Did you know cell phones from one carrier are not compatible with other carriers? Did you know you can't tweak some cell phone as freely as other phones? Here are five important catches to avoid when buying a cell phone:
1. Prices shown are higher than they appear
Most if not all cell phone carriers display prices that are highly conditional to a variety of things. The most popular one: You need to claim a mail-in rebate before getting the advertised rate -- and this often means that you may struggle to get it. Prices displayed are generally also conditional to signing a one or two-year contract. And if you don't want to sign a contract, the price you pay will be significantly higher.
2.Cell phones are not compatible accross carriers
This may seem obvious to experienced cell phone users but beginners will be surprised to learn that a cell phone bought from Verizon Wireless won't work at Sprint, or vice-versa. Though some companies share the same network technology (either CDMA or GSM), they lock their phones so that they can be used only on their own network. It allows them to sell you a brand new cell phone at a very good price, assuming you will refund them through airtime for the years to come. So when choosing a cell phone, pay extra attention and make sure the network it works with fits your needs.
3.Not all cell phones let you do everything freely
Hoping to personalize your cell phone with free ringtones or graphics of your choice like your friends do? Don't be so sure. Some cell phone limit your liberty. You may only be able to buy ringtones from your carrier. You may be unable to transfer pictures taken with the phone's camera to your computer, and so on. Before buying a cell phone, make sure that it offers enough freedom for your needs.
4. What kind of coverage are you really getting?
Cell phone carriers like to show how large their coverage area is by displaying "coverage" and "extended coverage" zones. But you may need to read the fine print to learn that "extended coverage" areas sometimes are just coverage zones rented from other carriers. Though those extended zones will carry voice calls and basic functions, wireless data, Internet access or other advanced features may not work. Always take coverage maps with a grain of salt.
5.Many cell phones have a weak output volume
Unfortunately, a way-too-common problem in todays phones is the lack of sufficient output volume. To make batteries last longer, or simply because of manufacturers' bad design choices, the output volume of a large number of cell phones is not strong enough for noisy environments. Before buying a cell phone, ask to test it in store or check out some reviews and user reviews for comments on output volume strength or volume ratings.
|
