Hold the Phone: Tips to Consider Before Buying Your Next Cell Phone

Businesspeople, students, kids, seniors - these days, everyone has a mobile phone. But phones are designed to suit different lifestyles and personalities, so you need to do your research and compare wireless phones before making your purchase.

Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to help you find a cell phone that you'll love:

• Figure out what type of service plan will work best for you. If you use your cell phone infrequently or don't want to be tied to a network, a prepaid plan is probably your best option. Many companies now offer prepaid phones that don't skimp on style. For example, the Sanyo Juno SCP2700 available at Boost Mobile, offers a full QWERTY keyboard, a camera and Bluetooth technology. Pair this with an unlimited-use plan for only $50 per month and you have an especially good choice for kids and teenagers, as they won't be able to text you out of house and home.

• Consider your style. For the pragmatist, a solid bar-style phone with no hinges may be a good choice. For a little more flair, a clamshell or slider phone might make more sense. Are you just going to make calls, or do you want to update your Twitter feed? Some phones, such as the Kyocera Loft at Virgin Mobile, now include features designed for heavy Web surfers or social networkers. The phone comes with preloaded applications to keep you connected to your social networks, a full keyboard, threaded text messaging and Web browsing.

• Make sure the phone fits you physically. Hold it up to your ear. Make a call. Type as though you're sending a text message. If you're going to use the phone for messaging, look for keyboards that are easy to use and fit your size. The Sanyo Incognito SCP-6760 has a glow-through keypad on the outside and one-touch keys for text and emoticons on the internal QWERTY keypad, so it's easy to locate the keys and write messages.

For more information, visit www.kyocera-wireless.com or visit www.facebook.com/kyoceramobilephones.