Archive for November 12, 2011

Getting a Great Deal on a Cell Phone

It seems like everyone has a cell phone these days, and for good reason. They’re convenient, allowing you to keep in touch with family, friends, and people with whom you do business. They’re also a good source of entertainment. Depending on the model you choose, you can take pictures, access the internet, listen to music, watch movies or use any number of useful or fun apps.

Finding the right cell phone for your needs isn’t always as fun. Different phones have different features, and each cell phone service provider offers a variety of deals through which you have to sort. You want to get the best phone for your needs as well as the best service you can get for a price you’re willing to pay. The search for the perfect phone and provider can require a lot of legwork. Searching online will save both time and energy. It can save money as well through the use of online promo codes and coupons.

Choosing a Cell Phone Provider

If you need a service provider, it’s often wise to start your search by comparing the cell phone carriers that are available in your area. Start by looking at prices, coverage area and the brands of phones that they offer. Coverage area is probably the most important factor. It’s no good having a fancy phone if you can’t get a signal in the places you go the most.

You have to consider the upfront costs of starting service with a provider as well as the monthly costs for voice, text and data usage. Most of the major cell phone service providers offer promo codes to help offset these costs. For example, by searching online, you can easily find a Verizon promo code, Straight Talk promo code, Tracfone promo code, or Virgin Mobile promo code. Each of these providers offers good service and decent prices that are even better with the discount offered by the promo codes.

Another consideration in choosing your cell phone service provider is the speed they offer. While talking and texting is pretty much the same from one phone to another, data transfer is another story. Some carriers offer 3G speeds while others offer 4G. It may seem like a simple choice. Faster is usually better, isn’t it? But you also have to consider whether the faster speed is available in your area and whether you’re willing to pay a higher price for it.

Choosing a Cell Phone

Once you know what provider you want to go with, you need to choose which phone they offer that will suit your needs. There is a huge variety of phones on the market, giving you a number of choices to consider. For example, the size and weight of the phone is a big factor in how happy you’ll be with your purchase. If you’re frequently on the go, a small, pocket-sized phone might be important to you. Small phones have less screen room, so you might want a larger phone if you use it more for texting and entertainment than for phone calls.

Whether or not the phone has a keypad and/or a full keyboard is another important consideration. Many smartphones come with touchscreens, which are often a “love it or hate it” feature. If you absolutely must have a keypad or full keyboard, you’ll have different phone options available to you than if you’d rather have a touchscreen.

Battery length is another aspect of your cell phone purchase that you’ll want to keep in mind. If you stick close to home, office and car where you can easily charge your phone, a shorter battery life might be a decent trade-off for other features you want. On the other hand, if your life is constantly moving from one place to another, a long battery life will be one of the most important features in the phone you choose.

Finally, the functions you need your phone to perform will help you decide which phone is best for you. Do you just need a way to call people? Go for a simple, no-frills cell phone with a low price. Do you use your cell phone to organize your life and run your business? Look into a Smartphone with a good data plan and plenty of low-cost or free apps.

You can find coupons for many cell phones, phone accessories and shipping that will reduce your overall cost for a new phone. These coupons are often found on manufacturers’ and cell phone providers’ websites as well as the sites of retail sellers. Some promo codes from major providers, such as a Verizon promo code, Straight Talk promo code, Tracfone promo code, or Virgin Mobile promo code can help you get the best deal on your new phone.

There are many factors to consider when getting a new phone, from the provider you will use to the type of phone you will get. By searching online, you can save time and make sure you find the best deal for what you need.

Easy Ways to Lower Your Cell Phone Bill

Nowadays, almost everyone uses a cellular phone. The trend makes sense, as cell phones allow for quick and convenient communication from any location and at any time of day. However, being more connected may have its downfalls as well. First and foremost, we are paying more than ever on our monthly cell phone bills as the number of phone calls we make and text messages we send increases. And while the need for a cell phone in your personal and professional life may not go away anytime soon, there are a number of ways to reduce the cost of cell phone usage while still allowing for quick and convenient communication with your friends, family and coworkers.

Unfortunately for consumers, it is in the best interest of cell phone companies to increase our cell phone usage. These companies often find methods and loopholes for tricking us into paying more. This is why it is important to choose the correct cell phone plan. By far, the best rates are given for those with Family Plans. This works well for families or other groups of people, because you can get additional phones and minutes for reduced rates. In addition, calls to others in your family or group don’t cost you any extra minutes.
If you own a small business, consider a family plan for you and your colleagues.
 
On the other hand, heavy phone users may benefit most from unlimited plans. These plans allow you to call or text as much as you want and when you want for a flat fee. These plans generally cost the most, but can be well worth it if you’re on the phone constantly.
 
Finally, pay-as-you-go plans often work best for those who don’t use their phones very often. Be sure to check with your carrier to make sure you are signed up for the plan that makes the most sense for your phone usage. Also, don’t hesitate to compare plans from multiple carriers. Your current carrier may even be willing to negotiate your rates with you if you threaten to switch to a new company.
 
In addition to choosing the correct plan, always take advantage of free nights and weekends. Most carriers offer free minutes on specific days or during a set window of time on weeknights. Schedule long calls to family or old friends during these times. You can also stay connected to friends and family with free internet calling services such as Skype. These allow you to see the person you’re talking to instead of just hearing their voice (assuming your computer has a webcam), and they can even be used for office meetings and/or conference calls.
 
Do you sometimes need to find an address on the run? Don’t call 411. Save money by using one of the following free directory assistance lines: 800-FREE-411, 800-411-METRO or 800-GOOG-411.
 
Many phones with data plans have separate free services such as Google Maps. Google also offers a free text message directory service. Just send your question to GOOGLE (466543).

And, do you really need all those bells and whistles? Cut down on buying ringtones and cancel your access to caller ID and three way calling. Evaluate whether you really need your expensive data plan. Often times, email can wait until you get to your computer. And finally, if you don’t have an unlimited plan, cut down on those text messages. They cost a lot, especially if you end up having a whole conversation via text. It’s much easier in many cases to make a phone call.

At first, making some of these changes may seem daunting. Many people are used to having easy access to calling and email in any location and making calls when it is most convenient. First, think about the “good old days” of landlines or even the early days of cell phones. We got along just fine then! And don’t fret too much, because you don’t have to make all of these changes at once or even in the future. Simply finding the best cell phone plan or cutting down on a few things could save enough money to squeeze you back under your budget and make you feel better about your communication spending!