The early cell phone was a simple but heavy and large hand-held telephonic device that came with an antenna that could be pulled out to for a better reception. However, today cell phones are light weight, slim, small, and pretty looking and have built in antennas that offer clear reception and enhanced voice quality.
Because cell phones are so easy to use and portable they have become the choice of most callers, and more so for those who are on the move frequently. Cell phones can be defined as low-power, two-ways radios having a single channel that facilitates communication.
If you are interested in buying a mobile phone, you need to know some of the most important features of the gadget. Let’s take a look at how you can buy and save on mobile phones.
While the starting price for mobile phones is as low as under $20.00, there are many others that boast of unique technologies and remarkable and revolutionary designs and cost over $400-$500. With such variation in price, it becomes extremely difficult to find a mobile phone that offers you everything you need (including features you don’t need) and more. However, if you don’t require some features that are part of the service you have opted for, you can simply request your mobile service provider or MSP to cancel the additional features and make substantial savings.
Here are the three most important things you need to ask yourself before buying a mobile phone:
1. Why do you need a mobile phone?
2. What are the key features that you require?
3. What kind of accessories do you need?
Why do you need a mobile phone?
For many people a mobile phone is a status symbol. Some people even change mobile phones as often as they change their clothes, while a few others prefer to have a mobile handset that is simple to operate and easy to pocket. Depending on the type of user you think you are, you need to sit down and make a list of things you want to do using your mobile phone. Armed with this list you can now surf the internet and pick some handsets that match your list of requirements.
Essentially, there are three types of users and they are:
Only want to make and take calls. For these users cheap mobile phones with basic features are the most suitable. A basic handset will allow you to make and take calls, access your voicemail, send and receive text messages, besides offer you features such as calculator, alarm, ringtones, address book, calendar, games etc. These phones will help you contain your bill but may limit the choice of mobile phones. You also may not be able to access internet on your mobile phone. Some such models are: Sony Ericsson W850i, Motorola KRZR K1, and Nokia 3110.
Exploiting technologies to their benefit, these users are the second type and usually prefer mid-range cell phones. Now, more than ever before there are many technologies that can be found in mobile handsets. These help a savvy user communicate in more ways than just mere speech. Also, features such as digital cameras are now standard for most mobile phones and allow people the convenience that greatly outweighs the low image quality belted out by these mobile cams. Further on, a color screen makes the experience of playing games more exciting and interesting. Mobile phones belonging to this range include other important features such as WAP, Video shooting, Multimedia Messaging or MMS, Radios, MP3 Players, and voice recording etc. Some mobile phones belonging to this category include: Sony Ericsson W880i, Nokia 6300, and Sony Ericsson K810i.
Portable Office users always prefer mobile phones that are top-of-the-range and feature-packed. If you are an executive on the go who need to be connect to his/her office while away from it, these hi-end mobile phones are made with you in mind. Also known as Smartphone these mobile phones allow you to do so many things that it can be a bit overwhelming initially. From taking images and sending them to your friends instantly, you can even print your images from your mobile phone! Take video phone calls, access TV channels, watch the news on the go, and enjoy a host of other facilities at the tips of your fingers. Moreover, you can connect your Smartphone with your PDA or laptop or desktop and access data, or co-ordinate activities whenever required.
Styles of Phones
Since shedding the large, bulky physical appearance, cell phone manufacturers continue to come out with different kinds of phone. All of these, however, follow three basic styles: "candy bar" phones, flip phones, and smart phones.The candy bar phone looks pretty much as its name implies. It is shaped like a rectangle or a square, and its screen and the majority of its operational keys/digits are located on the face of the phone. Each of these phones provides a locking mechanism to prevent you from accidentally pressing a digit or dialing a number while the phone is bouncing around in your pocket or purse.
Flip phones require you to open the face of the phone to dial and receive calls. These provide the most natural phone experience, mimicking the kind of telephone you would have in your home. The earpiece and mouthpiece are perfectly aligned with your ear and mouth, respectively.
The smart phone is built like a candy bar phone, but instead of simply having a keypad for numbers, they provide a full "QWERTY" keyboard. Installed on each smart phone are computer software products such as Windows OS, Symbian OS, and BlackBerry OS.
Widows OS and Symbian OS are more commercially friendly operating systems, as they allow for simple configurations and web browsing. If you use a computer regularly, these operating systems will make you feel as if your home computer is in your pocket.
BlackBerry OS is used predominantly within a corporate/business atmosphere. E-mail is the biggest factor that makes BlackBerry useful. Its communication is instantaneous, whereas e-mail support from a Windows or Symbian OS will use a different network, creating e-mail delay. On the BlackBerry OS, you can have up to 10 e-mail accounts on one phone, many of which can be aligned directly with your company's network, allowing you to send and receive messages without having to be in your office.
More Than Just Calling Friends and Family
As with all technology, cell phones have evolved greatly and are now multifunctional electronic tools. You can send text messages, pictures, e-mail, and files, or check the weather, show times, and restaurant reviews, all with a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
Each cell phone carrier provides these different services as part of their cell phone packages. Typically, the more features you want, the mores expensive your monthly bill will be. However, carriers are now creating special packages that allow consumers to have the "whole package" for one reasonable, set rate.
Accessing the internet on your cellular phone is a feature that has been getting better and better since its implementation almost 10 years ago. The newer cell phones, the ones with larger screens, allow for full HTML browsing, while the smaller, less expensive phones do not provide that service. What's the difference? The difference is in the quality and speed at which you can surf the web. The phones designed to provide full HTML service allow you to navigate a website like you were sitting at a desktop computer. The cell phones not designed to handle that can either crash, or take an extremely long time to upload a website.
Stay Connected
With the availability of the internet on your cell phone, it has now become easier to keep in touch with your circle of friends. Cell phones now provide applications, which are websites specifically designed to operate with your cellular phone. Social websites, such as Facebook and MySpace, have free applications that allow you to control your Facebook and MySapce page with your cell phone just as you would if you were sitting in front of your computer.
Connecting to other electronic devices has never been easier. Some cellular phones allow wireless connections via Bluetooth. You can operate your phone through Bluetooth and transfer files to other phones, use hands-free mobile headsets, connect to your computer, and communicate with other electronic devices that use the Bluetooth signal.
Besides tapping into the internet, cell phones can become a portable entertainment source. Some phones have built-in memory as well as a slot for a memory card. With these features, you can take pictures, video, and even turn your phone into a full-fledged MP3 player, storing hundreds of songs.
How Does it All Work?
The internet is available on your phone through several different sources. The basic telephones that can connect to the internet use WAP, also known as Wireless Application Protocol. A WAP browser provides all of the basic services of a computer-based web browser, but in a simplified form to operate within the restrictions of a mobile phone. WAP sites are websites written in, or converted to, WML (Wireless Markup Language) and accessed through the WAP browser.
Before the introduction of WAP, service providers had extremely limited opportunities to offer interactive data services. Interactive data applications are required to support currently commonplace activities such as sending e-mail or searching for sports scores, stock market quotes, or news headlines.
Just like on a computer, different internet speeds and services are provided. The evolution of cellular phone internet access has been: Dual Mode connection, Tri-Mode connection, Edge, 2G and 3G. These provide the full HTML experience on your phone. Currently 3G is the fastest internet access available for cellular phones, but it is not available in all locations. To remedy this situation, some newer cell phones have built-in Wi-Fi, which allows you to connect to the internet through the local wireless router.
Crossing Contract Lines
Let's say you have already decided on the best phone carrier and best plan that fits your needs, but there are no phones provided by that carrier that you like. Well, for a hefty price, you can purchase an "unlocked" phone that will work on any carrier (as long as the phone accepts the SIM card provided by the carrier). The down side of purchasing an unlocked phone is that they are not sold by cell phone carriers, negating any warranty they would have provided. Unlocked phones can be purchased at various retail stores, which is where you would go if the phone ever needed to be serviced.
There are some other warranty risks involved with buying an unlocked phone. Some unlocked phones come with warranties honored by the manufacturers; however some do not come with U.S. warranties. Many unlocked phones have warranties that are only honored overseas. If an issue arises with an unlocked phone that has a warranty honored overseas, it can be 2-3 months or more to get the phone fixed. Therefore, consumers must be careful and understand the risks of buying an unlocked phone and ask the right questions. Most stores that sell unlocked phones offer very limited warranties and often charge restocking fees or have a no-return policy on these. That is why at Abt Electronics, we currently offer a limited selection of unlocked phones.
Glossary
Windows OS: An operating system used on cellular phones based on the Windows PC format.
Symbian OS: The most popular operating system on cellular phones. This system allows phones to text, receive and send messages, and run the majority of all operations on a phone.
BlackBerry OS: Operating system used primarily with BlackBerry smart phones. Predominantly used by businesses.
QWERTY: The representation of the first line of the American keyboard. Cell phones that feature a "Full Qwerty Keyboard" have a standard alphabetical keyboard.
HTML: HyperText Markup Language is the text predominantly used in the creation of standard web pages.
Texting: A way of communicating by using the keys on your phone to spell out words and send brief messages from one phone to another.
Bluetooth: A wireless way of communicating and transferring information to other electronic devices with built-in Bluetooth technology.
SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Card: This is a small card that is provided by cell phone carriers and identifies a user's telephone number and service package. Can be removed and placed in unlocked phones except for users with Sprint or Verizon contracts, as their phones have built-in SIM cards.
Wi-Fi: The popular wireless technology used in home networks, mobile phones, and other electronic devices.
Finally, don't let the look of the mobile phone fool you; always consider all factors before you buy a mobile phone!
