Cell Phone Buying Guide

That sleek new cell phone may be full of all the latest gadgets, but is it the right phone for you? Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Research Institute tell you what you need to know before you go shopping:
Cell Phone Shopping Tips:

• Pick your partner. Before choosing a phone, if you're not already tied into a contract, you will need to select a carrier. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint/Nextel, and T-Mobile are the major nationwide wireless providers. However, you can purchase a plan through smaller companies as well. Service offerings vary from region to region, so know what's available.
• Get an upgrade. If already locked into a contract, know when it expires. If you're renewing, you may be eligible for a free phone upgrade or heavy discounts on new models.
• Location, location, location. Coverage is usually the most important factor in picking a carrier. After all, there's no point in having a cell phone if you have no reception. If you've ever owned a cell phone, you know how geographically sensitive cell phones can be. Step an inch to the left, and your reception suddenly cuts out. When doing your research, your best bet will be to ask everyone around you how their service ranks.
• Look it up. Find out which companies have cell phone towers near you. The more towers, the better reception you're likely to have. CellReception.com lets you type in your zip code to find cell phone towers registered with the FCC. Perhaps even more helpful, however, are people's comments and ratings, which let you track service right down to a street address.
• Compare plans. All carriers have several calling plans, usually broken down by minutes used per month. Look at old phone bills to see how many minutes you average and then choose your plan accordingly. Take note of your calling patterns, and when peak and off-peak hours begin and end.
• Kids talk free. Tired of paying for your kid's marathon phone conversations? Shop around for family plans — many let you share minutes and text messages.
• Everything included. Beware of any additional costs associated with using your cell phone, like receiving and sending text or picture messages, and surfing the Internet. Consider purchasing a data plan that allows for unlimited usage; it may be cheaper than paying for each use.
• Try it out. Ask to borrow a friend's cell phone and see how the service is in the places you'd be using it most. Or take advantage of a carrier's return policy; most offer two-week grace periods before you're locked into a contract.
• Forgo the extras. Think about what features you really want. Extras like Bluetooth and a built-in camera are great, but they're a waste of money if you're not going to use them.
• Choose carefully. Keep in mind which features you will be using most when test-driving different models. If your phone is always in use, consider the model's battery life. If you'll be texting a lot, does it have a comfortable keypad? If you often talk while multitasking, does it have voice-activated dialing and speakerphone? Are there buttons on the outside that will get activated when jostled in your purse?
• Touch test. If you're going to buy a phone online, go to your cellular provider's store and check out the unit in person. Do you like the way it feels in your hand? Are the screen and buttons big enough? Is it too heavy?
• Know before you go. Know what you're looking for before you walk into the store so you can't be pressured by salespeople or overwhelmed by choices. Do your initial research online and have a few models in mind to look at.
• Family planning. If you're buying a phone for your child, you may want to consider one with restricted features. Alternatively, you can ask your provider if there's a way to limit certain features or apply parental controls.

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