Cell phone shopping tips

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

The providers

The major national cellular service providers are AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. There are also many local or regional providers.

The phones

You can find cell phones in many outlets, including cellular service providers' stores, independent wireless retailers, electronics stores, and Web sites. But the cell phone is only part of what you need. You also have to sign up for service with a wireless provider and choose a calling plan. (Comparison tool powered by TeleBright.com).

The leading cell-phone brands include LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sanyo. Prices range from free with a two-year contract (including rebates) to $200 or more for an unlocked phone without carrier commitment.

Major smart-phone makers include Apple, BlackBerry, LG Electronics, Motorola, Nokia, Palm, and Samsung. Most are sold by the major carriers: AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. Some carriers sell their own brand of smart phones manufactured by Casio, HTC, and other phone makers. Phone prices with a two-year contract, including rebates, range from about $100 to $300. Smart phones purchased unlocked without a contract can cost significantly more, starting at $400.

How to choose

Consider shape and size

Phones that fold, slide, or swivel are typically more compact when closed. Phones shaped like candy bars can be used without first being opened. The best choice depends largely on personal preference, so visit a store and hold the phone if possible. Make sure you can comfortably use most keys with one hand. Make a test call and access menu items. We've found that flat or virtual keypads make dialing more difficult without looking. Other call clunkers include 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 screens are fine in dim and normal light, but some are harder to see in daylight or under bright light. Try the phone outside or under bright light. In our tests, phones that displayed incoming and outgoing numbers in large black type 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. Touch screen displays provide an alternate, and sometimes more direct, method to input data and launch phone features and controls. But they often require two hands to operate, and they smudge more frequently than their non-touch counterparts.

Consider a keyboard

A phone's shape and size are largely determined by its keyboard and display. Some models have a QWERTY keyboard that slides out from behind the phone and tucks away when not in use. Others open like an eyeglass case to reveal a keyboard, or leave the keyboard in plain sight. Still other models have a virtual keyboard on their touch-sensitive displays. Overall, we found pecking out messages on their mirror-smooth, buttonless surfaces to be a challenge.

If you plan to do a lot of typing, look instead for a keyboard with keys that are raised, clearly labeled, well spaced, and well sized. Make sure that the keys provide solid tactile feedback. The keyboard should be easy to read under different lighting conditions. Overall, we've found that a full QWERTY keyboard, similar to a computer keyboard, is best for composing and editing text and e-mail messages. Some keyboards cram multiple letters, numbers, and symbols on a single key to save space. But those "condensed" keyboards, though still more convenient than keypads, are not as easy to handle as full keyboards.

Smart-phone buyers:

Consider the operating system

Smart phones run on various operating systems, each with its own character. The operating system affects a phone's capabilities, ease of use, and other conveniences.

• Android. Currently found on T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and G1 phone, Android is a modified version of the Linux operating system used on a small but growing number of computers, set-top boxes, and other devices. Its open- source architecture enables a broad community of software developers to create applications that run on the phones. The models have advanced Google search features, but you can't edit Office documents, such as Word and Excel.
  
  
• BlackBerry. One of the best operating systems for e-mail. E-mail setup and account management is among the easiest—especially on T-Mobile. Push capability automatically sends e-mails to the phone so that you don't have to check it manually. Most models have easy trackball navigation, but lack touch-screen support. And, on many models, you can't create and edit Office documents such as Word and Excel. Some models have a more powerful operating system, Office document editing, and even a touch screen.
  
  
• Danger. Used on the Sidekick, this relatively straightforward interface makes text and instant messaging a snap. But some other tasks, including dialing, are not always intuitive. Also, you can't create and edit Office documents, such as Word and Excel.
  
  
• iPhone OS. A mobile version of the OS found on Macintosh computers designed to work with finger-driven touch screens. It's what makes many of the iPhone's innovative features possible, including a full-featured version of the Safari Web browser, with rich HTML, e-mail, advanced searching, and map functions, but you can't edit Office documents.
  
  
• Palm. The aging Palm operating system has been ditched for webOS, which powers the Pre and future models. Like its predecessor, webOS has a user-friendly touch-screen interface that provides relatively easy access to many phone features and applications. But it also enables multiple apps to run concurrently, links their functions more intuitively, and adds more-advanced Web, multimedia, messaging, and search tools. With webOS you can shuffle applications on the phone's touch screen like a deck of cards. To close an application, just flick it off the display.
  
  
• Symbian or Series 60. Found primarily on Nokia phones, the basic version is more difficult to use, especially when setting up and using e-mail. And it can be tricky to navigate. Also, you can't create and edit Office documents, such as Word and Excel. The more powerful version, available on touch-screen models, is easier to manage and better at those tasks. The home screen offers customizable shortcuts to applications, contacts, and widgets. Some advanced Symbian models let you edit Office documents.
  
  
• Windows Mobile. Its interface is similar to Windows, which makes navigation intuitive to PC users. It synchronizes easily with Microsoft Outlook on a PC, and you can buy software for syncing with Macs. Easy to switch between applications and run multiple programs. But running several applications might slow performance. Closing applications is also complicated. The more powerful version supports a touch screen for easier navigation and full-featured e-mail and Office programs. The basic version only allows you to view documents such as Word and Excel, and lacks touch-screen support.

Consider the data plan

Using a phone's extra, network-dependent capabilities requires a regular (voice/text) phone plan and a data plan for Web surfing and sending and receiving e-mail. Depending on the carrier, prices for the two combined start at $45 to $80 a month with a two-year contract. But you can easily spend more than $200 a month as you add minutes, messaging, and other services.

Consider syncing options

Syncing your phone with your computer has some advantages. For example, you'll most likely find it easier to update calendar events and contact data using your computer's larger keyboard and display. You'll also have peace of mind knowing all of your documents and personal data will be safely backed up should your phone be lost or stolen. But before you buy, check with the carrier or phone maker to make sure the phone is compatible with your computer or its operating system.

Check for updates

Cell phones are increasingly becoming like pocket computers, adding touch screens, keyboards, and the ability to run numerous applications. This complexity has increased the odds that they won't always perform as promised. Often the cure for a buggy performance is downloading a software patch into your phone. But you should check for phone updates even if you're not experiencing any problems. Manufactures and carriers often use updates to improve battery life or even add new features. To update your phone, look for "update" under the settings menu, and follow the instructions. Make sure you're in a good reception area to ensure that the file downloads fast and error-free. You should also periodically look up your phone on the Web sites of your carrier and phone's manufacturer. You might discover new features or learn how to use the ones you know more effectively.

Look for useful features

Today's phones come equipped with many useful calling and multimedia features, including a media player, a camera, and Web browsing, as well as child-location and call-management services. Some features, such as programmable shortcuts, Bluetooth, speakerphone, and voice command help, make the phones easier to use.

Check for special prices and promotions

Rebates and special offers can be substantial, but they change frequently. To get the best deal, check the carrier's offerings online and in its retail stores, and then see what independent dealers offer at their Web sites and in their outlets. If at all possible, buy a new phone when you're switching carriers or signing a new service commitment with your existing carrier. You almost always get a better deal—either a deeply discounted price or even a free phone—when you're signing a contract. Be aware that some rebates are only if you also sign up for a data plan.

Check the return policy

Make sure you can return the phone if you're not happy with it. Some stores attach stiff service-cancellation fees on top of what a carrier might charge.

Don't buy phone insurance

All major cell carriers offer insurance policies that cover lost, stolen, or damaged phones. Those policies typically cost about $4 to $5 a month and carry a $35 to $100 deductible. We don't think insurance is worthwhile for most consumers. The cost of the premium over a year, for example, would be $50 or $60. Tack on the deductible, and you've paid as much as you would have to buy a new phone. In addition, some insurance plans require you to fill out a police report, and damaged phones are often replaced with a refurbished phone that might not even be the same model.

See also:

Bluetooth headsets

Cordless phones

GPS Navigation Systems

Cell phone service