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  1. #1
    apparentless
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    Hey, this is going to highlight my newbie label...but I'm getting a cell phone...for the first time... *gasp*
    Problem is, I have no idea how to pick 'em, never mind what to get. I'm still at the "ooh pretty" stage right now, so before I completely knock myself out with the good-looking but useless phones, I thought I might as a few pros...or anyone who has previous cell phone experience.

    The most important thing for me in whatever phone I might get is Internet (Facebook, MSN.) Following that, it's probably the camera/music player. I honestly don't care that much about anything else. Just a decent, good quality phone that won't break in a month is good.

    I don't prefer touch screens, so the iPhone is out...I have some sense of style, but I won't judge a phone by the cover.

    Anyway, I hope some help comes. Thanks a ton.


    See More: First time getting a phone...




  2. #2
    4eyes
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    Re: First time getting a phone...

    You're smart in that you don't want the touch screen.
    List the features that you have and like with your landline service, and compare what the phone offers with the wireless. Remember coverage is key, you can have all those wonderful bells and whistles, power the phone on and no signal, check the coverage first!!

    Take the time to read the fine print. Personally I checked the user's manual as one of the final decisions or deal brakers, if you can't read and understand the instructions provided in the user's manual, what's the point. Customer Service Representatives are on a limited time per call and can't hand hold customers (although that's what they expect) and 'walk' you through it.

    Nokia is a general favorite, Motorola's user's manuals are not user' friendly, Samsung's are good phones.
    Note; Never go for the phone when they are first introduced. Any problems with the phones usually in the 'first batch' whenever everyone must have a particular phone, be patient and wait. My current phone was out for over a year before I decided on it, a basic phone with little problems .. a Nokia.

    Check the website's first before going to the store, delaers love newbie's that they 'persuade' to get a paticular phone & activate service, before you go into the store be well-equipped with questions and don't let the sales rep. persuade you to do anything you don't want, you can always walk out
    D



  3. #3
    nicknrm
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    Re: First time getting a phone...

    I also suggest calling customer service of the provider your choosing to discuss particular phones that you have looked at.

    Customer service isn't going to persuade you to get a specific phone. They're more likely to be able to reliably suggest a phone for your needs.
    Send Nick a PM

    I hope you found this post helpful. Choose Like/Thanks, if you did




  4. #4
    cellphonesgb
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    Re: First time getting a phone...

    With all the phones out there, you are completely right, it's very easy to get caught up in the "oooh, shiny" stage. But, you also are looking at something that you are going to be using for the next 2 years (or how ever long the contract is).

    So it's not just a matter of what you are going to use the phone for today, but also look ahead at what you may use it for in 6 months or a year down the road.

    If you change your mind in 6 months and find out that the phone you have won't meet your needs, then you are going to be paying full price for a new one.

    -Phone Upgrades and Gotcha's
    When you are looking at the new, shiny, awesome looking phones for just $50, look below that, for the retail price. It will be much higher. That's the cost of the phone with no contract. Keep that in the back of your head. That's what it will cost you for that phone if you decide to upgrade prior to the upgrade cycle (talk to the sales person at T-Mobile about this)

    Also, when signing the contract, you are saying you are going to be with them for the next x amount of years. If you decide to discontinue the service, you will pay a cancellation penalty, ranging from $150 to $500. That's the "gotcha"

    -Service where you want it
    Many cell phone companies allow you to "test-drive" their network for a certain amount of days. This allows users to ensure that their phone will work where they need it too. Ask a sales person if they have this available.
    --If they do, ask how many days it is for. Also ask if there is a usage limitation during this testing period (some have usage as low as 100 minutes total; after that, you are stuck in your contract); how much of the money you put down on the phone you get back, and how much you pay for the service used, and if any credit is due for the unused portions of the month contract.
    --If they don't offer it, I then recommend purchasing a really, really cheap pre-paid phone. Add some minutes to it and check to see if the phone works where you need it to work.
    This is a great way to give the network a test drive without being stuck to a lot of rules and limitations.
    If it works, awesome! Move on to the next part!
    If not, then you are out the money for the phone, until you sell it on Craigslist or something.

    -Which Phone?
    PDA? Smartphone? Flip? Slider? Which one??
    This all depends on you. After all, you are going to be using it on a daily basis.
    If you are doing a lot of internet, get one with a bigger screen.
    Texing? Then a phone that has either T9 (suggests words and helps you ***** out words). T9 is great, because it can help you text fast, but you have to be a good *****er. *****ing with T9 is key, because it picks the list of words from a pre-built database.
    Another way to go is get a phone with a QWERTY (full) keyboard. Many phones have these now. This allows you to type as if you are on a regular keyboard.

    Smartphones / PDAs (these are something like the Samsung Blackjack II, Palm Treo, Palm Pre). Also there are Blackberry's. All are great, and allow you to expand what you need, program (what you can install on the phone). Downside is that they are mini computers, so they may be a little too much for the basic cell user.

    Touchscreens are nice, but can be a pain as well. If any of the touch screen goes bad, it can cripple the phone. Most take practice to use, getting used to pressing a screen instead of a keypad. I say this because it's hard to text without looking at the phone until you get used to it.

    Flip phones (also known as clam shell phones) are nice because they fold in half. Most have outer screens allowing you to see who's calling without opening the phone. These phones will also cut down on "butt dialing", or texting / calling someone on accident because they keys are protected by the flip.
    The hinges go out and can break, which again, can render the phone unusable.

    Sliders are cool because they can be slid open and closed. Most have a keypad or keyboard under the slider, giving it a benefit of the flip phone, but most don't need to be opened up to use it.
    The slider can break or get stuck. This can be a problem as well.

    ----------
    As you can tell, there is no basic answer to your question because everyone has their own opinion. I may not like the phone you choose. And that's fine, because I'm not going to be the one using it, you are.

    My best recommendation for all of this is going to be this:
    Narrow down what you want to use the phone for. Choose features will help eliminate over half your choices. Then start narrowing it by comparing talk time, standby time, and price.

    This will allow you to narrow down to a few phones. Once you have that figured out, just do some research. Check or ask here if the phone is any good for what you want to use it for.
    Also, you can search the phone on http://www.phonescoop.com/
    They will help you narrow down your selection.
    Last edited by cellphonesgb; 07-12-2009 at 09:14 PM. Reason: Adding More Content
    TheCellPhoneGuy



  5. #5
    xexy
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    Re: First time getting a phone...

    Quote Originally Posted by cellphonesgb View Post
    -Service where you want it
    Many cell phone companies allow you to "test-drive" their network for a certain amount of days. This allows users to ensure that their phone will work where they need it too. Ask a sales person if they have this available.
    --If they do, ask how many days it is for. Also ask if there is a usage limitation during this testing period (some have usage as low as 100 minutes total; after that, you are stuck in your contract); how much of the money you put down on the phone you get back, and how much you pay for the service used, and if any credit is due for the unused portions of the month contract.
    .
    not many, all, by law if you are signing a binding contract you have a 20 day grace period (cali its 30) most companys offer a 20-30 day grace period that you can cancel your service without the early termination fee, and if you do end up opting out of your contract you are billed for the pro rated amount of air time that you used.
    cellphonesgb likes this.



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