Whoever said mobile phones are used for calling has been living in the last century. A mobile phone is now so much more than just a calling or messaging device. It is a lifestyle gadget. Through your mobile, you can access the Internet, listen to music, watch videos, play games. When a gizmo is so central to our existence, the buying decision becomes even more so. Deciding which cell phone is right for you depends on many factors such as the place where you would use the phone, how often you would you make and receive calls, roaming access, the security and sound features you need. Here are a few important things to consider when buying a cell phone. But more than that, with connectivity being the mantra, it is also critical to know the various features a phone offers in terms of multimedia and connectivity.
You may already have a budget in mind as to how much you would like to spend. Mobile phones typically range between Rs 1,519 to Rs 62,829. The size and features affect the price.
YOU NEED THE PHONE FOR:
That you need a mobile is a foregone conclusion; what needs to be figured however, is what you will use the mobile for. The application the mobile is most needed for will help you get that much closer to deciding the phone you want to buy. Choose the personality that applies to you and determine the phone of your choice.
Basic user
You are one of the rare few people who actually needs a mobile just for calling and messaging and couldn't be bothered about the rest of the features. In fact you’ve hardly ever scrolled through all the setting on a mobile phone.
Type of phone - The basic user needs a simple straight forward mobile with none of the multimedia or connectivity frills. You might not even miss the games in your phone. However, since you need the phone for calls and SMS, you do need to check for talktime as well as standby time. The phone should ideally have at least two to three hours of talktime and up to three days of standby time.
Mid-range
You need it primarily for calling, but would like a few other features like music or games that you could fiddle around with.
Type of phone - You're looking at something between a too-tech and no-tech phone. So you want a little bit of both. The mobile that you would suit you, should have a few additional features besides the regular ones like a radio or a basic camera or a few games, maybe Infrared or GPRS. While you’re not stingy, you still have a certain upper limit beyond which you won't spend on a phone.
On-the-road user
You want a phone that is sturdy and has a long battery life as your constant on-the move lifestyle won't allow you to recharge too frequently. Plus, since you're almost always on the road, you need a phone that can keep you entertained as well as stay connected through the web.
Type of phone - A sturdy, healthy talktime, preferably world phone. You are looking at a phone with features like voice dialling, speaker phone, wireless connectivity through Bluetooth, Infrared, at least 350 hours of standby time, a 2 or more megapixel camera, as well as an LCD colour display.
High-powered executive
You need your entire work den in your palm. So this means your phone should be a mini-desktop with all the features of a PDA, Bluetooth, with conference calling capabilities, as well as a QWERTY keyboard.
Type of phone - You are looking at high-end business phones. A complete PDA enabled phone with all the what-have-yous of wireless connectivity. With the kind of work that you do, you need to be carrying your office with you wherever you go and so, your mobile must substitute your workstation.
Multimedia
You want a mobile purely for its multimedia applications. A camera, an MP3 and the latest 3G are what you look for in a phone and the higher the multimedia applications, the more appealing the phone.
Type of phone - You need a mobile phone that will have a high-resolution camera, a good quality MP3 as well as FM, and a host of other features like music composer, photo as well as video editor, memory slot, multiple format support, screen resolution with A2DP support.
Fashion
Features are important but what's more important is that the phone should be in. You are extremely fashion-conscious, so the newer and trendier the phone, the better.