Best Cellular Phone  

Choosing the best cellular phone
Ask yourself the questions listed below. Your reply will give you an idea of your target profile. Once you figure out your profile, or the main way you'll be using your cell phone, you can see find out what features you'll need in a service plan and phone.

Why would I need a cellular phone?

Family Oriented Answer: Stay In Touch
Why wait by the phone for friends and family to call? You don't have to be chained to your home phone any more. Now you can enjoy shopping, hiking, or a night out on the town, knowing you will always be able to keep in touch.

Active Professional Answer: On the Go
When you're away from office, it can be difficult for people to reach you. Whether you are on the road, in another state, or meeting with clients, a cellular phone can keep you on top of your busy work schedule.

Socialite Answer: It looks good
You want something that turns eyes and starts conversations. Maybe you just want something that matches your colorful personality. Choose a phone that offers a lot of accessories like faceplates and ringtones. Cellular phones are no longer plain and bulky, there are many that can be personalized just for you.

Business Traveler Answer: Keep on Top of Things
Working long hours, commuting to and from the airport, staying in different states each week adds up to to a very busy life in which it is impossible to know where you will be each day. A cellular phone is the best tool for staying informed in the ever-changing business world.

Safety Centered Answer: Peace of Mind
Many people say they feel more secure having a mobile phone available in case of an emergency. Unfortunately, there's no telling when and where you might need assistance, but with a mobile phone you can call for help whenever and almost wherever you might need it. Like a fire extinguisher, a phone leaves you feeling prepared and with the peace of mind of knowing you can summon help if you need it. For you and your loved ones, this peace of mind can be very comforting.

When would I use my cellular phone?

Family Oriented Answer: Kids, Friends, and Family
Make sure your kids can get in touch with you, so you don't have to worry every time you leave the house. Going out with friends is a wonderful way to spend time. Mom wants to know when she can see the grandkids, dad wants to know what to fix for dinner, sister wants to know when you will have time to meet for coffee. For a busy person that can't wait by the phone, a cell phone is the perfect solution for keeping in touch.

Active Professional Answer: Anywhere Your Busy Life Takes You
You need to be reachable, whether you're in the car, in your office, or out of the house. When you're constantly on the go, you don't have time to be chained to your phone. Now, with a cellular phone, you'll never miss an important call again, no matter where your active life might take you.

Socialite Answer: Evenings on the Town & Vacations
Stay on top of evening plans and make last minute appointments and reservations. Stay in touch during vacations and have easy, convenient access to a phone to schedule plans and confirm appointments, wherever you may be spending time. A cell phone can make it easy to connect to friends and organize group outings on the the spur of the moment.

Business Traveler Answer: On the Move
When you are constantly on the go, there are few times when you won't need your cellular phone. In those rare times, certain models have a vibrate mode or you can simply turn off the cellular phone. With the Caller ID and voice mail features, you won't miss that important call. The business world might consume most of your time, yet there is still a life outside of the office. A cellular phone can connect you to the world away from meetings, power lunches, and trips to meet with executives.

Safety Centered Answer: In Your Car, Remote Places, Out and About
When your car breaks down or when you have a flat, you won't have to leave the safety of your car to call for roadside assistance. And if you witness an accident, you can call to help out someone else in need. If you become lost or hurt in a remote area, a cellular phone can link you to safety. If the phone lines go down in a storm or if the battery dies in your cordless phone, you can use your mobile phone as backup. Plus, with the push of a button you can dial 911 and get help if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

How do I choose the right products and services for me?

Family Oriented:

Cellular Phones
You'll want an affordable handset with a few basic features like voice mail so you won't miss any important calls. Also consider generous memory to store frequently called numbers and caller ID. The best cellular phone to buy is up to you - only you know what your unique needs will require.

Service Plans
To stay close to family and friends far away, consider affordable long distance rates or plans that include free long distance. There are many solid service plans for under $50 a month that offer generous anytime minutes. Best cellular phone finder. Want the best cellular phone on the market? Get the best cellular phone today for the lowest price! Compare top brands.

Accessories
A cigarette lighter adapter is great accessory to have in your car because you can make and receive calls while charging your battery. An ergonomic carrying case enables your phone to be safely stored in your car, pocket, or bag. Accessories like colorful faceplates are also an easy way to add a little fun to your wireless usage. The best cellular phone choice for some allow the option of customizing the look of the phone. Not all phone offer this, so check carefully.

Take a look at the packages on the right that we picked out especially for cellular phone users like you. Or use the Find Compare tool to find out which phone and service plan will be right for you. Or if you just need an accessory to enhance your phone, browse our accessories catalog.

Active Professional:

Cellular Phones
Different professionals will, of course, have different needs. The best cellular phone is a matter of preference. There are several features you may want to consider. One key decision is selecting a phone with long battery life for standby and talk time. Calling features such as voice mail, call forwarding, call waiting, and 3-way calling can also prove very useful for the individual on the go. Need your phone to double as a pager? Easy. Need to have access to email? Not a problem. To boot, most cell phones today are lightweight and attractive, with some weighing as little as 4 ounces.

Service Plans
And don't forget your service plan. Active professionals generally need a calling plan with ample anytime minutes, upwards of 1000 a month, and solid local or regional coverage. If you foresee making a good deal of long distance calls, consider the many plans now available offering free long distance.

Accessories
Accessories can make the wireless experience more convenient. For example, a hands-free kit enables you to talk and drive with both hands on the wheel, and a cigarette lighter adapter maintains your battery's life while you use your phone. Also consider an extra battery for those times you're not in the car or a durable carrying case to protect your phone.

Socialite Answer:

Reliability
You can have it all! Even flashy new phones are reliable and durable quality products. Don't have a lot of time to charge your phone? Standby time is an important factor in selecting a phone. If you're out on the go and don't have access to a power source, you can be confident that your battery will still have plenty of juice. The best cellular phone for you is one with a long battery life or one that offers a low cost battery.

Coverage
Select a plan that reflects the way you live - if you're never at home, make sure that your friends can reach you on your cell phone. A plan with plenty of night and weekend minutes will ensure that you can always be tracked down to make plans on a Saturday night to go to the movies or to a hot new club.

Freedom
Free long distance means that you can get in touch with your college friends who have spread out around the country or call home to mom. Free roaming will allow you to use your phone without worry while you travel. Whether you're at home, at work, in the car, at school, visiting your parents - select a plan that allows you to use your phone even if you're never settling in one spot.

Accompaniments
Antennas that light up when someone calls, batteries that vibrate, magnetic button car holders, extended life batteries and cigarette lighter adapters are a few of the accessories that will take your phone to another level of cool.

Business Traveler Answer:

Cellular Phones
A wireless phone is more than just a convenience, it's a critical element of your mobile command center. Making and receiving calls is only part of the equation. Look into phones that have text messaging, paging, or WAP capabilities for checking your email and browsing the Wireless Web. A phone that's lightweight won't add excess baggage to an already heavy travel load. Cell phones these days are under 6 ounces with the ultra lightweight coming in at under 4 ounces. Also extended memory is good to store names and numbers of clients and colleagues in your phone book. The best cellular phone for you is one with a good phone directory and the ability to sync with a PC.

Service Plans
You'll also want to consider a comprehensive calling plan that enables you to call and access data whether in San Francisco, Miami or New York. Solid national (and even global) coverage could be a vital part of your cell phone arsenal. For heavy business travelers, look into purchase plans that have plenty of minutes and do not charge for roaming and long distance. Many plans include upwards of 1000, or even unlimited minutes in the monthly fee.

Accessories
Rapid battery chargers or extended life batteries ensure ample power no matter where you are. Also consider a sleek leather carrying case to protect your cell phone investment.

Safety Centered Answer:

Cellular Phones
For infrequent emergency use, there are many free or very affordable phones that will serve your needs. You will want a phone with the ability to transmit in analog (since digital coverage is often poor in remote areas). Also, make sure to pick a phone with a battery standby time of at least 48 hours so that you'll have plenty of "juice" to make calls if you're away from a power source. The best cellular phone for you is a prepaid cellular phone. A prepaid cellular phone offers lower cost, no monthly fees and typically less expensive phones.

Service Plans
When reviewing service plans, it's important to make sure that you will have service in the places where you might need to use your phone. Examine the coverage maps and verify that the highways and roads you drive on frequently are covered. Many plans geared specifically toward safety users offer a modest number of anytime calling minutes for less than $30 a month. Be wary of plans that don't offer analog service, which is available in many remote areas where there is no digital coverage.

Accessories
To make sure your phone is always charged, consider tossing a car charger in your glove box or carrying an extra battery in case yours runs out of juice. You'll be prepared for any contingency, whether on the street or in your car.