Need help choosing a new cell phone ?

By Mike J Orange

Today's cell phone users are constantly bombarded with new models; more often than not, buyers just do not know which model to choose. Strangely, many buyers overlook certain important things before making their purchase; this article hopes to address the situation.

Battery life can be a problem although they normally last longer than they used to, cell phones now have many more functions and these all contribute to draining your battery. So you need to keep a careful watch on your battery to ensure it does not go flat at an inconvenient time

The back light is the second biggest power drain of any cell phone battery but this can be either turned off or use the auto back light off function if your phone is supplied with one. Actually talking on the phone uses the most power when it is being operated as it is being used as a transmitter so reduce the length of calls and turn it off if you find yourself in an area with poor reception as the cell phone battery will drain itself trying to find a signal. The more you talk, the quicker the battery will drain; this is also true for times your cell phone is connected to the Internet, downloading games or playing music for example.

You will often find that wallpapers, ring tones and images that are downloaded automatically will have a charge even though this is not mentioned at the start so be aware. If you purchase one for your child, find out if you can block these features or find out if there's a way that you as a parent can order features, but your child cannot.

The two man types of agreements for cell phone users are pay-per use and a monthly contract which can run for one or two years but which option you decide upon will depend on how often you intend to use it. The process for each contract will differ greatly but arranging a pay-per use contract for a regular phone user is probably not the best option to have financially speaking. Some features like tri-band or quad-band means they can be used in Europe and Asia but these may only be available with phones that are part of a long term agreement so look out for deals that will be of benefit to you.

Some plans do not include roaming charges which is something to consider if you travel a great deal as it could dramatically increase the cost. Some companies will replace your phone if it breaks or is lost or stolen so consider the insurance warranty before buying because they are typically carried around everywhere; which means they can easily get broken or damaged and a warranty will give you peace of mind.

You also want to make sure that the parts and accessories are easily obtained from any regular cell phone store, even if you purchase the phone from an Internet based company.