have many more functions and these all contribute to draining your battery. So you need to keep a careful watch on your battery to ensure it does not go flat at an inconvenient time

The back light is the second biggest power drain of any cell phone battery but this can be either turned off or use the auto back light off function if your phone is supplied with one. Actually talking on the phone uses the most power when it is being operated as it is being used as a transmitter so reduce the length of calls and turn it off if you find yourself in an area with poor reception as the cell phone battery will drain itself trying to find a signal. The more you talk, the quicker the battery will drain; this is also true for times your cell phone is connected to the Internet, downloading games or playing music for example.

Whilst downloading new ring tones and wallpaper is a great idea, many people are given free sample but forget they will be charged for the rest that are download automatically, sometimes without their knowledge. For parents buying a phone for their child, most companies will now allow them to disable this download function so only the mother or father has control over it via a password feature that the child cannot override.

When buying a cell phone with a one or two year contract or pay-per use agreement, be sure to read the fine print and consider how many minutes you plan to use each month. Weigh the prices of both types of agreements before signing on the dotted line because if you plan to use your phone regularly, then a long-term contract might be worth it. Some features like tri-band or quad-band means they can be used in Europe and Asia but these may only be available with phones that are part of a long term agreement so look out for deals that will be of benefit to you.

Some plans do not include roaming charges which is something to consider if you travel a great deal as it could dramatically increase the cost. Some companies will replace your phone if it breaks or is lost or stolen so consider the insurance warranty before buying because they are typically carried around everywhere; which means they can easily get broken or damaged and a warranty will give you peace of mind.

If you decide to buy your cell phone on the Internet, make sure it is not an old or outgoing model unless you do not mind of course; otherwise you may find it doesn’t have all the features you want included.

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