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There are now more than 190 million mobile phone subscribers, more than one per household on average. A small but growing number of people use a cell phone (aka mobile phone) as their only phone. Phone manufacturers and mobile operators are allowing the promotion of new generations of devices, the user much more than just a telephone.

Despite its popularity has mobile operators a reputation for problems: dead zones, where can you get not the service, inexplicably calls end in midconversation, insufficient capacity, so you missed a call, if you want to fathom rates and errors in the bills. Problems like these are why a third of mobile phone users we interviewed say they are seriously considering a change of the carrier.

The switching is much easier now than ever before, thanks to the government’s mandate on local number portability. But keep in mind that the phones do not even portable. If you switch providers, expect a new phone to buy.

WHAT IS OFFERED

The phone itself is only part of what you need. You must also register the service with a wireless provider, and select a package. You can find mobile phones in many stores, including independent wireless retailers, electronics stores and websites.

Suppliers. Large national companies Cingular, Nextel, Sprint PCS (which is in the process of merger with Nextel), T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless (which merged with AT & T Wireless). There are also many local or regional suppliers.
They are often described as a tri-mode phones, dual-band tri-band or a multilateral network. These terms describe how a phone can be connected to one or more wireless networks to connect. Here are the details:

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

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

* Multi-network phones are compatible with most digital network, often in two frequency bands. Some can also access analog networks.

* Tri-band or “world” of Nokia Mobile Phones on GSM networks operate in the United States and abroad. This ability is active 850/1800/1900 MHz in two bands in the country and internationally. This ability to operate on 900/1800/1900 MHz band in the U.S. (1900 MHz) and two bands on the international level.

Planned. Most providers offer a range of plans for a “basket” of minutes of calling time. The more minutes in the bucket, the higher the level of charges you each month. However, the total number of minutes is not the main characters. Some of these minutes can be good all the time, others only at night and on weekends, if you exceed your allotment of minutes, you get 35 to 50 cents per minute calculated according to plan. Cingular, alone among the major carriers, so customers roll over unused minutes in the next month. Most plans require you sign a contract or two years and receives a royalty important if you cancel before the contract expires do.

Prepaid plans can be a good alternative if you reject a long-term contract. Many mobile operators and Virgin Mobile, Liberty Wireless, Metro PCS, and Tracfone, prepaid. You pay in advance the transmission time, which typically last 45 to 60 days before they expire.

Phones. Some are simple rectangles with a display and keypad on the front. Others are curved or open a flap to protect the keys. The major mobile phone manufacturers are Audiovox, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Samsung, Sanyo and Sony Ericsson. The light is pretty standard. All the newer phones can send and receive text messages and up to 160 characters or from other mobile users, and most phones today come with a color screen. You also see phones that can play the popular computer games are integrated with a digital camera, wireless Internet access, or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) combined.

IMPORTANT

Some mobile phone manufacturers and service providers offer so-called 3G service, which improves the speed of data transmission. 3G services provide reasonably fast, secure connections to the Internet and allow you to use the phone to read and download audio and video, multimedia messaging and e-mail use.

The properties of cellular base stations to find a screen that is readable in both bright and low light conditions. Make sure it is easy to extend battery life and signal strength indicators and the number you choose to see you. The keyboard should be clearly marked and easy to use. programmable speed-dial numbers you can use names and telephone numbers by pressing a button again. One-touch redial is useful for dropped calls or if you experience problems with the connection. Most phones can now have voice dialing, you speak the phone number of someone in their name. But the number and names must be in the list of contacts in your phone and you have to each program name voice dialing – a lengthy process. Voice command-capable cell phones do not require training. You can choose someone in your contact list, and even a number not in the list when it comes to numbers.

In addition to the ring, most cameras have a buzzer or a light emitting diode flashes to notify you of an incoming call, useful when you are in a meeting or cinema informed. More practical is to cut a ring tone simply that fell from the ring to vibrate when you press a button. The volume control on the page you can adjust the earpiece without moving the phone too far to change from the ear. You can not do if the volume controls are on the keyboard. One speaker raised the sensitivity receiver and microphone, hold a conversation without the phone to your ear.

Some phone models are equipped with a headset. This ability is sometimes required by various local laws for drivers with a cell phone. A standard headset jack (also called a connection of 2.5 mm) is the most common type of headphone jack. If you frequently use headphones, but I hate to bother with cords, consider a phone book with the ability, via Bluetooth, you are communicating with a wireless headset can be. Not all mobile phones with Bluetooth are the same. Bluetooth data you can transfer photos and contacts, etc. to other Bluetooth-compatible devices such as printers, PDAs and computers. Bluetooth capability data available GSM phones, but not on CDMA phones.

Many CDMA phones have analog backup capability that can be important when you are through rural areas or places where your carrier does not offer to go digital. With analog phones can function in places where it does not communicate with digital phones.

Phones vary considerably later in the design of keyboard and screen readability and ease of use in the function menu, or perform basic tasks such as one-button redial and storage of frequently called numbers for speed dialing. It is important to handle a phone in the store before buying to be sure of its design and finger suitable.

HOW TO CHOOSE

First, select a service. Find the right service when you want it to be a challenge. The best way is to ask your friends and business partners – people who literally travel the same roads you – as they are satisfied with their cellular services. Also keep in mind that Verizon Wireless has always come first in surveys of consumer satisfaction reports, and so is useful to consider first.

Select a tariff. You must determine where and when you use a cell phone to a plan that fits you choose. In general, a national collective (usually avoids additional long distance charges or fees for “roaming” away from your home calling area) worth considering first even if you don ‘do not travel often. With a regional plan, roaming charges can be serious when it calls you too far from home.

If two or more family members use their mobile phone, consider a family plan that allows up to four people in a large pool of monthly minutes for a small additional monthly fee. If you are not sure how many minutes of air time you use it in a month, you choose a plan with more minutes than you think, you will use. Often it is best to go unused minutes than if you pay steep per minute if you exceed your quota.

Select a phone. Spend as little or as much as 0 on a phone. You need to start your selection in the fair price level. Once you settled on a price range, do the following:

First look practical details. Cameras, games, music players and others are attractive, amusing and even useful for some people. However, such features as a case of bending, volume control on the page and easy to cut a ring will be useful every day.

Hold the phone. In the business pick up the phone in your hand and make sure you have easy access to most keys with one hand. Try a test call and access the menu items on a demo job. We found that cell phones are difficult to operate with radical forms. Thus, the keys that are small, irregularly shaped, or arranged in unusual patterns, especially if you try in the dark dial.

Check the display. Most color displays in the dark, but some are difficult to see in daylight. Try the phone outside or under bright light. In our tests are the phones that the incoming and outgoing number display with large fonts to read black on white background easily in most conditions. In addition, make sure that indicators such as battery life and signal strength are clearly visible.

Consider providing cheap mobile phones. All major airlines offer insurance that is lost, stolen or damaged covers phones, usually for about a month, with the franchise. At these rates, it would not pay for a cheap phone. But if you use 0 or more paid, the insurance is worth considering. Some insurance plans require companies to report a police. damaged phones will be replaced, often renovated with a />
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Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

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