How to Select a Cell Phone that Won't Irk You Later

Whether you're shopping for a cell phone in a store or online, and whether you're shopping for your first cell phone or a replacement, there are questions you may not know, or think, to ask; and asking those questions could make the difference between your being 100% satisfied with your new phone and discovering that your new phone irks you in minor (or not-so-minor) ways.

Wherever cell phones are being sold the same general information is given about each phone: dimensions, price, battery life (talk and stand-by), whether its a camera phone, whether its an Mp3 player, and whether its a radio. Other standard information offered about each phone includes whether music ringtones can be downloaded and the list of features each phone has, such as alarm clock, calendar, calculator, voice recorder, loudspeaker, world time, etc.

If this is your first cell phone, and if you're among the many people who say, "I don't care what it does. I'm not going to be texting and downloading. I just want it to make and receive calls reliably" I'd like to point out to you that "that's what they all say". Many people don't think they'll be texting or using other phone features until they have the phone, realize how handy some of those features are, and discover that many of those features tend to be used once the phone's owner realizes how handy that are.

As a shopper, after learning the above information for each phone you may switch your top two or three choices on, look at the display, check out whether you like the size of the keys and whether you like the size of the phone and select the phone that - when all is said and done - wins you over with its appearance. The trouble is there's a good chance you'll get your new phone home, use it for a few days, and discover that there's something about it that is extremely irksome to you. Knowing what to ask when you're buying a new phone can help assure that your new phone won't turn out to have irksome features that make you regret your choice.

Since individual needs and preferences vary the answers to all of the following questions may not matter to all potential phone buyers, but each question is worth considering:

1. Is this your first cell phone or are you replacing one? If you're replacing one you are already accustomed to using your present phone and are more likely to be dissatisfied if the new phone's features are harder to use.

2. Carrier and Signal Strength: Does the carrier offer a good signal to the area in which you will most often use the phone? If you're shopping at a store that sells only one carrier's phones you can ask about the signal. If you're shopping at a discount department store or other store that sells phones and service for more than one carrier you'll need to be particularly careful about checking out signal strength for your area. Don't assume that because the WalMart in your town (for example) sells a particular carrier's phones/service that the signal will be good. Checking each carrier's site online to see if they offer a map that shows signal strength is a good idea.

3. Display: Does it matter to you if the display shows a pale or white stripe across any wallpaper you may want to use, and would you prefer a phone that shows the whole, uninterrupted, wallpaper? Phones that are being sold have the carrier's wallpaper or logo on the display, and the background is often white. You may not discover that your lake-scene wallpaper has an annoying stripe across the top (in order to show icons and text better) until you get the phone home. Not everyone cares about wallpaper, but if you like a pretty scene or a picture of a rock group on your phone's screen and don't want it marred by a stripe this is something to consider. If this pale or white area is not on the display does the display show the text and icons so they're easy to see? Does the phone allow for changing the color of the text, and do you care about that?

4. Text messaging: If you already have one phone you're accustomed to doing certain things when writing text messages. For example, your phone switches to upper case letters or to numbers by doing one thing or another. Some phones have easier text messaging than others. Ask if the phone you're considering automatically returns to predictive text every time you do "the least little thing". Some phones just "want" to keep going back to predictive text, and it can be really aggravating. Ask if the text message you've worked hard to type in will be erased or still there in the event you hit a wrong key. Ask if the text messaging feature on the phone you're considering is designed to be extremely different from most text messaging operations. (Some phones have difficult-to-use text messaging that some engineer apparently thought was revolutionary but that is really just infuriating and difficult.) Does the phone display show whether the phone is in upper case or lower case mode, and is does the simple push of a key switch modes; or do you need to know which key changes modes if you press it x number of times? Can you easily switch to numbers and symbols, and can you simply select which number of symbol you want; or must the user first select the character and then press a key to insert the character?

5. Small keys versus large keys: Do you need or want large keys, and if you think small keys are better do you have the vision and dexterity to be able to comfortably use them without frequently pressing the wrongs keys? If you have a vision problem does the phone offer something like a raised bump on the "5" key to help?

6. Inadvertent volume-changing: Does the phone have a "handy" volume-control button on the side that, on the one hand, makes it easier to raise and lower the volume of the ring or of the keypad but, on the other hand, means that holding and using the phone makes changing the volume by accident something that is going to be happening all the time?

7. Is the phone designed in a way that will allow it to get itself on the web if you forget to lock the keypad? Some phones require two or more steps before the phone is connected to the web. Some have a one-button design, which means that forgetting to lock the keypad is likely to result in the phone's getting itself connected to the web if you lean on your pocket or purse.

8. The charger: Does the charger plug into the phone easily, or does it feel as if something may break each time the charger is connected to the phone?

9. The menu: Does the phone have a common-sense menu that is pretty much similar to menus of most other phones and that can pretty much be muddled through without too much help from the User's Guide; or does it have a bizarre, complicated, menu that requires more steps than most phones do, and that requires learning which keys to press to get to certain features because the menu doesn't just guide you to where you want to be?

10. The size of the phone: Do you prefer a larger phone that isn't likely to be lost or easily dropped, or do you prefer the tiniest of phones so you can keep it in a small purse or pocket easily? Also, be aware that the tiniest of phones may not be compatible with certain web subscription services offered, such as weather for you area.

11. The short-cut keys and your favorite features: If you have certain features (like a 30-day calendar or calculator) that you like to have programmed to be accessed by short-cut keys does the phone you're considering allow that; and how much does it matter to you if it doesn't?

12. Features: Is the calculator easy to use? Some phone calculators are extremely easy to use. Some just aren't worth bothering with. Can you get a 30-day view of a calendar, or does it show only one day or week at a time? Can you set the alarm clock for more than one time at a time? Does the alarm clock shut itself off after too short a time of sounding? Will the alarm go off even if the phone is turned off? Does the address book offer a simple list of contacts? Is it easy to navigate, or does it require more than the usual amount of work to get to the contact you want? Are the features easy to reach, or are they buried farther into the menu under, say, "My Stuff" or "Tools". Some phones offer easier access to features than others do.

13. Ringtones: Have you listened to a polyphonic ringtone on the phone to hear whether it sounds tinny? If you plan to use those "downloadable music ringtones" have you listened to one of the music ringtones on the phone to see if it sounds scratchy and awful?

14. The ring: Does the phone allow for the level of volume you need, or when its set on "loud" is the volume still too low? Does the user have the option of setting an ascending ring versus a ring that comes on strong right from the beginning, or does the phone prevent setting a ring that will start out as loud as you will need it to be? If you plan to use the phone where there is a lot of noise (out walking on busy streets, in malls, in loud places of employment, etc.) you'll need a louder ring than some people may need, and you won't want your phone to start out ringing softly for a while before it rings on full volume.

15. Does the phone have an external antenna, and is the antenna likely to gradually loosen in a purse or pocket? If the antenna is screwed on and likely to loosen over time there is the chance it could fall off unexpectedly.

Not all of the above points will matter to all prospective cell phone buyers, and for the person who will truly on use the phone for emergencies the answers to the above questions won't matter much at all. For the person who plans to use the phone on a daily basis, though, knowing what to ask before buying can help prevent frustration or dissatisfaction later.