Cell Phone Comparison Blog

There are cell phone shopping discount opportunities available to consumers who are simply willing to take the time to find them. Through careful research on the many types of cell phones available for purchase, a customer can save quite a lot of money on not buying plans that will not meet their needs.

The lure of a particular phone model might confuse people into getting a cell phone rate plan that is out of price for their budget needs, and will give them features that they will very rarely use. These cell phone shopping discount opportunities are shaded by clever advertising, and not centered on the benefit the discount offers to the customer.

Some cell phone shopping discount opportunities can be found in pay cell phone plans. When people purchase a cell phone that minutes can be installed in minute increments, this budget plan might provide the best cell phone shopping discount opportunities that a person can afford at some point in their life. Having a cell phone that is within their budget, that they can conveniently use as much as they like is a benefit that some customers find very attractive.

Prepaid cell phone shopping discount opportunities can also be found in the discount codes that come with new, paid cell phone purchases. These discount codes can be used several times apiece, to double and triple minutes with every cell phone minute card plan that is purchased. These discount codes will also give paid cell phone users cell phone shopping discount opportunities in discounts on their yearly service activation plans. These discounts can save the customer hundreds of dollars in two years time.

There are cell phone shopping discount opportunities that many people are not aware of. With busy work schedules and family commitments, business people do not have the time to keep track of all of the cell phone plans that are offered on the cell phone market for the phone they use everyday. This may be why cell phone companies prefer to lock customers into a 2-year rate plan before changes can be made.

Through the Internet, people can find a large amount of cell phone shopping discount opportunities. These discounts are offered by auction retailers that have off-brand cell phones that are offered at low prices and will afford many years of service. Some of the cell phones at the auction houses have been used before, and are being sold by people who are locked into a two-year plan with no hope of cancellation. When you purchase a phone with a service plan in place, you are saving yourself the phone activation fees perhaps, or can use the minutes that have been loaded onto the cell phone.

When you are looking for cell phone shopping discount opportunities, you can check the local newspapers, resale shops, or flea markets to find good deals on quality cell phones that are taken from overstocked merchants who are unable to sell as many cell phones that they have in their current inventories. They are willing to take drastic discounts to reduce their overhead, and will pass these savings on to the consumer through another retailer that purchased them in a bulk lot auction.

Cathy Peterson
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/cell-phone-shopping-discount-opportunities-118686.html

There are now more than 190 million cell-phone subscribers, more than one per household, on average. A small but steadily growing number of people use a cell phone (a.k.a. a mobile phone) as their only phone. Phone manufacturers and wireless-service providers are promoting new generations of equipment that let users do much more than merely make phone calls.

Despite its popularity, wireless service has a reputation for problems: dead zones, where you can’t get service; calls that inexplicably end in midconversation; inadequate capacity, so you can’t put a call through when you want; hard-to-fathom calling plans; and errors in bills. Problems like those are why one-third of the cell-phone users we’ve surveyed say they’re seriously considering a switch of carrier.

Switching is now much easier than ever, thanks to the government mandate on local number portability. However, keep in mind that the phones themselves aren’t portable. If you switch carriers, expect to buy a new phone.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

The cell-phone itself is only part of what you need. You also have to sign up for service with a wireless provider and choose a calling plan. You can find phones in many outlets, including independent wireless retailers, electronics stores, and Web sites.

The providers. The major national companies are Cingular (which merged with AT&T Wireless), Nextel, Sprint PCS (which is in the process of merging with Nextel), T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. There are also numerous local or regional providers.

You’ll often find phones described as tri-mode, dual-band, tri-band, or multi network. Those terms describe the ways a phone can connect to one or more wireless networks. Here are the specifics:

* Tri-mode phones can access a digital network in two frequency bands and older analog wireless networks.

* Dual-band phones can connect to a digital network, but in two different frequency bands. GSM providers often use the term 850/1900 MHz instead of dual-band.

* Multinetwork phones are compatible with more than one digital network, often in two frequency bands. Some can also access analog networks.

* Tri-band or ‘World Phones’ operate on GSM networks in both the U.S. and abroad. Those with 850/1800/1900 MHz capability can operate on two bands domestically and one internationally. Those with 900/1800/1900 MHz capability operate on one band in the U.S. (1900 MHz) and two bands internationally.

The calling plans. Most providers offer a range of plans based around a “bucket” of calling time minutes. The more minutes in the bucket, the more the plan costs you each month. However, the total number of minutes isn’t the most important figure. Some of those minutes may be good anytime, others available only on nights and weekends; if you exceed the allotment of minutes, you’ll be charged 35 to 50 cents per minute, depending on the plan. Cingular, alone among the major carriers, lets customers roll over unused minutes to the next month. Most plans require you to sign a one- or two-year contract and levy a hefty fee if you want to cancel before the contract expires.

Prepaid plans can be a good alternative if you’re averse to a long-term contract. Many wireless providers, as well as Virgin Mobile, Liberty Wireless, Metro PCS, and Tracfone, offer prepaid calling. You pay in advance for airtime minutes, which typically last 45 to 60 days before they expire.

The phones. Some are simple rectangles with a display window and keypad on the front. Others are curvaceous or have a flip-open cover to protect the keys. The major phone manufacturers are Audiovox, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo, and Sony-Ericsson. Light weight is pretty much standard. All the newer phones can send and receive text messages up to 160 characters long to or from any other cell-phone user, and most phones now come with a full-color display. You’ll also see phones that can play popular computer games, are integrated with a digital camera, offer wireless Internet access, or that are combined with a personal digital assistant (PDA).

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Some cell-phone makers and service providers are offering so-called 3G service, which enhances the speed of data transfer. 3G services deliver reasonably fast, secure connections to the Internet and allow you to use the cell phone for playing and downloading audio and video, multimedia messages, and e-mail.

Among basic cell-phone features, look for a display that is readable in both low- and bright-light conditions. Be sure it’s easy to see the battery-life and signal-strength indicators and the number you’re dialing. The keypad should be clearly marked and easy to use. Programmable speed dial allows you to recall stored names and numbers by pressing one key. Single-key last-number redial is useful for dropped calls or when you’re having trouble connecting. Most phones these days have voice dial, which lets you dial someone’s phone number by speaking their name. But the number and name have to be in your phone’s contact list, and you have to program each voice dial name–a time-consuming process. Voice command-enabled phones don’t require training. You can dial anyone’s number in your contact list, and even dial a number not in the list by speaking the digits.

In addition to ringing, most handsets have a vibrating alert or a flashing light-emitting diode to let you know about an incoming call, useful when you’re in a meeting or at the movies. Handiest is an easy-to-mute ringer, which switches from ring to vibrate when you press and hold one key. Volume controls on the side let you change the earpiece volume level without moving the phone too far from your ear. You can’t do that if the volume controls are on the keypad. A speakerphone boosts the earpiece volume and microphone sensitivity, so you carry on a conversation without having the phone against your ear.

Some cell-phone models include a headset. That capability is sometimes demanded by various local laws for drivers using cell phones. A standard headset connector (also known as a 2.5-mm connector) is the most common type of headset connector. If you frequently use headsets but hate fussing with cords, consider a phone with Bluetooth voice capability, which allows you to use a cordless headset. Not all phones with Bluetooth are equal. Bluetooth data lets you transfer pictures and contacts, etc. to other Bluetooth-enable devices like printers, PDAs, and computers. Bluetooth data capability is found on GSM phones, but no on CDMA phones.

Many CDMA phones have analog backup capability, which may be important if you travel through rural areas, or places where your digital carrier doesn’t provide service. Phones with analog capability can sometimes connect in places where digital-only phones cannot.

Phones vary widely in keypad design and readability of screen displays, as well as in the ease of using the function menu or performing such basic tasks as one-button redial and storage of frequently called numbers for speed-dialing later. It’s important to handle a phone in the store before you buy, to be sure its design and your fingers are well-matched.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Begin by selecting a service. Finding good service where you want it can be a challenge. The best way is to ask your friends and business associates–people who literally travel the same roads you do–how satisfied they are with their cell-phone service. In addition, keep in mind that Verizon Wireless has consistently come in first in Consumer Reports satisfaction surveys and so is worth considering first.

Choose a calling plan. You need to determine when and where you’ll be using a cell phone most in order to select a plan that’s right for you. As a rule, a national calling plan (which typically eliminates extra long-distance charges or fees for “roaming” away from your home calling area) is worth considering first, even if you don’t travel often. With a regional plan, roaming charges can be stiff if you make calls too far away from your home.

If two or more family members use cell phones, consider a family plan that lets up to four people share a large monthly pool of minutes for a small additional monthly charge. If you aren’t sure how many minutes of phone time you’ll use in a month, choose a plan with more minutes than you think you will use. It’s often better to let minutes go unused than to have to pay stiff per-minute charges if you exceed your allotment.

Select a phone. You can spend as little as $20 or as much as $600 on a cell phone. You need to begin your selection in the right price tier. Once you’ve settled on a price range, follow these steps:

First look for practical features. Cameras, games, music players, and the like are appealing, fun, and even useful for some people. However, features such as a folding case, volume controls on the side, and an easy-to-mute ringer will prove useful every day.

Hold the phone. In the store, take the phone in your hand and make sure you can comfortably access most keys with one hand. Try to make a test call and access the menu items on a working demo. We’ve found that phones with radical shapes are difficult to use. So are keys that are small, oddly shaped, or arranged in unusual patterns, especially if you’re trying to dial a number in dim light.

Check the display. Most color screens perform well in dim light, but some are hard to see in daylight. Try the phone outside or under bright light. In our tests, phones that display incoming and outgoing numbers with large black fonts against a white background were the easiest to read under most conditions. Also make sure indicators such as battery life and signal strength are clearly visible.

Consider insuring pricey phones. All major carriers provide insurance that covers lost, stolen, or damaged phones, typically for about $4 to $5 a month, with a $35 to $50 deductible. At those rates, it wouldn’t pay to insure a low-priced phone. But if you paid $200 or more, then insurance may be worth considering. Some insurance plans require a police report. Damaged phones are replaced, often with a refurbished model

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit www.ConsumerReports.org.

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Brooke Yan
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/consumer-reports-cell-phones-95488.html

Cell phones emit electomagnetic frequencies (EMF) that potentially can make us sick or less healthy. There has been research done on the subject and it has shown that EMF's affect our cells and increases our chance of getting chronic disease.

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A decade ago perhaps the options weren`t very many, but as time went by and with the advancement of high technology, cell phones became increasingly available for just about everyone, and most of us questioned which will be the best suitable service option when choosing a cell phone. Today there are two basic options: the prepaid cell phone service, which allows you to control more closely how much you can or want to spend in a particular month, and the standard cell phone service, which usually charges you a monthly bill. Both services seem to offer very good deals depending upon each person needs.

The prepaid service is meant primarily for users who want to keep a closer control of the amount of expenses in phone calls. After the phone credits are gone, one has the option to buy some more or not, keeping his expenses within a limit. This kind of service became very popular and it seems to keep growing every day worldwide. In developing countries, where cell phone tariff is expensive, prepaid services made possible to just about everyone to make use of cell phones.

Another advantage of this service is the fact that in case of a phone loss, one doesn`t have to worry much about phone calls made by third parties, because the cell phone has usually a small amount of credits inserted in. Once the stolen-lost cell phone is reported to the service provider, the phone chip will be canceled and no more hassle to worry about, except for the loss of the handset.

The standard cell phone service seems to be meant for the more active users who regularly dial phone calls or don`t care to go through the hassle of buying cell phone credits often. Although this service usually has a less expensive tariff than the prepaid service, users tend to make more use of it and because of that they end up spending more money with phone services.

One does really have to consider the options available and find out which is the most suitable for his personal use. The option for prepaid service seems to be more adequate for the less amount of usage the average people usually do. Those who prefer the prepaid service, do so because it is more attractive to their needs and they don`t have to worry about paying more for an extra service that it is not going to be used anyway.

For those who can`t afford a more expensive model or simply don`t want to spend any extra money for a cell phone, the prepaid service then becomes the ideal choice. However for those who need to keep updated this latest high-tech cell phone features and making phone calls is part of his personal or professional life, then the standard monthly paid service will seem more appropriate.

So whenever picking a cell phone service plan, make sure it fits your lifestyle. After all it`s you who will be paying the phone bill.

Roberto Sedycias

IT Consultant

This article is under GNU FDL license and can be distributed without any previous authorization from the author. However the author´s name and all the URL´s (links) mentioned in the article and biography must be kept.

Roberto Sedycias
http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/prepaid-x-standard-cell-phone-services-125963.html

Just as you might have thought, using a prepaid cell phone has two sides too. I started on the field of mobile technology with a prepaid cell phone first. Find out below, how I started and what I liked and disliked about prepaid cell phones below.

I was a big holdout before I finally broke down and got myself a cellular phone. I didn’t honestly think it was that more convenient than using a land line and I certainly didn’t want people to get a hold of me whenever they wanted to. I liked the little bit of anonymity I had and usually despised it when friends would get up from a nice dinner to answer their cell phones. It didn’t benefit the matter that most of my friends were spending between twenty and forty dollars every month to cover their cell phone bills; the only way I could afford to pay that much for a phone was if I decided to stop eating for a month or two.

You’ll note that the entire last paragraph was in past-tense since I did, in fact, buying a cell phone. It wasn’t the standard pay-through-the-nose plan though; I got a prepaid cellular phone and managed to get practically all of the perks of cell phone usage without the gigantic fees or multi-year commitments. I picked up a Virgin prepaid cellular phone from Target and, with a special sale, got the phone for free.

Unlike most cellular phone plans which require multi-year commitments and tremendous fees for using too many minutes, prepaid cellular phones allow you to top up time in the same way that you add time to a phone card. Though the individual minutes are more expensive ($.25 for the first 10 minutes of every day and $.10 for every minute thereafter, no roaming and no time restrictions, text messages for $.10 apiece) if you’re not using your cell phone very often you can end up saving a lot of money. I generally end up spending only $10 or so every month for my service, which is a lot better than what most of my pals are paying.

Regardless of the service provider, prepaid cellular phones do have their drawbacks. One of the best perks my friends with standard cellular plans have is that they typically get free nights and weekends, which I don’t get with my prepaid phone. The phone isn’t quite as good as the phones which normally come either for free or at steep discounts with the basic plans, though my phone was free, has a full color screen, and has full internet access, so I can’t complain too much. Overall, I’m extremely pleased with my prepaid cellular phone, though I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone who plans on spending a lot of time talking on his or her cell phone.

Before getting a prepaid cell phone or signing up for a plan with a service provider, spend some time figuring out what your needs and demands are, what you expect from your cell phone and the mobile service, and then, only then buy into the right solution. You will save yourself not only money but future headaches too.

Brad M Daniels
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/my-prepaid-cell-phone-story-107515.html

What does it mean when you combine the power of a PDA with a mobile phone? If you need to you are able to conduct business when ever you want it doesn’t matter what time of the night or day it is you will always have the ability to communicate. For women there are so many accessories and cases to put their cell phone, many cases come in leather and many different colors. As mobile phones gain popularity they are fast replacing landlines in many homes, many children are receiving cell phones from their parents where the children do not need to use the landlines anymore since they have their own personal phone and number.

Well it’s going to get better; you are going to have a true video camera built into your phone, which will be good for 10 to 20 minutes of record time.

Such customers can go in for prepaid, as it makes more sense to them. For many consumers who don’t have a good credit rating and don’t want to go thru the hassles prepaid cell phones is the perfect choice. Many people now are looking for free prepaid cell phones using the internet, many companies are doing this for promotional purposes. Many people are opting to use prepaid wireless plans because this is a way of putting a limit or budgeting how much you spend on phone calls. In cases such as those, prepaid cell phones can be the proverbial lifesaver. Prepaid cell phones are a good idea to keep the expense down, the calls are more expensive to make on these phones but you can only make the calls once the credit is there.

As cell phones become more advanced and they started to features like video capabilities there has been a new group who created a movement called cell phone filming. Many have hailed the smart cell phone with video or digital picture ability as a great crime stopper.

You can buy so many minutes for a certain amount of money. Prepaid cell phone enable you to pay for the minutes that you need, basically pay as you go, remember the more you talk on the phone the more you will pay unless you put a budget guard on the phone. Think it over for a few minutes before you sign on the dotted line.

When cell phones first came out all you could do is dial a number and make the call, but now you can access the Internet, take pictures, and download music and video. These new Cell phones are going to be a multimedia center, a mobile office, a navigation device Global Positioning system, a computer with fast Internet access, a text messenger, a high resolution camera and video, a watch, a calculator, a PDA, an MP3 music player, TV and a Wallet.

Accessories do not add to the performance of your cell phone but it certainly dresses it up. You should purchase manufacturer or carrier recommended products and accessories wherever possible. Find ways to reuse or recycle your phone and accessories when you’re finished with them.

David Fishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/cell-phones-are-now-pdas-and-cameras-95566.html

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A bill in the Honolulu city council would make it against the law for you to play a video game or text on your cell phone while you’re driving. That might cramp your style a little if you’re driving around Waikiki — or anywhere else on Oahu, and need to text a member of your vacation party who’s somewhere else. Distributed by Tubemogul.

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What does it mean when you combine the power of a PDA with a mobile phone? If you need to you are able to conduct business when ever you want it doesn’t matter what time of the night or day it is you will always have the ability to communicate. For women there are so many accessories and cases to put their cell phone, many cases come in leather and many different colors. As mobile phones gain popularity they are fast replacing landlines in many homes, many children are receiving cell phones from their parents where the children do not need to use the landlines anymore since they have their own personal phone and number.

Well it’s going to get better; you are going to have a true video camera built into your phone, which will be good for 10 to 20 minutes of record time.

Such customers can go in for prepaid, as it makes more sense to them. For many consumers who don’t have a good credit rating and don’t want to go thru the hassles prepaid cell phones is the perfect choice. Many people now are looking for free prepaid cell phones using the internet, many companies are doing this for promotional purposes. Many people are opting to use prepaid wireless plans because this is a way of putting a limit or budgeting how much you spend on phone calls. In cases such as those, prepaid cell phones can be the proverbial lifesaver. Prepaid cell phones are a good idea to keep the expense down, the calls are more expensive to make on these phones but you can only make the calls once the credit is there.

As cell phones become more advanced and they started to features like video capabilities there has been a new group who created a movement called cell phone filming. Many have hailed the smart cell phone with video or digital picture ability as a great crime stopper.

You can buy so many minutes for a certain amount of money. Prepaid cell phone enable you to pay for the minutes that you need, basically pay as you go, remember the more you talk on the phone the more you will pay unless you put a budget guard on the phone. Think it over for a few minutes before you sign on the dotted line.

When cell phones first came out all you could do is dial a number and make the call, but now you can access the Internet, take pictures, and download music and video. These new Cell phones are going to be a multimedia center, a mobile office, a navigation device Global Positioning system, a computer with fast Internet access, a text messenger, a high resolution camera and video, a watch, a calculator, a PDA, an MP3 music player, TV and a Wallet.

Accessories do not add to the performance of your cell phone but it certainly dresses it up. You should purchase manufacturer or carrier recommended products and accessories wherever possible. Find ways to reuse or recycle your phone and accessories when you’re finished with them.

David Marc Fishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/cell-phones-are-getting-so-advanced-93010.html

The main reason people choose prepaid cell phones is not to save money, but to avoid or get rid of an offensive contract agreement. Wireless contracts seem to have been written in the dark ages, and here are some things you need to know about them.

Your wireless contract is about way more than just agreeing to keep the service for a specific amount of time. If you read the fine print you’ll be appalled at some of the terms you are asked to agree to.

No Service? Too Bad.

First of all, there’s the obvious issue of not being able to try the service on before you commit. If your vendor doesn’t work in your neighborhood, too bad; you’ve singed the contract and there’s no backing out for lack of service.

Understand this is NOT uncommon with contract wireless services who rely only on specific tower networks. Prepaid cell phones, on the other hand, will normally work through any tower network that is nearby.

Of course this benefit doesn’t stand when you buy a prepaid plan from a contract vendor. True prepaid cell phone services operate as stand-alone entities, apart from their contract-based competitors.

Instant Contract Renewal Without Your Consent

Once you’re plugged into a contract with a wireless company, don’t plan on simply getting out of it when the time is up. Often, your contract will auto renew unless you specifically cancel it, and many companies will only allow you to cancel on the very last day of the contract term!

You should also know that any time you buy a car charger, extra handset, or calling plan upgrade the sales rep can (and usually does) extend your contract without even telling you about it. This is all fair play according to the contract you signed but probably didn’t read in the beginning.

Contracts You Signed Can Be Changed At Any Time

Perhaps the most outrageous part of wireless contract plans is the fact that the company without your knowledge or consent can change them at any time. Your signature binds you to any changes the company wants to make in the future, including clauses to make it harder for you to get out from under your agreement!

It’s actually shocking that such blatant manipulation and bullying of the consumer is even legal. And frankly it’s little wonder that over 60% of all global wireless users opt for prepaid cell phone service.

Putting Your Foot Down And Ending The Contract Nightmare

Of course the best way to avoid these insane contracts is not to sign them. You should choose a prepaid cell phone plan instead of using a major contract provider.

But if you’ve already been sucked into an unfair contract, what can you do to get out?

You’ll be forced to pay a fee that ranges from $150 to $1,500 if you choose to breech your contract. You could of course hire a lawyer to find a loophole, but you won’t save any money going that route.

Honestly, paying the breech fee is nothing compared to the money you could lose if you stay with your contract provider. So just sucking it up and shelling out is one way to get clear.

Also, be aware that you can’t be forced to pay this fee. So you could simply terminate your account and refuse to pay the breech fee.

Your contract provider will of course report this to credit companies. But no collection team will come to your home demanding the money.

And it’s easy to get a credit counselor to help you dispute an item on your credit report. You’d be surprised what you can get removed with a little persistence.

This advice may not be “white hat” to a lot of people, but how forthright and righteous are these ludicrous contract arrangements we’ve been talking about? The bottom line is: you need to do what’s necessary to stand up for yourself and refuse to be pushed around by these insensitive, money-hungry contract wireless providers.

Tim Whiston
http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/prepaid-cell-phones-dump-your-wireless-contract-now-708278.html