Wireless standard: World travelers are more affected by wireless standards than are users based strictly in the United States. This is because most of the world uses networks based on GSM, which is the global system for mobile communications standard. U.S. carriers, however, use a variety of networks in addition to GSM. U.S. carriers work on the CDMA (code division multiple access), TDMA (time division multiple access), iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network), AMPS (advanced mobile phone service), GPRS (general packet radio service), EDGE (enhanced data rates for global evolution), and/or EvDO (evolution data optimized) standards. Cingular runs on the AMPS, EDGE, GSM, GPRS, and TDMA networks. Nextel uses the iDEN network exclusively. Sprint and Verizon Wireless run on CDMA and EvDO; Verizon also uses AMPS. T-Mobile supports GSM and GPRS networks. It is important to note that while Cingular runs on both GSM and TDMA networks, the services and the phones that use them do not interoperate.
Wireless mode: Dual-mode phones, which send and receive both digital and analog signals, tend to be more reliable than single-mode models. In rural areas where digital service is often spotty or nonexistent, a dual-mode phone can fall back on an analog signal to allow service, though roaming fees may apply. Bear in mind that using an analog mode consumes more battery power than using a digital mode. If you use your phone mainly in big cities,where digital service is widespread, you can stick with a single-mode model, which is often cheaper than a dual-mode phone.
Band support: The more radio bands a phone supports, the more frequencies it picks up. Quad-band phones, as their name suggests, operate across four frequency bands. Theoretically, they provide better coverage than triple-, dual-, or single-band phones. These so-called world phones are compatible with four GSM frequencies--850 MHz (prevalent in the United States), 900 MHz (prevalent in Europe), 1800 MHz (prevalent in Asia), and 1900 MHz (also available in the U.S.). As a result, they function around the globe. You can also find tri-mode phones that work on two digital frequency bands in addition to an analog network, a particularly handy feature if you travel to rural areas.
Design: You can choose among flip-open, clamshell-style phones; nonflip, candybar-style phones; slider-style phones that--obviously--slide open; and swivel phones that twist open. Flip phones can be more difficult to use with one hand because the cover may be heavier than the base, and low-end models may lack a separate caller ID screen on the cover. Fortunately, many new phones sport dual screens--a small, external LCD on the cover plus an internal display. If you buy a nonflip phone, make sure it has a keypad lock that prevents inadvertent dialing--a helpful feature when you put the phone in a pocket or bag.
Whichever type of phone you choose, check its ergonomics. Is it comfortable against your ear, and can you hear callers without constant adjustment? Can you use the phone with one hand? How about hands-free use: Can you comfortably hold the phone to your ear by scrunching your neck and shoulder? Also, look for the placement of the headset jack--a jack located on top of the phone is often more convenient than one located on the side.
Size and weight: Part of what makes a phone easy to use is its portability. A typical standard cell phone weighs about 4 ounces, and most non-flip models are about the size of an energy bar--5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. Anything above that is considered large. An exception is a PDA phone, like a Palm Treo or BlackBerry device. While these hybrid units continue to get smaller and slimmer, they will be larger than a basic cell phone, and you should keep that in mind if you plan to use one for long phone calls.
Battery life: Most new phones allow at least four hours of talk time and two to six days on standby. Some phones can last up to 14 days or more on standby. Keep in mind that usage affects battery life, as does the signal strength of your cellular service. A phone that constantly searches for signals will run itself down quickly. Depending on the phone, recharging the battery should take about an hour or longer. When you buy a phone, consider optional accessories such as a higher-capacity battery and a portable charging adapter for use in a car.
Screen: If you intend to send and receive text messages, surf the Web, or use the phone's organizer, make sure the screen is up to snuff. Six lines of text are sufficient for most folks; anything less will make your eyes--and your thumb--sore from scrolling. Some handsets let you adjust the font size to fit more text on the screen, but the more digits you pack in, the tinier they get. Consider a PDA phone if you plan to go online or send lots of messages; many models come with a large LCD.
An LCD's contrast and backlight strengths are also important. The phones we've seen show marked differences in viewing quality. If your phone allows you to adjust such settings, you can make text and graphics easily viewable--even in bright places. These days, most phones offer color screens, which are easy on the eyes.
Keypad: If you can't figure out how to use certain functions on a phone within a few minutes (with or without consulting the manual), try another. The keypad layout and menu system should be intuitive. The buttons should be responsive and easy to press. Check out the navigation buttons on the keypad. A joystick-style knob on some phones can make navigating menus quick. Most handsets come with up/down and left/right arrow keys. Buttons that protrude slightly are much easier to use than flat or recessed keys.
Many PDA phones and a few standard cell phones come with a small QWERTY keyboard. The tiny keys may not suit everyone, but they can save you a great deal of time if you plan to use your phone for sending e-mail messages and editing office documents. Even very small QWERTY keyboards tend to be much easier to use than a software-based keyboard on a touch-sensitive screen.
Voice communications and organizer: Mobile phones bombard you with call-management features--voice-activated calling, voice recording, phone books, call histories, speed dialing, and so on. Enabling some of the features (such as caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling) depends on your service plan. Most phones also provide security features that can restrict incoming and outgoing calls, lock the keypad, and protect or mass-delete phone book entries. Some handsets also provide a speakerphone. Some even function as two-way radios, connecting you with others on the same carrier; and in many cases, such communications don't count as airtime--a great benefit for IT personnel and other roving staff.
If you want to talk on the phone hands-free (a must if you use the phone while driving), look for a model that comes with a headset or an earphone. If you don't want to mess with cords, consider a phone that supports Bluetooth; it allows you to pair it with a wireless Bluetooth headset.
Wireless data: Nearly all new cell phones are capable of doing tasks such as sending and receiving e-mail and IM, downloading custom ring tones and simple games, or connecting to the Internet (usually through a minibrowser that's designed to work best with text-only versions of popular sites like Amazon, Google, and Yahoo). Such features, however, are heavily dependent on your provider and your service plan.
Going online while you're waiting for the elevator is a cool idea, but most phones connect at slow speeds: only up to 115 kbps on a GPRS network and up to 384 kbps on EDGE; 3G networks, such as EvDO, provide faster connections at up to 2 mbps.
Key Service Provider Features
Coverage: The biggest nationwide carriers are Cingular, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. Not all networks are created equal, however. Service can be erratic even if a carrier claims to have coverage in an area; the quality of the reception varies, too. One way to find out about a carrier's network reliability is to try out the service and one of its phones. Nearly all nationwide carriers offer a trial period of up to 30 days where you pay for only the minutes you use. You should also poll friends and colleagues about their experiences. Find out how good the phone signal is at your home, office, or anywhere else you'll need to use it.
Plan type: If you do a lot of cross-country traveling, signing up for a national phone plan is best because it will let you send and receive calls anywhere in the United States (and even in parts of Canada) at no extra charge. A local or regional plan limits the areas where you can originate a call and still pull from your monthly pool of minutes. If you have a world phone and plan to use it in other countries, choose service with international roaming.
Data plan: You should also take into account your data usage (e-mail, photos, IM, and Web access) when selecting your cell phone plan. Some carriers bundle voice and data plans together, while others let you select a voice and data plan separately. You can always pay for messaging and data use a la carte, but you'll likely be charged a higher rate. So if you think you'll be sending and receiving data with your phone, you'll want to select some sort of data plan.
Minutes: When choosing a plan, it's best to overestimate the number of minutes you'll be using for every sent and received call. Because one carrier's definition of off-peak may be different from another's, ask the carrier to specify the times for its peak, off-peak, and weekend hours. Other service charges include a data plan (see above), three-way calling, and downloads.
Contract: Virtually all carriers offer discounted service fees if you commit to a specified period of time, usually two years, though one year is sometimes available. The longer the contract period, the lower the rate. If you break the agreement, you'll incur hefty fees.
Other services: There's almost always a fee for activating service to your phone or switching the service from your old phone to a new one. Look into phone replacement plans or extended warranties, both of which typically entitle you to a new phone if yours is lost, stolen, or goes kaput. You should also find out who you can call if something goes wrong with your phone. Find out exactly what you'll need to do--and how much you'll need to pay--in order to fix your phone.
Today's phones let you do more than just talk. You can send and receive instant messages and even listen to songs or watch videos after downloading them. You need to take into account what you'd like to do with your phone before you can decide on the right handset for you. Most low-end phones support sending and receiving text messages, handling basic e-mail chores, and doing limited Web surfing. More low-end phones are adding features like built-in cameras and music playback, but if you want faster or more-advanced Web access, video playback and recording, or GPS functionality, you'll probably have to spring for at least an average or higher-end cell phone. And if you're looking for a phone that will let you view and/or edit Office documents, consider a more-advanced PDA phone.
Deciding between single- and dual-mode phones is less critical. Dual-band phones work on both analog and digital networks. They provide far greater coverage because digital networks don't cover the entire nation. Sound quality on analog networks isn't as good, however, and you may have to pay additional fees if you use the analog network on a digital plan.
Similarly, choosing among single-, dual-, tri-, and quad-band phones isn't critical for most users. The more bands a phone supports, the more frequencies it picks up. Quad-band phones, as their name suggests, operate across four frequency bands. As a result, theoretically, they provide better coverage than tri-, dual-, or single-band phones.