Advice requested on buying one's first cell phone

[jla]

I'll be purchasing from Verizon.
What are the best brands of cell phones?
Do the speaker phones one can get as an additional option have good sound quality?
What exactly is bluetooth?
I want good audio, reliability, and I'd also like text messaging, maybe Internet access too, and photo taking feature on the phone.

I've never had a cell phone, I've thought them frivolous. But now I see the advantages of owning one.

Thank you.

[bamabound]

check out prepaid

if you don't use them much that may be the way to go

just be aware your minutes purchased expire.

read the fine print

[Curmudgeon]

Visit your nearby Verizon store and tell the clerk of your perceived needs. He/she will take you through what's best for you, in your price range. Verizon is terrific to deal with -- have been with them for many years.

[JennysCool]

What exactly is bluetooth?

Most annoying invention ever.

[txzman]

You did not say how old you are, or if you have any difficulty in using one or typing with a small keyboard. Budget was also left out.

I have owned cell phones from the first Mitsubishi's.

In my opinion, Nokia provide the best combination of value and durability, - great phones, easy to use menus (for the most part). Most all phones do "internet" the difference is the screen size and what you can really do with it.

For a nice all-in-one check out the Palm 680 or Samsung Blackjack. Both have Bluetooth (short distance wireless transmission of sound and data - as in using an ear piece without wires).

There are many to choose from - spend some time browsing at a CompUSA or BestBuy - they will be more than glad to help you. Just don't let them make you feel dumb - there's no magic about them, just lots of new technology.

[cripplecreek]

I finally broke down and got one myself after the last ice storm left me without a landline for a week.

I went cheap minus the bells and whistles. I bought a $15 Motorola Tracphone. I bought 600 prepaid minutes for about $100 that are good till may of 08. In nearly 2 months I've used less than an hour but I'm pretty satisfied with it. It will come in handy in an emergency.

[granite]

LOL

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Email from niece, I do not know if they work!

Some Real Good Cell Phone Information---Have A Great Day!

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO.

There are a few things that can be done in times of
grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be
a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check
out the things that you can do with it:


FIRST
Subject: Emergency
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112.
If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your
mobile; network and there is an emergency, dial 112
and the mobile will search any existing network to
establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly
this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked.
Try it out.


SECOND
Subject: Have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come
in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If
you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at
home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your
cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your
car door and have the person at your home press the unlock
button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end.
Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive
your keys to you.
Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away,
and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote"
for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).
Editor's Note: It works fine! We tried it out and it
unlocked our car over a cell phone!"


THIRD
Subject: Hidden Battery Power
Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press
the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve
and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery.
This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell
next time.


FOURTH
How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the
following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number
is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it
somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can
phone your service provider and give them this code.
They will then be able to block your handset so even
if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.
You probably won't get your phone back, but at least
you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either.
If everybody does this, there would be no point in people
stealing mobile phones.


And Finally....
FIFTH
Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or
more for 411 information calls when they don't have to.
Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our
vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a
problem. When you need to use
the 411 information option,
simply dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without
incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell
phone now.
This is the kind of information people don't
mind receiving, so pass it on to your family and friends

[nonliberal]

Just don't come into my place of business while yapping on your phone. I WILL initiate conversation with you while yor are talking.

[Kimmers]

I have been with Verizon for a long time....I really like my LG VX8300....I have never had any problems with it and I like how it fits in my hand.

I get a great discount through my employer so check out any employee discounts....

[Hilltop]

Bluetooth, imo, works sporadically, is a pain to setup, and your entire ear aches at the end of the day.

Plus, you look goofy.

I don't use mine, and have no idea where the earpiece is, good riddance.

[AFreeBird]

Motorola and Nokia are good phones. I've had both. Using a Motorola Razr at the moment. I like the form and the keyboard and screen. Newer versions have higher def camera than the one I have.

Most phones have built in speaker phone functions these days. The Razr's is good, but bear in mind we're talking a bout a small external speaker, so don't expect office phone speaker quality.

Also, most phones these days are capable of Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth is a short range wireless communication protocol. Mostly for a wireless headset, but also for PC connectivity (if your PC has bluetooth: syncing up with address books, calenders etc..) I highly recommend the wireless headset! You can get up to about 30 ft. from the phone - no wires! If your PC does not have bluetooth, get a phone with a USB connector for communication between the devices, and you can also charge the phone from that computer connection in addition to the supplied charger.

As for Verizon, I'm not too thrilled with them. They lock down their phones, and nickel and dime you for a bunch of stuff and technology wise they're pretty much confined to the USA. Personally I like GSM phones because you can get a SIM card for another carrier, particularly if you're out of the country. But that's just me.

[sine_nomine]

Don't.

[ryan71]

Trac Phone. Contracts are rip offs.

A cell phone is a tool. Use it only when you need to. Don't allow it to be a leash.

[Emmett McCarthy]

"Bluetooth" is the thing that has you walking around looking like a crazy person talking to yourself. If you're already a crazy person, well, it's good "cover". In fact, I think crazy people have started just wearing dummy earpieces so nobody'll know they're crazy.

[Beagle8U]

Don't. Any other questions?

[radiohead]

I've had some version of Virgin Mobile for about 4 years now. My new one (a year old) has internet, text messaging, and a camera.

I don't want to be tied to the damn phone like the young people, so I have a plan where I pay $20 every 3 months, adding more if I need it, such as when I travel. You can add thru the phone, so it doesn't matter where you are when you run out of minutes.

I don't want a $100+ cell phone bill, so this suits me fine. Most of the time I keep it turned off, anyway. It's for me to call out, not others to call in. I don't want to be that available to other people.

[HereInTheHeartland]

"I've never had a cell phone, I've thought them frivolous. But now I see the advantages of owning one."

Just get the one they offer for free for signing up with them.
I have never paid for a phone with Verizon.
The camera phones really don't have very good pictures in my opinion.
Oh, being ables to read the phone number (of who is calling)`on the outside of the phone (before you open it to answer the call) is a really good thing.

[Hilltop]

Thank you for the toll free directory number.

[mountn man]

I used to sell service and phones a few years ago. All the major carriers.

Verizon for years has been one of the best. Ask your friends who they have and how happy they are.

Everybody has certain problems. NOBODY is perfect.

When you get your service use your phone in all the areas you feel you'll use it in. But if it works where you spend 90% of your time, or where you'll make 90% of your calls, you're good.

Lastly, phones change every few months. What was great last year, is generally out of date, and maybe off the market today.

For that there is Phonescoop.com they give you the lowdown on the phones out there. They give you the options available, and what they do. They also give you reviews.

When I was in the business, we used Phonescoop.com quite a bit.