The world of cell phones, plans, and extra features can be overwhelming at times. If you're in the market for a new cell phone, here are a few tips to guide you.
Navigating through the world of wireless technology can be intimidating for anyone. The technology changes so quickly that the phone you bought when you last renewed your contract is probably obsolete now. And while it’s fun to shop for bright, shiny new phones, the reality is that you’re signing a new contract—in most cases, one that lasts two years. So it’s important to keep these tips in mind while you’re shopping around.
Make sure you’re happy with your current carrier. If not, shop around. A lot of people blindly renew their contracts at the end of their term, even if they’re not completely happy with the service. With so much competition in the wireless industry, there’s no excuse for this. Does your phone work when and where you need it to? If not, ask local friends and family who they have service with and if they’re happy with it. It’s great if you have the coolest phone or the cheapest plan in town, but if you can’t actually make calls when you need to, it’s not worth having.
Ask about the refund/cancellation policy. Almost all carriers will hit you with a hefty service fee if you cancel your contract early. But any reputable carrier should offer you a trial period of at least 15 or 30 days if you’re just starting service with them. If they don’t offer this, walk away. You need a couple of weeks to determine if the phone and service will actually work for you before you commit to a contract.
Know what you really need in a phone. Everyone needs to make calls on their cell phones. Most people need some sort of text messaging service for times when calls aren’t possible. Some people need extras, like the ability to access e-mail from their phone. Only you know what you need in a phone vs. what you might like to have or what you totally don’t need. That PDA phone that can play music and videos, go online, create spreadsheets, and cook breakfast for you might look cool, but will you really use all of its features? If so, great. If not, you’ll be better off with a phone with fewer bells and whistles.
Beware of bundle packages More and more cell phone companies are starting to bundle a lot of their features together. How many times have you seen something like, “Unlimited minutes! Unlimited messaging! Video and music! All for $99.99 a month!” For people who use their phones all the time, this might be a good deal. However, in order to figure out if it’s a good deal for you, you need to know how much you actually use your phone. For example, if you use your phone mostly on nights and weekends, and if most of your friends are on the same network, you’re probably not using very many minutes. And if you’re only using 200 text messages a month, you can save a lot of money by buying a text package a la carte than you would if you got the bundle. Bottom line: Only pay for features and services you’ll actually use. Anything more is throwing money down the drain every month.
Don’t be afraid to walk away. Sales reps work on commission, so it’s in their best interest to get you to buy today. It’s in your best interest to be completely sure of your decision. So if you’re not ready to sign, don’t let the sales rep pressure you into it.
If you really know what you’re getting into, you should end up with a cell phone and service plan that works for you.
For more visit: www.swing.co.nr
Navigating through the world of wireless technology can be intimidating for anyone. The technology changes so quickly that the phone you bought when you last renewed your contract is probably obsolete now. And while it’s fun to shop for bright, shiny new phones, the reality is that you’re signing a new contract—in most cases, one that lasts two years. So it’s important to keep these tips in mind while you’re shopping around.
Make sure you’re happy with your current carrier. If not, shop around. A lot of people blindly renew their contracts at the end of their term, even if they’re not completely happy with the service. With so much competition in the wireless industry, there’s no excuse for this. Does your phone work when and where you need it to? If not, ask local friends and family who they have service with and if they’re happy with it. It’s great if you have the coolest phone or the cheapest plan in town, but if you can’t actually make calls when you need to, it’s not worth having.
Ask about the refund/cancellation policy. Almost all carriers will hit you with a hefty service fee if you cancel your contract early. But any reputable carrier should offer you a trial period of at least 15 or 30 days if you’re just starting service with them. If they don’t offer this, walk away. You need a couple of weeks to determine if the phone and service will actually work for you before you commit to a contract.
Know what you really need in a phone. Everyone needs to make calls on their cell phones. Most people need some sort of text messaging service for times when calls aren’t possible. Some people need extras, like the ability to access e-mail from their phone. Only you know what you need in a phone vs. what you might like to have or what you totally don’t need. That PDA phone that can play music and videos, go online, create spreadsheets, and cook breakfast for you might look cool, but will you really use all of its features? If so, great. If not, you’ll be better off with a phone with fewer bells and whistles.
Beware of bundle packages More and more cell phone companies are starting to bundle a lot of their features together. How many times have you seen something like, “Unlimited minutes! Unlimited messaging! Video and music! All for $99.99 a month!” For people who use their phones all the time, this might be a good deal. However, in order to figure out if it’s a good deal for you, you need to know how much you actually use your phone. For example, if you use your phone mostly on nights and weekends, and if most of your friends are on the same network, you’re probably not using very many minutes. And if you’re only using 200 text messages a month, you can save a lot of money by buying a text package a la carte than you would if you got the bundle. Bottom line: Only pay for features and services you’ll actually use. Anything more is throwing money down the drain every month.
Don’t be afraid to walk away. Sales reps work on commission, so it’s in their best interest to get you to buy today. It’s in your best interest to be completely sure of your decision. So if you’re not ready to sign, don’t let the sales rep pressure you into it.
If you really know what you’re getting into, you should end up with a cell phone and service plan that works for you.
For more visit: www.swing.co.nr
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