Cell Phone Buying Guide

General Cell Phone Information/Contacts

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Introduction
Choosing a Vendor
Choosing a Phone
Choosing a Rate Plan
Choosing Accessories/Additional Features

Introduction
Be prepared when you are buying a cell phone. If you don't have a good idea of what you want or need already, explore your options online. Don't let someone talk you into features or rate plans or phones that are far above what you will use!

Remember, as a CSUF employee you are usually eligible for a discount whether the cell phone is for business or personal use. Typically the discount is 10% off the monthly rate plan. Be sure to mention that you're a CSUF employee. If the vendor needs proof of your employment, ask them for details on what they need. The information can probably be obtained from Human Resources or Payroll if not your monthly paycheck stub.

Choosing a Vendor

Every vendor has their pros and cons. If you chat with enough people about cell phones, you'll find a horror story and happy ending for each vendor. One of the big differences is reception. All vendors have "problem areas" where reception is poor. Where one vendor has poor reception, another vendor has great reception. Now, there are areas that are "problem areas" for ALL cell phone vendors. Even if you don't, you'll want to be sure that the vendor you choose has good reception in the areas you will be making the most calls.

TIP: Cell phone vendors really want your business. If you are concerned about reception, ask a vendor about testing a cell phone in your area. Some vendors may not like the idea, but others might be open to it. Vendors should also be able to get their hands on some type of diagram that illustrates where their towers (cell phones use towers to work) are. This diagram should give you a good indication of the coverage available with that vendor.

What else is different between vendors? Again, if you chat with lots of people about their cell phone experiences (which can be very helpful in your search), you'll find that some vendors have a reputation for poor customer service. Others have a reputation for short battery life among their phones. This is not to say that if you use that vendor, you'll experience the same problems or that those issues will affect you (I personally don't mind recharging my cell phone every night). However, it's something to be aware of. Places like Consumer Reports (http://www.consumerreports.org/main/home.jsp) do unbiased surveys of customer satisfaction and phone durability among other tests of cell phones. Check out other magazine and newspaper articles about cell phone tests.

One of the last differences is commitment. Some cell phone vendors want you to commit to them for two years or more. Other vendors work on a month-to-month basis. More of this will be discussed below in regard to rate plans, but it's important to think about your commitment to a vendor. Concerned about your personal budget? A month-to-month vendor may suit you better since you can cancel your service anytime. Like having a lot of minutes for a cheap price? Then be ready to commit to a long-term contract.

Choosing a Phone

There are a wide variety of cell phone models out there. Everyone has their preferences. When selecting a phone model, be aware of some of the features you want. If you want to be able to access the internet from your phone, be sure that you pick a model that is internet-ready. Do you want a flip-top lid? Some people find it irking to have to flip up the lid before answering. Others find that it helps keep their cell phone from making unwanted calls while inside their purse (cell phones have been known to make calls while jostled around in briefcases, purses, backpacks, etc). Do you like really tiny cell phones? Or do they make you feel uncomfortable?

Some of these questions have to be answered inside a store. There are pictures of cell phones at each vendor's website but sometimes the picture doesn't give you an accurate picture of the cell phone. Some cell phones are small but very heavy. Some look big on the screen but in actuality are very small. If you don't want to visit a vendor's store, pay close attention to the dimensions and weight listed for the cell phone model you're interested in. If necessary, pull out a ruler to get a good idea of how big/small it is.

TIP: If you like having lots of ringtones to choose from and/or like downloading new ring tones, be sure you buy a phone with that feature. Some phones only come with a few standard ringtones and do not have the ability to download new ones. The same is true for games. If you want to play games on your cell phone when you are bored, be sure you choose a phone that has that capability.

Choosing a Rate Plan

Millions of rate plans, each more confusing than the next. How do you choose one that is right for you? Let the rate plan choose you instead! When you decide on a vendor and a phone model, it's time to think about what you want from your rate plan. Here are some important questions to ask yourself:

• How many minutes am I going to use every month?
  o If you are not sure, try starting on a low minute rate plan - say 200 - 300 minutes. No point in starting with 1,000 minutes if you're not sure how many you are going to use. You can usually upgrade later if you need more minutes.
• Will I be making many long distance calls?
  o If so, pick a rate plan with long distance included. Long distance calls are usually more expensive than "regular" cell phone calls. If it is included, your anytime minutes can be used for long distance calls.
• Will I be receiving more calls than I make?
  o Many vendors offer rate plans with free incoming calls. You may want to consider such a plan if you will be receiving a lot of calls.
• Do I want voicemail and caller ID?
  o Some rate plans offer these features included. However, the cost of adding them to a rate plan is usually minimal, so don't base your rate plan decision solely on this.
• How much can I afford to pay each month?
  o Remember that you will be charged not only the flat monthly rate but also for all calls that go over your rate plan. Can you afford a rate plan that costs $70? Or do you need one at $30?
• Will most of my calls be to family members on the same account?
  o Most vendors offer shared minutes or free calls between family members. However, you do need to be on the same account (and the same vendor). You may want to consider a family rate plan. Be sure to check how many minutes are included - four people sharing 100 minutes may not be realistic.

Once you have answered these questions, a vendor can help you choose a rate plan to suit your needs. Don't bother muddling through the mess when an expert on the rate plans can find one that gets you what you want! Be sure that the vendor explains any restrictions with the rate plan.

TIP: Watch out for some promotional rate plans! Read the fine print - some very good deals expire in a few months. That is, you get a great deal for 3 months and then have to start paying more each month for the same service. This would occur with vendors that you contract with. For example, you get unlimited text messaging for 3 months and after that, you pay $30/month for the service. Because you contracted with the company, you may not be able to remove the service for several months after the promotion ends. Ask the vendor if the rate plan will increase in a few months.

Choosing Accessories/Additional Features

If you are going to use your cell phone in the car often, you may want a car charger as well as an earpiece/microphone. But as far as accessories go, you don't need to purchase from the vendor. Often, you can get quality accessories from a reseller at a better price. Or you can buy them from a retailer such as Target or Walmart for even less money. Just be sure that you know the exact model and make of your phone when you go to a reseller or retail store. If you're not sure what your usage habits will be, don't buy accessories until you have used the phone for a month or so. Then think about what accessories would be helpful.

Additional features such as two-way messaging or web access are great if you'll use them. Don't get a feature that you won't use. If you get two-way messaging (someone sends you a text message and you can reply to it) and don't have anyone to send a message to, there's not much point. Internet access is great - but you can only access websites that are wireless-compatible. Many websites are becoming wireless-compatible, but keep in mind you'll be viewing them on a very tiny monitor. And you will be navigating using a telephone keypad.

TIP: You may want to visit a store to try out headsets. Some look very much like a telephone operator's headset. Others are simply earbuds. Some have a microphone that reaches towards your mouth. Others have the microphone built into the earpiece. Rather than trying to guess which one you'd prefer, see if a vendor (or accessory store) will let you try them out.