www.1001TopWords.com |
Read This Before Getting A NEW Cellular Phone
It seems like these days, there are a million and one different cellular phones and service plans on the market all claiming to be the BEST. How in world do you decide on which one to signup with? Many people sign up for a $60 a month service plan, but only end up using about 20% of the allocated minutes! Others, sign up for "across the country" plans costing $150 a month, but rarely travel outside their own state!! Today, you can typically find quite a number of local providers offering a wide variety of services to both individuals and businesses alike. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cellular phone experience. *MOST IMPORTANT: Talk To Your Friends & Neighbors The most valuable advice that mostly everyone forgets to take into consideration is the "friend factor". More than likely, you have a few friends, family members, neighbors who have cellular phones. The best way to learn about their particular phone and service provider is to simply ask them. Within minutes, you can find out how well they like their phone, service provider, and most importantly - the reception and clarity of calls. Reception is THE MOST IMPORTANT factor to consider. For those of you familiar with cell phone static, garbled noise, echoing voices, and dropped calls, I think you'll agree these annoyances will make your cell phone experience miserable. EVEN IF you have the BEST phone, with the MOST minutes, for the CHEAPEST price, if you are NOT with a company that provides a solid clear reception for both incoming and outgoing calls, you will be VERY disappointed and angry since you probably signed a 1-2 year contract. Take my word for it. I have been with four different service providers over the past five years and the ONLY reason I kept switching was due to my unsatisfaction with the reception. It wasn't due to a lack of phone features, or even minutes provided, that can always be adjusted later or solved with the purchase of a higher end, more expensive phone. It ALL came down to the clarity of my cell phone calls, both incoming and outgoing. Trust me, the first time you can't understand, or unexpectantly lose an important phone call, you'll remember this article and say "That guy from SavingSecrets.com told me about this!" What can you do to educate yourself about cellular service? Talk to anyone you know who owns a cell phone. This is my best advice. Simply approach this topic by saying: "Hey, I'm planning on getting a cell phone soon, but I'm a little unsure of which service provider to sign up with. There are so many options out there, I want to make sure I do my research before signing a lengthy contract. Could you tell me a little about your phone and service provider, and please be brutally honest." Then, just make sure you ask these type of questions: -How do you like your particular phone? Personally, I recommend speaking to at least ten different people so you not only hear different opinions, but you can compare notes and see if you can find any consistencies amongst phones/providers. CHOOSING SERVICE Before you decide on a company/policy that best suits your needs, you MUST determine what type of cell phone 'user' you'll be. This will save you money month after month. Take a moment to reflect on when you will be using your phone the most. Is your cell phone for business purposes? For personal use? Just on the weekends? What time of the day will you use the phone most? Know the answers to these questions before signing any type of cellular phone service agreement. It will help guarantee you get the best deal for your money. Other important information to know: - Monthly Service Charge WHAT PHONE TO GET? This question can only be answered by you. Do you really NEED a cell phone that can play games, store thousands of names and numbers, and get the latest sports scores? If you just want a cell phone to make occasional phone calls, you can probably settle for a $30-50 phone. Better yet, most carriers offer FREE phones with the signing of a service agreement (generally 1-2 years). IMPORTANT - Make sure you try out the phone before you buy it. This is your chance to test the product. Is it too small? Are the buttons a good size for you fingers? How's the clarity? etc. . . Every service provider will let you make a call on the phone you're interested in buying. Try, before you buy! And don't just stand in the storeroom. *Make sure you ask first*, but walk around outside, go into a neighboring store, get in your car. Did the signal stay strong? Also, have a friend call you on the phone so you can check how an incoming call sounds. If possible, have a friend call you from a cell phone to check what a cell-to-cell call sounds like. ALREADY HAVE A CELL PHONE? Analyze the bill over the past two or three months. Do you see a calling pattern? When do you call more during the week or on weekends? Write down an estimate of the hours you spend during peek (7am-7pm), off peak (7pm-7am) and weekend hours (Fri 12am-Sun 12am). Once you have an idea of when you spend your time on the phone, you can then speak with a service representative about changing to a plan that might better fit your needs. If you did happen to sign a 1-2 year contract, ask what type of switching/changing options you have. Remember to be courteous and nice. It will not help to start shouting and screaming because then the representatives will not be inclined to help you. They'll simply say "You signed the contract." Just politely state: "I am happy with your service and would like to remain your faithful customer, but I need have something adjusted that will better suit my calling habits...." CONCLUSION The best advice to give to cell phone users is to educate yourself as much as possible. Find out what services are offered in your area. TALK TO people you know who have cell phones and ASK them what they think of their service. You'll be able to tell right away if they are 'happy' or 'frustrated' with their cellular service. *NOTE* Just BE SURE you do NOT sign any contract until you have carefully thought and read through everything. Gregory Thomas, editor of http://www.SavingSecrets.com - has written hundreds of effective money-saving tips, strategies, and articles over the past 6 years. Visit their website and you'll find FREE money-saving articles, a monthly newsletter, and even a FREE Ebook download just for stopping by!
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Knowing the difference between Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans Will Save You Time and Money Many people go looking for cell phones without too much emphasis being put on the cell phone plans. Many new users who sign up to the different networks have been sold to rather than choosing the best option the suits them. Research is important. Cell phones & plans can be an expensive commodity. Bill Payment & Cellular Services - The Wave Of The Future For Merchant Retailers! Electronic Distribution UK Top 40 Singles: Should It Include Ringtones As Well? I noticed two interesting stories today. The first one on the BBC stated that from Sunday the UK singles chart will include online downloads for the first time, which will have a major impact on the top 10. In the first three months of 2005, 4.5 million songs were downloaded legally in the UK - compared with 5.8 million bought over the counter, and also because downloaders tend to be mature males not teenage girls. Best Cell Phones - Cell Phone Shopping 101 Before the advent of cell phones, communications may not have been as convenient, but life was definitely less complex. Since their introduction into society, the design, features and package plans have evolved to the degree that we now have to do research on cost comparisons and option customization, as well as peruse technical manuals in order to learn how to operate these gizmos before we can ever hit that "send" button. Simply put, we need to find the best cell phone for meeting our needs, and it's going to take a good deal of time to do so...or maybe not. 3G Technology A 'third generation' wireless communications technology having evolved from first generation analog, and second generation digital, communication technologies. Camera Cell Phone Verizon Camera cell phone by Verizon ? offer with a service plan. Are Cellular Phones Just a Fashion Accessory? Cellular phones are used by millions of people in the United States and around the world. They are such a great device! With a cell phone, you can talk to anyone on the planet from just about anywhere! These days, cell phones provide an incredible array of functions. Camera Cell Phones - Say It With Pictures! Camera cell phones are sweeping the nation! In fact, long gone are the days when a telephone is used for the sole purpose of speaking to another person. Cell phone cameras are all the rage and you'll soon understand why! These days, people are using phones for all sorts of things! It is without a doubt, one of the greatest inventions that we're able to enjoy today. We use it as a form of communication. We're able to speak with our loved ones and stay connected on a daily basis. We use it every day to conduct business on a local, national, and international scale. It is so quick and easy to use ? it's no wonder why people depend on their cell phones every day! Free Cellular Phone Free cellular phone offers. Cell Phone Security. How Vulnerable Are You? There have been significant improvements made recently in cellular phone security. But be careful. Read on for valuable information to protect yourself. Customize Your Cell Phone With Ringtones and Wallpaper As an important part of your daily life, your cell phone should reflect your personality. At one time, the only way to personalize your phone was to get one in your favorite color. Today, great cellular accessories such as ringtones and wallpapers make it easy to create a phone that's as unique as you are. Do Cellular Phones Pose Health Risks? You hear it in the media on a slow news day. Do cellular phones pose health risks? The available scientific reports do not show that any health problems are associated with the use of wireless phones. On the other hand, however, there is no proof that cellular phones are absolutely safe. Wireless phones emit small levels of radiofrequency energy (RF) in the microwave range when being used. As well, cell phones also emit small levels of RF when in the main menu screen. An Introduction to Text Messaging Why Text? Short Messaging Service (SMS) for Enterprise Messaging SMS for Enterprise Messaging ? Value added services Your Next Virus Is Just A Phone Call Away Sorting Through Your Cellular Phone Options Some people purchase a cellular phone for emergency use only, but others use their cellular phone on a daily basis as a replacement for their land-line home phone. With the number of options available for your cellular phone, finding the right phone for your needs can be confusing. However, there are a few basic points to remember that can help you make a more informed purchasing decision. Protect Yourself From Cell Phone Radiation With cell phones quickly becoming an important part of our everyday lives, it's frightening to think that the radiation from cellular phones may cause health problems. Even though claims about the dangers of cell phones are unsubstantiated, that hasn't stopped various marketers from selling cellular accessories alleging to protect consumers from harmful radiation. Indian Mobile Infrastructure - To 3G or Not To 3G To most overseas investors circa 1994, a first look at the Indian Telecommunication Policy appeared to mitigate concerns. In our naiveté, we expected this Policy to put India at least on par with China where a stifling regime governed telecommunications. A disastrous implementation however ensured India languished behind its neighbor on tele-density, cellular usage and broadband coverage. Add a Cell Phone Booster to Make Life a Little Easy Cell Phones have become a mainstay for every earthling. Right from 8 to 80 this has become a part and parcel of every day life. Cell Phone manufacturers understand this and have come up with clever ideas to make it Hip as well as functional. Have you seen the "Do you hear me now?" advertisement? Are they really going to do that type of testing everywhere at different points in time. The signals are really dependent on how near you are to the tower. This along with how good is the equipment you use dictates voice quality. Not all phones are made alike. Manufacturers want to include a differentiation factor to the high end models hence they put in all their high profile research results in the high end model. This includes the higher quality of reception. The Different Cell Phone Accessories Available Where do I start? |
© Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |