How to know which cell phone, rate plan and internet package is best for you

Your friend slips out her phone and seamlessly swypes across the screen and voila, she’s browsing the internet, texting a friend or checking restaurants and movie times. Oh yes, sometimes she’ll make a call; but you’re both stuck in a meeting, yet she’s being productive. She’s working her day all without talking into her actual phone. Your phone will only work if you talk to it, or text someone at a high rate counting every word.

Phones today are no longer calling devices only. They are:

Mini Computers browsing the internet

Readers that can download books, Bibles, Koran, philosphers

Cameras with flash or camcorders

Front facing video cameras to chat with local friends or families across continents

Contacts and address books

Music players, recorded or live streaming

Maps with complete directions

Calendars with reminders, shared or not, with family members

Alarm clocks, timers, calculators, send to printers, note pads, Texting, emailing and picture/data sending devices, Weather stations with warnings for severe weather, Contain apps and games and helper tools; Apps(applications) which are downloadable for free or a cost, depending on plan, Newspapers all over the world, Television viewers- for tv shows, sporting events/movies, Language translators, Facebook and social sites interacting, Games, driving with steering, war/shooting, tossing, card playing, board games, Mini casinos with real/fake money- Black Jack, Poker, Texas Holdem, Real time traffic with accident sites, Gas station prices, web cams of roads, Shopping aids, Weight watch/blood sugar minders, Pulse rate checkers, Flashlights

These are just a few descriptions of over 120,000 apps that are available and growing every day for cellphones and web devices.

• Most important things to consider with a phone carrier:

  1. Coverage: Can they show you if where you live/work has coverage for not only talking,but for data usage as well if you want internet service on your phone?

  2. Rate plans: How much do you really talk on the phone? Many people pay for more minutes than they actually use, costing more money than necessary. Unlimited texting is a must for teenagers and business people needing to stay connected. What is the charge for light texting versus unlimited?

  3. Internet: Do I want to be on the internet just a little (100-200MB)which gives me 30-60 emails (per month)and light internet usage-2 pages a day, 10 songs. If you go over, it either shuts down so no calling, or charges you HIGH rates per MB. Unlimited internet is best for Smartphones which are meant to be on the internet so they have larger screens. Smartphones cost more, use more battery and use more expensive rate plans. Most require some form of data(internet)plan to even operate correctly as you have to log in to an email account to access the phone first time. Once you have internet on a phone, it’s hard to ever go back to just a phone.

  4. Cost: A basic phone will do calls, texting and limited web to special sites, not full web pages. This means your cost is limited to calling and texting so less money. A smartphone requires internet. Many companies will sell you limited internet, but that’s like buying a sports car and only driving it in the first two gears. It doesn’t do what it’s meant to do-go fast. Internet phones are meant to be on the internet, surfing the web, checking emails, weather, traffic, movie times etc. For the money saved, it’s not worth the potential for overages(going past your 100-200MB) or having your phone shut down until you pay more money.

  5. Insurance: Sadly phones are stolen every day, lost, broken, dropped in water. If your phone is valuable/and necessary to you, get it insured. And yes you WILL have to pay a deductible just like your car insurance or homeowners. Deductibles for $500 smartphones and up can run $130 to get a replacement phone. If you don’t like your phone, and report it stolen, they will only send you the same phone or a similar/lesser model for the cost of your current phones deductible.

  6. Car chargers: Most smartphones use a lot of battery to perform all of the complicated tasks we ask of them. Having a car charger is essential in revamping a low battery for demanding usage throughout the day. Gamers use the most battery. Constantly syncing with social sites, email, leaving your camera’s flash on auto/ready uses energy. Smartphones are automatically set to sync with stocks, news among other sites sometimes every hour. Setting your sync rate is vital to conserving your battery, as well as turning off any apps you are not currently using through task killer apps. Finally dimming your screen and shutting your display after usage also helps.

  7. Bluetooth Devices: I strongly urge anyone using their phone a lot to get a Bluetooth. It fits in your ear or mounts in your car and you can talk(and text depending on your phone) hands free. It is frightening to me to see the number of drivers looking at phones instead of traffic, driving one armed, with a cell phone to their ear. With cellphone usage set to double by 2015, the statistics of driving with cell phone distraction is extremely alarming.

  8. Accessories: Accessories can range from screen protectors, cases, covers, additional chargers, battery boosters, car mounts, arm bands etc. These can also extend the usage and life of your phone by protecting it from damage.

• Having a cell phone can greatly increase the quality of your life. You can reach loved ones if you separate in a mall or vacation spot, have a car wreck, slip and fall at home, need an ambulance at a child’s sporting event. You can catch that once a week call your college kid or soldier in another country. Not missing an important message from a colleague or boss regarding a last minute meeting or item is also important. It can save you money by giving up a house phone and going totally mobile.

  Whether you are ready for the future or not, it involves cell phone usage of some kind. Get to know what you are or not willing to spend, and use for cell phone coverage.

  If you’d like to follow me or become a fellow hubpage member you can sign up too