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Smartphone Considerations
Home » Handheld Electronics » Smartphones » Smartphone ConsiderationsWhen considering the purchase of a smartphone, there are several factors that should be considered. There are different models that have different features. It is important to decide which features are suited to your particular needs.
Will you be entering a great deal of text into the smartphone? If so, a model with a built-in keyboard would be helpful. If you plan to surf the web with your smartphone you will need one with a fairly large screen with high resolution.
Consider the type of network support offered by each smartphone. Bluetooth support allows you to connect wirelessly with your personal computer and other devices. Bluetooth uses radio technology so it does not have to have to be within sight of another device to connect. WiFi allows you to access the Internet at high-speeds. While WiFi is generally much faster than the other connectivity, it does not work very far from the base station. WiFi is generally used to connect a smartphone to a Local Area Network (LAN) through a wireless access point, generally at home or at an office. This is something to consider if you plan to be roaming with your smartphone. You need USBv2 connectivity in order to transfer much data between your phone and other devices. Consider the type of network support you need if you plan to take your phone internationally. If you do much traveling you will want a smartphone with GSM (global system for mobile) support that is offered by Cingular or T-Mobile. Verizon and Sprint offer CDMA based smartphones which have limited international roaming support. CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access which is a method for transmitting real-time signals over a shared portion of the spectrum. CDMA smartphones are popular because they use a low amount of current while giving users an excellent call quality.
If you plan to add additional memory at a later date, determine which smartphone has the most accessible memory card slot.
Choosing your carrier is another very important consideration. Check the rates of each carrier and the types of plans they offer. Verizon Wireless tends to be on the more expensive side but may offer the type of plan that works best for you. Sprint generally offers the best plan for users who tend to go over their monthly usage allowed on their plan. Cingular allows its subscribers to carry-over unused minutes on their plans. All have advantages and disadvantages that must be carefully considered. Choose the shortest contract period possible in case you want to switch carriers. To switch during a contract period carries a large fee, generally in the range of $150 to $200.
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