Basically when choosing a cell phone it comes down to four choices style, features, performance, and accessories.
Style
The style of the phone will be a one of personal preference. Do I want a flip, candy bar, slider or PDA style phone? Do I need a big or small phone? Do I need to make a fashion statement?
Features
You first have to determine what you are going to be using the phone for in the first place. Make a short list of everything you do with your current phone then simply add the features you wish you had in order of importance.
Here are a few standard questions you should ask yourself.
Q: Are you going to be on the phone all day?
A: Yes, selecting a phone that has BlueTooth technology or a good speaker phone should be at the top of you list. No, then a basic bare bones phone may fit your needs.
Q: Are you into shopping, downloading games, music and surfing the web on your phone?
A: You might want to look into a phone with a large display, high speed internet and mp3 playback capabilities.
Q: Do you need to take your office with you were ever you go?
A: Then you might want to look into getting a PDA style phone.
Q: Do I really need a camera on my phone?
A: The funny thing is that most people say no until they start taking pictures of family and friends at times when carrying a digital camera would not have been practical.
Try out our Phone Finder Tool to help you find a phone based on the features you need
Performance
Many people are starting to use their cell phones as a replacement for the traditional land line service. If you are one of these people, I would strongly suggest selecting a phone that has a high talk time rating. If not you are going to either have to purchase a spare battery or be constantly charging the phone.
Another factor that most people actually over look when purchasing a cell phone is sound quality and clarity. How many times have you tried to make a call from the store during or immediately after the purchase of a new phone? I?m guessing never. They always tell you to charge the phone fully before using it because it may damage the battery. Although this advice is true I think it's worth the small risk to check the sound quality by making a couple of calls to friends and family before signing on the dotted line.
Accessories
Cell phone customization has become the fastest growing segment of the aftermarket accessory boom. Everything from face plates, kangaroo pouches to the latest trend "Bling" are now available for most phones. If you are interested in customizing your phone, make sure to ask the sales person what accessories are available for you phone before making you final decision. You would be surprised to find out that some phones on the market today don't even offer a car charger!
