The Communications
Consumer Review

How To Choose Cell Phones And Cell Phone Service Plans

Like most emerging technologies, cell phones started out as more or less a novelty. But today cell phones are so integrated into our daily lives it is difficult to find a person without one. But what do you look for when you're trying to decide which cell phone plan and equipment will be best for you?

The first place to start is the cell phone plan itself. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to make an actual physical comparison of one cell phone service to another, as most cell phones can only be used on one specific network. And besides that, cell phone service can vary considerably from one location to the next, making it even more difficult to make an overall network comparison.

However, there are ways of determining which cell phone networks provide the best overall service. Perhaps the best way is by surveying massive amounts of cell phone users and then compiling the information to see which companies perform best. In just the last few years, several major owner surveys have been conducted including one that polled over 50,000 subscribers in 18 cities, and another that gathered information from over 24,000 households in various parts of the US.

So what was the results of these major owner surveys? Generally speaking, two major cell phone services and networks seemed to perform best overall, and they are Verizon and T-Mobile. The surveys seem to indicate that Verizon has a slight advantage in call quality, whereas T-Mobile may have a small advantage in customer service. But both companies performed extremely well in all major surveys, indicating that they would be a good choice for most consumers.

One consistent point that became very clear in these consumer surveys is that you often get what you pay for when it comes to cell phone service. In other words, the companies that tempt you with extremely low service plans are usually unable to provide the kind of service that most consumers will find acceptable. So just bear that in mind when shopping for cell phone service plans, as a service plan that looks like a good deal when you sign up may not be such a bargain later on when you have to put up with lower service and quality.

How about selecting cell phones themselves? What should you look for when trying to decide on which cell phone is best for you? Here are a few suggestions:

1. It's usually best to physically examine the phones that are being offered by a carrier before making your decision. Actually take the phone, hold it in your hand and try to use it. How easily can you access the keys with one hand? Are the keys laid out in a logical manner? The answer these questions will help you determine a lot about how well the cell phone will function for you in real world use.

2. Make sure that the display performs well both in dim light and in bright light as well.

3. Look for features that are actually useful. Cell phone companies tend to load up their phones these days with all sorts of extra features and capabilities that they charge extra for. But ask yourself if you will really actually use those extra features are not.

4. Always be on the lookout for special offers and promotions. Almost every cell phone network has some kind of special promotion and pricing going on almost all the time, so be sure to ask about what specials are available.

5. Before buying any cell phone, be sure to find out what the return policy is on the phone in case you are not happy with it. Some consumers have been charged serious cancellation fees when returning a phone, so just be sure that you understand what the return policy is before you buy.

We hope that the information provided on cell phones will be helpful to you in choosing both cell phone service and equipment. Don't forget that our communication web site also carries quite a bit of valuable information on other subjects such as voip, video conferencing, broadband internet access, satellite internet, and satellite TV too.