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Cell Phones are Hot!
Which One is Best for You?

Nowadays everyone--whether mother, skater, rocker or banker--seems to tote a cell phone. With the skyrocketing numbers of cell-phone enthusiasts come a mind-boggling array of vendors, services, special deals--and confusion!

If you want to get in on this hot method of telecommunication, keep reading for BeyondWork's tips on how to make your way through the maze of options and come up with a choice that works for you. The first step is to think about the four W's: who, what when and where.

• Who will be using the phone? Some plans allow for more than one family or corporate member to be on the same account.
• What will the phone be used for--emergencies only or everyday calls? Do you need a phone with special features, such as a messaging service or a mini Web browser?
• When will the phone be used? Each service plan offers a different configuration of monthly anytime/weekend or peak/off-peak minutes.
• Where will the phone be used most of the time? This might determine whether you go for a digital or analog phone and will factor into your decision about a calling plan.

The Phone

1. Cost and Features
Cell phones today range in price from less than $50 to over $300, depending on the features they include. These features include flip tops, voice-activated dialing, Internet access, mobile connection capability, voice memos, phone book and a variety of rings. (The Samsung SCH-3500 model, which offers all these amenities, costs about $150.) Other phones may have extended battery capabilities and, as of this July, bilingual voice recognition.

Some phones offer email (holding up to 30 emails). If you include email in your phone and service plan, potentially it could save money on incoming calls since many service plans charge a fixed rate for email rather than a per-minute charge.

Another option is alternative messaging capability. CS messaging from Cellular One, for example, provides the option of receiving voicemail, a numeric page, a voicemail via an operator or an email message up to 140 characters long.

One way to save money on a phone is to get one free with your service plan, but it's wise to examine this option carefully to make sure it's not just a short-term savings. Sprint PCS, for example, offers a free Sony digital 2100, but you have to pay in advance for a year of service.

2. Ease of Use
Since many people take their phones everywhere, it's wise to find one that's easy to carry around. Flip phones are often the smallest, but many people prefer non-flip models, such as the Nokia 6160, because they may be sturdier.

3. Analog vs. Digital
Analog and digital phones transmit data differently. Analog technology transmits a phone call across airwaves. Digital technology changes voice transmissions to binary code and then back to voice again, thus multiplying the capacity of the network. Though an increasing number of cell-phone companies and services are moving toward digital, analog is still used in many areas.

While digital transmission makes for clearer sound with less background noise, it may not work in all areas, so many consumers in the United States choose digital phones with analog roaming capabilities. Analog phones are less expensive, and digital-analog combination phones are also available at a somewhat lower price than pure digital.

Among digital networks, the choices are CDMA, TDMA and GSM. GSM (global system mobile) works well for international travelers, because it provides global roaming, but it's not available in all areas.

The Service Plan

1. Time
Time is money, and this certainly applies to service plans! Calculate how many minutes you're likely to talk on the cell phone each month and then add more. By trying to cut corners with a smaller minute plan you may cost yourself a lot more money. It's better to overestimate slightly than to pay the price of extra minutes, which can add up quickly. For example, Sprint PCS's regular service plan charges 35 cents for each additional minute. Tip: You can save yourself cell-phone minutes by checking voice mail from a local-to-your-plan, landline phone.

2. Flexibility
Here are some questions to ask your service-plan provider:

• Can I switch my service plan to another phone (in the case of phone theft, loss or upgrade)?
• Can I extend my minute plan later? (To change to fewer minutes per plan, you generally have to renew your contract.)
• Can I include other people on my plan? (Family or group-service plans are often available.)

3. Voicemail and Distance
Voicemail should be included in your plan or be available as an option. Some plans, such as Sprint PCS, offer free voicemail.

Frequent travelers often want long-distance service, which is especially handy during airline delays, for calling from hotels, or even calling within metropolitan areas where there are several area codes.

4. Roaming
"Roaming" means using a cell phone outside the area covered by a service plan, and costs for this can add up quickly. Your service vendor may have roaming agreements with other systems. If not, other companies in the areas you are roaming may require you to register with them before you can use their system to make or receive calls.

For someone who often uses long distance or roaming often, an all-in-one service package may be the best deal. One such package is the National Plan from Cellular One, which includes voicemail, PCS messaging, roaming and domestic long distance in the monthly fee. A dual-band phone allows you to roam on analog and digital.

Tips for the Penny-Pinched

In addition to getting a good price on phone and service, there are other ways to lower your cell-phone costs.

1. Keep your cell phone turned off. Turn it on only to check voicemails or when expecting important incoming calls.
2. Find a service plan with benefits. If you pay a full year in advance you can often receive free service options, such as free long distance, free voicemail, free Internet access or free extra minutes.
3. Keep your calls short. Some plans offer the first minute free and/or billing in six-second increments, so brevity saves cash.

Tips for the Health Nut

Despite a flood of news stories about the health hazards of using cell phones, there's no conclusive evidence on this topic. The Food and Drug Administration announced June 9 that it, in collaboration with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, is launching a three- to five-year study on whether cell phones contribute to brain cancer or genetic mutations.

This May, however, advisors to the British government recommended that children not use cell phones for non-essential calls. Pending further research, the government panel cautioned against exposing children's developing nervous systems to cell phone radiation. As of yet, there is no conclusive evidence that cell phones cause cancer.

Studies are also currently underway on cell phone effects on memory. Research conducted at the University of Washington found that rats exposed to cell-phone-like radiation developed long-term memory loss. But no evidence exists to confirm a connection between cell-phone usage and loss of memory in humans.

Until there is definitive evidence that cell phones are unquestionably safe, however, frequent users may want to consider headsets.

Tips for Safety

Women's Consumer Net claims that 80 percent of all individuals who buy cell phones do so for safety reasons. Having a phone in the car while driving alone, for example, can provide a sense of security.

Some vendors offer a discount phone for people who plan to use their cellular for emergency purposes only. The SOS phone, for example, is a no-frills, emergency-only phone, which sells for $188, including setup and annual fees. The monthly $9.95 charge does not include a minute plan, but free 911 and tow phone calls instead. Other companies offer discount emergency phones with a limited number of monthly minutes.

Cell phones can also be donated to charities for emergency use. Cellmania.com, for example, has a program that gives phone donors a $25 discount on a new phone.

Links for More Information

Check out these sites for more information on cell phones.

http://wireless.cnet.com/
Product reviews on cell phones and service, plus articles on pricing, tips and tricks, health hazards, laws on phoning while driving, and more.

http://www.decide.com
Consumer information and shopping.

http://www.decide.com/cgi-bin/prd/123tel/scripts/index.jsp
Information on cell phones.

http://www.wireless.com
This is a publication for the wireless industry.

http://go.drkoop.com/news/focus/december/cellphones.html
Information on health and cell phones.

http://investing.lycos.com/lycos/story.asp?symbols=&startStory=15186165
How cell phones are ushering in the wireless Internet.

http://www.gsmworld.com/
Information on GSM digital phones used in Europe and Asia.

http://www.womensconsumer.net/prod_det.cfm?Id=124&SectionId=4
Safety articles for women.

http://www.cellmania.com
Articles on cell phones and products.

http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/ptech/06/09/fda.cellphones/index.html
Information on the FDA's upcoming study on cell-phone radiation and risks.

http://www.cellmania.com/cnt/promos/donatephone/donatephone.html
Donate your old cell phone to a charity for emergency re-use.