Buying A New Phone Guide

A lot of thought goes into buying a new phone. You endlessly compare prices, features, and reviews. You look at what each phone company has to offer, what plans you’re able to get, and what rebates you can score. The whole thing is a big, stinking pile of confusion and second-guessing. Well, I’m going to help you sort through all that mess and make sure that you’re satisfied with your purchase at the end of the day. All you have to do is read this guide.

The first thing you should think about is what exactly you use your phone for currently. Do you only use the basic features? Or, are you a seasoned, mobile veteran looking for the latest and greatest? Secondly, ask yourself if you are satisfied with your current phone. If you’re buying a new phone, chances are you’re either unsatisfied with your current phone, or you’ve had it for so long the numbers on the buttons are all worn off.

If you’re satisfied with your current phones set of features, then look for a phone that has similar offerings. You probably won’t find much because mobile technology advances so quickly, but it doesn’t hurt to look. Also, you’d be amazed at how much you can do on your phone that’ll make your life easier. Even if you’re satisfied with your current phone, look into getting a phone that has e-mail capability just for the sheer convenience of being able to send and answer e-mails on the go. It will make your life so much easier, especially if your work needs you to be on call at all times.

If you’re not satisfied with your current phone and package, now is a great time to upgrade. A lot of new smart phones are coming out, which means the last generation is going for much cheaper. Trust me; it really doesn’t make that much of a difference if you get an iPhone 3G versus a new iPhone. Just make sure you or your technologically-inclined friend installs the newest iPhone operating system. Yes, you’ll be without multitasking but you’ve lived without it on your current phone so I’m sure you’ll be fine and it will be worth the saved cash.

If this is your first phone, your expectations are going to be exceeded. Don’t worry too much about how you’re going to use your phone – you have no idea yet! Think about how much you’re willing to spend before going in there and try not to get pushed around by salesmen on a commission.

Buying a new phone takes a lot of thought. You endlessly compare prices, features, and reviews. You look at what each phone company has to offer, what plans you’re able to get, and what rebates you can score. The whole thing is a big, stinking pile of confusion and second-guessing. Well, I’m going to help you sort through all that mess and make sure that you’re satisfied with your purchase at the end of the day. All you have to do is read this guide.

So, in the last part we discussed looking at the features you want or expect in a new phone. Now, we’re going to talk about selecting a service provider. This is a very touchy subject for most people as choosing a service provider apparently is about the same as being a fan of a sports team or political party — it defines you. Talk to your friends and family to see what they use. Most providers have deals where it’s free or super cheap to talk to people on the same network. Look online for reviews on the coverage in your area and hope it’s decent.

Ways to find a lost phone on silent

Scenario: You’ve lost your phone in your own house (again). You’ve just tried the textbook calling-it-from-another-phone trick, but didn’t hear a thing. Then you remember, you left it on silent. Great. How in the world are you going to find it now? I’ll give you some tips.

Tip 1: Try to remember the last place you used your phone. I know this sounds silly and it’s most likely the first thing most people do when they lose something, but it could save you a lot of time and give you an idea of where to look. If you left it at the dry cleaners, you’re wasting your time trying to find it in your house.

Tip 2: Use your phone’s GPS capability to give you an idea of where to look. If your foresight is somewhat strong, you could have installed GPS tracking software on your phone before you lost it. Many phones have the capability to be tracked via GPS and there are a few free/cheap software solutions online.

Tip 3: Wait until night and turn off all the lights in your house and look for your phone to light up. If you’re pretty sure the phone is misplaced somewhere in your house, you can rely on your keen eyesight to spot it. Most phones will light up like a uh.. light when there is an incoming call. Keep calling it and look around closely for the lighting change.

Tip 4: Call your phone periodically to make sure you still have battery. All this looking around is fine and all, but if your phone doesn’t have any battery, it’ll do you no good. If your call goes straight to voice mail, you know you have a problem on your hands.

Tip 5: Install Phone Location Software.