Choosing The Right Mobile Phone - For the Average User, Professionals, and Connoisseurs
Mar 09 '06 (Updated Sep 12 '06)
The Bottom Line Choose your phone carefully, based on your personal needs and the type of service you will be using. Otherwise, you will be unhappy with the service and the equipment.
This is a buyers guide to purchasing a phone that will work satisfactorily on an existing service or the planned services you select. Let me start by saying this is not a guide to simply choosing one service type over another, but it will be of help in selecting a service provider and the final cellular service type network.
Now if you're the sort that just buys the first thing offered, there's not much point in reading further unless you have the need, or (chuckle) the thirst to read. Buying a cell phone or a discounted phone from a service provider almost always locks you into a commitment period with them. It is how they can offer the discounts. This is a fairly detailed guide with a decent splash of technical information.
As service types are in a constant state of change, no current phone will work with all types or will continue to work indefinitely with future possible changes to cellular service networks. This is why many providers offer specific phones for their service and refuse to authorize some models. Unfortunately, this means upgrades in consumer equipment, yearly or every few years, are required for best performance. Fortunately, some newer phones provide more flexibility among systems - if you're careful in selection. You don't have to buy your phone from a service provider. One exception to what works is E-911 calls in the US. Older phone types may no longer authorize on the system with a provider, but they will always be able to make a free emergency call - at least for the immediate foreseeable future.
With the detail I offer here, even those having had poor phones/service in the past should be able to make an educated selection - unless they're pleased with the win or lose solutions using the cheap (often free) phones many service providers offer.
1) Determine the service carrier/provider you will be using and phone type even if you don't purchase it from the provider/s whose systems you intend to use.
1:A) Here in the USA, some major GSM GPRS/EDGE carriers are:
Cingular, T-Mobile (US), and Cincinnati Bell Wireless. GSM simply stands for Global System for Mobile communications and it is currently the most popular standard worldwide making use of "Quad-Band" frequencies in the 850/900/1800/1900 megahertz ranges as used by provider. GPRS is the data services side known as General Packet Radio Service and EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) is simply a software change to GPRS service that allows higher data transfer speeds. Note: GSM capable phones are incompatible with CDMA systems.
The phone you will be looking for using one of these carriers will be any quad-band type using 850/900/1800/1900 megahertz. Some dual-band and tri-band phones will also work with these carriers, but the frequencies must be matched to those used by the service carrier you intend to use. Of course, the optimal choice will be a quad-band phone as it will work with more carriers here in the US and abroad. The providers SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) also provides the exact frequencies in the phones range along with the networks ID authorization information. This is why a simple SIM change to another phone will often authorize it - if it has compatible frequencies (ie. quad-band, tri-band, or dual-band).
What you should also be made aware of is GSM services are in a transition period to WCDMA. This is a new format from the older TDMA services that will eventually make UMTS the standard. This transition period is to the newer (faster and improved) 3G standards all cell phone providers are moving toward.
1:B) GSM carrier Data services (Internet browsers, email, etc.):
The older standard CSD or Circuit Switched Data (sometimes called Closed Switch Data - as opposed to open for GPRS) used the full bandwidth during the connection and was billed per minute instead of by kilobytes in GPRS and EDGE connections. While slower, it could save money in larger data transfers as it was billed per minute. Some phones (such as Motorola's RAZR) will allow for setting their browsers to use CSD or GPRS type transfers when both are available (CSD must be notated on the account). CSD can also be handy using a connected computer to the phone where there is a large data exchange using a dial-up Internet connection number. The CSD feature has been discontinued, but if you have an older plan with it - you can still take advantage of the unlimited data usage it offers which will be then charged per minute. The data will just come in faster at GPRS speeds. (Cingular has CSD included under their old WIX or Wireless Internet Express feature.)
1:C) Other WCDMA - UMTS high speed services:
Of note, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) will eventually replace GSM GPRS/EDGE. This new replacement for GSM data systems will allow up to mega-bit data connections and the frequency range is expected to be raised above the current 1900 megahertz level now in use. This new format (UMTS) and GSM are the most widely accepted formats worldwide and being currently used and implemented. This would make a GSM/UMTS phone the most viable candidate for purchase, especially for someone who frequently travels around the world, even though the older GSM standard will remain in effect for some few years.
Phones to be used during implementation of this new UMTS should be GSM and UMTS capable. This is known as Dual-Mode as the phone accepts two differing standards. A standard GSM phone cannot make use of the new UMTS standard. Currently, the new UMTS standard is being implemented in Asia (Japan, etc.) and some European markets. Cingular also already has the system in operation at a limited level at 1900 megahertz in some US cities at this time. (Motorola's RAZR V3x, and others by LG, NOKIA, etc. can make use of UMTS for it's video conferencing capability. These new phones will all be appearing soon as some are already available. Some will also be offering WI-FI along with the new UMTS standard.) Eventually, UMTS data speeds are expected to approach DSL speeds of up to 14 Mbps. varying due to bandwidth use. It also is capable of supporting not only high speed data, but VOIP. Fax services are unavailable outright, but FAX capabilities can be handled within email services.
Note also, if your new phone is UMTS capable, it will require a 3G SIM (Subscriber Information Module) for GSM/UTMS operation to both operate. An older GSM phone's SIM will only authorize GSM on a Dual Mode phone using GSM/UMTS.
Little is discussed about phone Modes and some incorrectly call this "band" when speaking of it, but it is and has been a feature in phones transitioning AMPS, TDMA, and GSM system upgrades. Not only has there been dual-modes but tri-modes and up. Cingular has actually provided AMPS, older TDMA, and TDMA/GSM/GPRS services running concurrently on their system for some years now, giving their customers the benefit all using some phone models, but the company is now phasing out some of its oldest technologies as does every other service provider. You wouldn't notice this often during a "hand-off" (change between towers or transponders) or even know what took place as it is done "seamlessly" for the most part, and phones have been designed to do it this way for some years now (some models better than others). Bands are simply the frequency ranges a phone is capable of using. (Currently, GSM bands are 850/900/1800/1900 MHz.)
1:D) Other major carriers here in the USA use CDMA standards and they are:
Alltel, Verizon, Nextel, and Sprint. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA system operators use the 800/1900 megahertz frequencies. These are dual-band phones and their method of transmission and reception encoding is incompatible with GSM carriers. CDMA carriers also use EVDO for data transmission. The two current data types here are CDMA One and CDMA2000.
These CDMA providers are also transitioning new CDMA technologies. CDMA2000 with 1xEV is the most current 3G transition in process by these providers for the moment.
CDMA is actually an old technology that dates back to use in World War II. Qualcomm (the patent holder) just patented it and became the first to use it commercially. Hence, more current advancements in this technology.
1:E) CDMA carrier EVDO data transmission:
EVDO data transmission (1xRTT) is similar to the speed available in current UMTS slightly over EDGE in GSM systems. Although, UMTS can be much faster in theory as the technology progresses. EVDO stands for Evolution Data Optimized. The 3G transition is to CDMA2000 with 1xEV. A drawback with these data systems is the use of a narrower frequency range which imposes restrictions as more users access the system. Voice quality can also suffer to some extent, although current systems work quite well. However, VOIP will never be an option with CDMA.
These service types also exist elsewhere in the world, but your phone choice will again dictate the phone service used. Remember, just because a manufacturer provides a phone model for each service type GSM, UMTS, CDMA, CDMA2000, etc. - don't expect anything about them to be the same, as they are all very different technologies. Those in transition require phones capable of making the jump from GSM to UMTS ; CDMA to CDMA2000 to remain in service longer. Just as you saw in the other services above, the phones on these systems should be of more than one mode for transitioning to the newer standards Qualcomm system operators offer. Again as before, this expresses the need for upgrading cell phones every year or two as system operators shut down older standards. The technological advancements are moving quickly each year.
2) Pre-selecting your standard service provider:
As service areas can vary widely, service from any provider could be terrible where you will end up spending most of your time. Check with others in your area for how well the service, they use, works in the area - is it reliable for most of them? What service type does their phone use (service providers often have several types supported on their system)?
If you can't determine from this, get an inexpensive pay phone and plan to start out with. Some providers offer decent refurbished and new ones for their pay per use accounts. This will assure you will not be locked into a monthly service agreement for any period of time. After using one providers service, you can easily try out another. Don't use "auto pay" on this phone as it could continue billing after you have discontinued the service, and don't expect to "migrate" a phone number using a pay phone account. By using a current inexpensive phone, you can see how well the service providers system support works. Clarity, battery life, or signal power may not be that great, but what you're looking for now is only reliability of service in the area of coverage. After using the two major service types (currently GSM and CDMA) your selection should be down to only service providers of the type service that worked best overall for you in the areas you travel most.
Avoid service resellers and do business directly with the actual service provider if at all possible. There are many reasons for this that can keep your experience using a provider's service less than optimal, and souring you on an otherwise fine service or the best one in the areas you travel in.
Why your selection should now be down to major service providers is due mostly to coverage areas and pricing policies. While some will use the same technologies, they will not have the same access to coverage of all areas, and all of them should offer better overall customer service than using a third party. However, some resellers will absolutely shine in some equipment guarantees and local area coverage. But then, my purpose (here and now) is only helping you with finding the best service for your immediate areas of use whether local or not. The best and most economical service will still be using a standard plan billed to you on a month to month basis for a phone, and not a pay per use plan - if you want use your phone regularly. Local, Regional, or Nation plans will not be of too much an issue as Nation plans offering free long distance and free roaming should only be in your sights (with possibly an added data plan).
If you want to use your phone around the world, you need to check what cellular network systems are used in the countries you will be traveling in. Some providers here offer attractive International rates for some countries and have agreements with them that make buying a temporary SIM for that country unnecessary. This could be a key reason to choose one type system over another for your "home area" provider.
The reason you want advanced 3G phone capability now is simple. Having a phone that can utilize it means better connections, clearer transmissions, a larger service area, and a phone that will remain a good performer for some time in the future.
3) Is the phone Locked or Unlocked and does it need to be?
This doesn't refer to locking the keys on the phone against inadvertent key presses, but rather the system programming of the phone. If a phone has been Locked into a system by a provider it will not function with a different providers SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) until it is Unlocked. If a carrier/system provider has Locked the phone, you will need the unlock codes for it to function on another carrier's system. These codes can be found for sale on the Internet for many phone models and some providers (carriers) will supply them free. Don't expect an Unlocked phone to remain that way when you authorize it with a system providers SIM - they often Lock phones automatically when you use their cellular network. So - a purchase of an Unlocked phone can be of little benefit if you don't have the Unlock codes for your phone and need to use SIM cards from various providers, such as may be needed if you travel the continents.
4) Determine what feature set you require:
Camera anyone? How about an MP3 player? Not to mention Data services. CDMA/CDMA2000 and TDMA/WCDMA carriers both offer live telecasting. You may want a PDA, recording functions for voice or live video. How about USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi? The latter can be very handy for getting a computer online and saving information. Some CDMA phones can even offer GPS (Global Positioning Services) functions. Be sure to also check standby, talk time, and charging times. Without good life in these areas you'll be tied to the charger much more than you will like and you may need to add a special charger or power adapter for travel in some countries. See what optional equipment is offered with the phone such as software for your computer. Some software will give you the ability to make and edit your own ringtones, and pictures. You may also be able to sync the phone's memory to a computer making phone book transfers simple.
5) Are you interested in a flip or non-flip style phone?
This should be of some concern as a flip type or slide type cam prevent accidental key presses that could cause unnecessary charges on your account. Locking the keys on non-flip phones and/or a leather case can also be helpful in this area. A case will also provide more protection from the elements and damage from rough handling. Let style be of some influence in this as the look of your phone should also be pleasing to you. Remember, it will be traveling almost everywhere with you for some time.
6) Finally, get yourself a pencil and paper and write down your selections.
Now that you've determined the cellular system network type you wish to use (currently GSM or CDMA), style of phone, and the features you want, phone selection is close to completion.
In this step you can list a number of features below a heading of several models you have in mind that are compatible with the system type you have selected. A side by side check mark for the features each phone has will quickly reveal your favorite. Place your best price by each and decide what you don't really need if price is an object, but consider the old adage - you get what you pay for. Use the manufacturer's site to download the users manuals and read them for each phone. Read any reviews you can find on interesting models and weigh this against manufacturers claims for any new models that have no ratings. Manufacturers will normally provide plenty of info on their phones features - and they all will probably work, even if not well. So, look at the manufacturers reputation for a good product. After you make your purchase, put your list away - you may want to use it again!
7) So, if after all of this - that brand new phone in your hand is a clunker:
Do be sure to read the manual for proper operation and use of the phones menus - your own misuse or improper settings doesn't make a phone a clunker! Get to know your phone quickly, it can mean the difference in whether or not you will enjoy it. Also note, some features may not work until set properly using your phone's menus. Some of these settings can be for Internet and Multi-Media services, but may also be necessary for other features.
Don't keep it if it doesn't perform well for you after everything has been properly set! Return it for a refund immediately and/or get a different model or brand that will also work with the service you have now chosen for day to day use. If the phone was unsatisfactory to start with, the odds are almost certain it's replacement will be a clunker also - if replaced with another just like it! Be sure to remove the system authorization from it, for use in any replacement, if needed before a return.
Just because a phone looks the same as others, or carries designations similar to others, it does NOT mean it is the same. Internal software and electronic hardware can be very different - even among early and later models of the same phone. So, always be sure of what you are getting before a purchase.
Remember I said keep that list above? Use your next best guess for the phone you most like or need. Out of your two best choices, you should find at least one winner.
Just to show the standards and how they've progressed and where they're going. Levels are in "generations" from 0G to 4G. With each "generation" there are corresponding increases in data transmission levels.
Mobile phone and data standards
Earlier - 0G.... stone age - fossilized!
0.5G.... ancient - petrified!
1G.... antique - Edison's light bulb still burns!
Late 20th century to 2001 and still commonplace in cell phone use;
2G...... GSM, IDEN, D-AMPS, CDMA One, -
PDC, CSD
Next - 2.5G.... GPRS, HSCSD, WIDEN
2005 - 2.75G... CDMA2000 1xRTT, EDGE
Almost ready to be fully launched. Newly available in some market areas from some providers now;
2006 - 3G...... W-CDMA, UMTS, FOMA, -
CDMA2000 1xEV, TD-SCDMA
Projected date - 2007 3.5G... HSDPA
Projected date? - 3.75G.. HSUPA
2010-2015? - 4G.....?
Expected electrical grid problems due to sun flares of 2011?
As you can see, 2006 - 2007 will see more extreme change than previous years. This will mean new phones with dual ranges for at least two technologies per some service providers. Expect phone transmission and reception quality to vary among models and brands with some improvement in most.
UPDATE 9/12/2006:
Recent developments have Cingular and other US providers looking at the 2100 megahertz band, which may be opened up soon by the Fed (FCC) for use by them. Cingular is also discussing its, soon offered, next generation phone offerings may include UMTS/HSDPA modes and not just GSM/UMTS. Looks like 3G and 3.5G may be offered together in most of the states with fallback to only 3G speeds - very nice and on schedule. Only last week, I noticed Cingular is now distributing 3G SIM cards with all their new phones and replacement SIMs are also 3G - this in an area of normally 2.5G GSM service (2.75G EDGE implementation has largely gone unnoticed by most). UMTS is now upon us with fallback to GSM speeds, but I expect UMTS speeds will soon be available most all areas.
I hope this has been of help, and good luck on your decisions whatever they may be!
Alex
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