Things you should know before buying a phone

Do you remember early mobile phones? They were heavy to hold, with black and white screen and an antenna for connectivity.

But now every now and then there is news regarding the launch of a new smartphone, android phone or windows phone. With so many updates in technology and structure it becomes a bit difficult to choose the right phone for our use.

Nokia phones to buy

When buying a phone you can be overwhelmed with cloud hosting and other such changes brought by your phone. But before you get caught up in the glamour of such phones let us explore and find the what exactly you need and for what purpose.

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 to cancel the additional features and make substantial savings.

For many people a mobile phone is a status symbol. They 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. You can now search the internet and pick some handsets that match your list of requirements.

Three types of mobile users

Three types of mobile users

  • Users who only want to make and take calls. For these users cheap mobile phones with basic features are the most suitable.
  • Mid range cell phone users communicate in more ways than just mere speech. They want important features such as WAP, Video shooting, Multimedia Messaging or MMS, Radios, MP3 Players, and voice recording etc
  • 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.

Things to consider before buying

Cell Phone Batteries

Nokia batteries

Look for a cell phone battery life. Though it depends on your phone usage, every cell phone user occasionally experiences domain names the “race against battery life” on their cell phone. You try to use up every ounce of power there is before recharging. Unfortunately, this can cause many problems with your battery later on.

There are several ways to prolong the life of your cell phone battery. Keep your back-light off unless you know for sure you’ll need it. This might be annoying at first, but it will save battery life. When travelling in areas where there is no coverage or there is only roaming coverage, turn off your cell phone completely. The cell phone uses a lot of battery power while trying to locate a network. In addition, try to limit your conversations on your cell phone. The longer you talk, the more battery power you will use. Also, limit your usage of cell phone games or Internet browsing.

Downloading Options

Download options

When downloading web features, games, ringtones, wallpaper, and screen-savers, be sure there are no recurring fees. Although companies may not state it upfront, some of these features have recurring monthly fees. Note that when you download certain pokies apps on Nokia Androids, Google Play has hundreds of free pokies apps to download all free. But few game apps do cost few AUD dollars and so do some utility apps.

Cell Phone Purchases

Vodafone Australia plans for mobile

When buying a cell phone with a one- or two-year contract or pay-per use agreement, be sure to read the fine print. Consider how many minutes you plan to use the cell phone each month. Weigh the prices of both types of agreements before signing on the dotted line. If you plan to use the cell phone a lot, then a long-term contract might be worth it.
Consider the features you want. With long-term plans, you can often get more features on your cell phone for less money or even as a bonus at no charge. Ask if all your features, such as caller ID, will work when roaming. Also with any plan, consider if long distance is included. Find out the usual roaming charges, connection fees (if applicable), and if there are any other hidden fees in the plan.

Factory Warranties

Phone warranty for Nokia

Some cell phone companies will replace your cell phone if it breaks or is lost or stolen. Consider the warranty of a cell phone before buying. Mobile phones are typically carried everywhere you go: in a purse, pockets, on a belt case, and even out in wet weather. With cell phones being so mobile, they can easily get broken or damaged. The warranty will give you peace of mind when carrying and using your cell phone.

Buying Cell Phones Online

Nokia buy online

When buying mobile phones online, be sure the phone is up-to-date and carries all the features you want. You can buy your mobile phone online and still visit a local venue to purchase minutes or to sign up for a contract. Just be sure and buy from a company you trust. Also check the product on delivery as it might be damaged or broken. There are also electronics shopping malls online where you can find many brand names of cell phones, a PDA, or other electronics at discount prices. It is but advisable to purchase the phone from live store so that you have various options to select discount prices, features, colours and latest versions.

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