Introduction

Few tools of modern technology have become as prevalent as the cell phone, which allows you to be in touch (almost) all the time, (almost) anywhere. And you can do more than just talk–modern phones let you send and receive e-mail and text messages, and even surf the Web. Sifting through the sea of service plans and handsets can be difficult, but we’ll walk you through what you need to know to get the phone and service plan that’s right for you.

The Big Picture

Mobile phones are more than just convenient communication tools: They now allow you to sync with the calendar on your PC, dial a number by the sound of your voice, look up breaking news on the Internet, play games, send text messages, take photos, and more. But choosing a phone–and the service plan to go with it–requires some legwork.

Your choice of phone almost always depends on your choice of wireless service provider. In most cases you first need to figure out which carrier offers the best coverage and the best monthly service plan in your area. Then you’ll have to select a phone from the assortment your chosen service provider offers. With the exception of a few handsets, most phones work only on one provider’s system because carriers have mutually exclusive networks.

There’s been a lot of talk about the third generation of mobile communications technology, called 3G, which is supposed to deliver a data-transfer performance boost to 2 megabits per second, compared with the more common data transfer rate of 19.2 kilobits per second. But 3G is not yet available. AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless are among the companies offering faster data networks. AT&T supports EDGE (enhanced data rates for global evolution), which promises data transmission speeds of 384 kbps, and Verizon Wireless offers a service (currently only in San Diego and Washington, D.C.) called Broadband Access that lets users Web-surf at speeds of 300 to 550 kbps. Other carriers are expected to launch their 3G networks soon. 3G will be particularly handy if you use a phone to wirelessly access data such as e-mail, text messages, and the Web.

Key Phone Features

Wireless standard: World travelers are more affected by this than users based strictly in the United States, because most of the world uses networks based on GSM (the global system for mobile communications standard). In addition to GSM, U.S. carriers work on the CDMA (code division multiple access), TDMA (time division multiple access), iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network), AMPS (advanced mobile phone service), GPRS (general packet radio service), and/or EDGE standards. AT&T Wireless and Cingular run on the AMPS, GSM, GPRS, and TDMA networks; AT&T also supports the faster EDGE network. Nextel uses the iDEN network exclusively. Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless run on CDMA; Verizon also uses AMPS. T-Mobile supports GSM and GPRS networks. Note that while AT&T and Cingular run on both GSM and TDMA networks, the services and the phones that use them do not interoperate.

Wireless mode: Dual-mode phones, which send and receive both digital and analog signals, tend to be more reliable than single-mode models. In rural areas where digital service is often spotty or nonexistent, a dual-mode phone can fall back on an analog signal to allow service, though roaming fees almost always apply. Bear in mind that using analog mode consumes more battery power than digital. If your carrier transfers data using an analog-based technology, you may have to use a dual-mode phone for Web access. If you use your phone mainly in big cities (where digital service is widespread), you can stick with a single-mode model, which is often cheaper than a dual-mode phone.

Band support: The more radio bands a phone supports, the more frequencies it picks up. Tri-band phones, as their name suggests, operate across three frequency bands. Theoretically that means they provide better coverage than dual- or single-band phones. So-called world phones, which are compatible with three GSM frequencies–900 MHz (predominantly in Europe), 1800 MHz (predominantly in Asia), and 1900 MHz (in the United States)–function around the globe. You can also find tri-mode phones that work on two digital frequency bands in addition to an analog network, a particularly handy feature if you travel frequently to rural areas.

Design: You can choose between flip-open, clamshell-style phones and standard non-flip phones. Flip phones can be more difficult to use with one hand because the cover may be heavier than the base, and some lack a separate caller ID screen on the cover that’s visible without opening the phone. Other flip phones have covers that, when closed, leave the phone’s screen viewable for caller ID purposes. If you buy a non-flip phone, make sure it has a keypad lock that prevents inadvertent dialing–a helpful feature when you put the phone in a pocket or bag.

Whether you get a flip or non-flip phone, check its ergonomics. Is it comfortable against your ear, and can you hear callers without constant adjustment? Can you use the phone with one hand? Slim phones, for example, are uncomfortable to use when both of your hands are occupied–you can’t easily hold one to your ear by scrunching your neck and shoulder. Also, look for placement of the headset jack; a jack located on top of the phone is often more convenient than one located on the side.

Size and weight: Part of what makes a phone easy to use is its portability. A typical non-flip phone weighs about 4 ounces and is about the size of an energy bar–5 inches long, 2 inches wide, and an inch thick. Anything above that is considered large. An exception is phone/PDA hybrids, which more closely resemble PDAs on steroids than cell phones.

Battery life: Most new phones allow at least three hours of talk time and two to six days on standby. Some phones, including Nokia’s, can last up to 14 days on standby. Keep in mind that usage affects battery life, as well as the signal strength of your cellular service–a phone that constantly searches for signals will run itself down quickly. Depending on the phone, recharging the battery takes one hour or longer. When you buy, investigate optional higher-capacity batteries, or portable charging adapters you can use in a car.

Screen: If you intend to send and receive text messages, surf the Web, or use a built-in organizer, make sure the screen is up to snuff. Six lines of text are sufficient for most folks; anything less will make your eyes–and your thumb–sore from scrolling. Some handsets let you adjust the font size to fit more text on the screen, but the more digits you pack in, the tinier they get. Consider a phone/PDA hybrid, like a Danger HipTop (also known as the T-Mobile Sidekick) or a Blackberry, if you plan to go online or send lots of messages. Hybrids offer keyboards–a must for Web surfing, e-mailing, or text messaging–and larger screens than standard mobile phones.

Display contrast and backlight strength are also important. The phones we’ve seen show marked differences in viewing quality. If your phone allows you to adjust such settings, you can make text and graphics easily viewable–even in bright places. Several high-end phones offer color screens; they’re easy to read, though you will usually pay for that convenience in decreased battery life.

Keypad: If you can’t figure out how to use certain functions on a phone within a few minutes (with or without consulting the manual), try another. The keypad layout and menu system should be intuitive. The buttons should be responsive and easy to press. Check out the navigation buttons on the keypad. A joystick-style knob on some phones can make navigating menus quick. Most handsets come with up/down and left/right arrow keys. Buttons that protrude slightly are much easier to use than flat or recessed keys.

Some PDA/phone hybrids, such as the Sidekick, Blackberry, Treo, or AT&T’s messaging-only Ogo, come with a tiny keyboard. The nearly microscopic keyboard buttons may not suit everyone, but for those who need them, they’re easier to use than a software keyboard on a touch-sensitive handheld screen, like those on some of Samsung’s i300 and Kyocera’s Palm-OS-based Smartphones.

Voice communications and organizer: Mobile phones bombard you with call-management features–voice-activated calling, voice recording, phone books, call histories, speed dialing, and so on. Enabling some of the features (such as caller ID, call waiting, and three-way calling) depends on your service plan. Most phones also provide security features that can restrict incoming and outgoing calls, lock the keypad, and protect or mass-delete phone book entries. Some phones provide speakerphone capability. Some even function as two-way radios, connecting you with others using the same model; such communications don’t count as airtime–a great benefit for IT personnel and other roving staff.

If you want to talk on the phone hands-free (a must if you use the phone while driving), look for a model that comes with a headset or an earphone. If you don’t want to mess with cords, consider a wireless Bluetooth-enabled headset.

Wireless data: Though few people exchange data wirelessly through their mobile phones, nearly all new models are capable of doing tasks such as sending and receiving e-mail and SMS (short message service) text messages, downloading custom ring tones and simple games, or connecting to the Internet (usually through a minibrowser that’s designed to work best with text-only versions of popular sites like Yahoo, Amazon, and CNN). Such features, however, are heavily dependent on your service provider and your plan. Note that you may only be able to send SMS text messages or picture messages to others who use the same phone network.

Going online while you’re waiting for the elevator is a cool idea, but most phones connect at slow speeds: 8 kbps on GSM networks or up to 19.2 kbps on networks using a technology called CDPD (cellular digital packet data). One step toward faster transfers is a technology called GPRS (general packet radio service), a wireless standard that runs at speeds of up to 115 kbps. Faster still will be 3G, which carriers promise to roll out by later this year.

Key Service Provider Features

Coverage: Among the nationwide carriers, AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS, and Verizon cover the most U.S. cities. Not all networks are created equal, however. Service can be erratic even if a carrier claims to have coverage in an area; the quality of the reception varies, too. One way to find out about a carrier’s network reliability is to try out the service and one of its phones. Some providers (including Verizon) offer free trials, or you could poll friends and colleagues about their experiences (and see how good their phone signal is at your home, office, or anywhere else you’ll need to use it).

Plan type: If you do a lot of cross-country traveling, signing up for a national phone plan is best because it will let you send and receive calls anywhere in the United States (and even in parts of Canada) at no extra charge. A local or regional plan limits the areas where you can originate a call and still pull from your monthly pool of minutes. If you have a world phone and plan to use it in other countries, choose service with international roaming.

Minutes: When choosing a plan, it’s best to overestimate the number of minutes you’ll be using for every sent and received call. Because one carrier’s definition of off-peak may be different from another’s, ask the service provider to specify the times for its peak, off-peak, and weekend hours. Other service charges include those for wireless Web, three-way calling, e-mail, and text or photo messaging.

Contract: Virtually all carriers offer discounted service fees if you commit to a specified period of time, usually at least a year. The longer the contract period, the lower the rate. If you break the agreement, you’ll incur hefty fees.

Other services: There’s almost always a fee for activating service to your phone or switching the service from your old phone to a new one. Look into phone replacement plans or extended warranties, both of which typically entitle you to a new phone if yours is lost, stolen, or goes kaput.

The Specs Explained

While a wireless phone can make your life easier, just getting one can be a huge hassle. When you look at wireless phones and service plans, the sales reps will bombard you with a ton of terms and restrictions.

The two most important questions to ask yourself before you decide on a phone and plan are „How much will I use the phone?” and „Where will I use it?” These two questions will help determine how many minutes you need and whether to go with a local, regional, national, or international plan.

Remember that you will be charged–either in airtime or a per-minute fee–for calls you receive as well as calls you make. With a local service plan, you can make and receive calls from within your local area without so-called roaming charges being added; on a regional plan, you can call from a wider area without incurring additional charges; a national plan allows you to call from anywhere in the United States and some parts of Canada without additional charges; and an international plan lets you use your world phone abroad.

The phone you buy will have to work with the network that provides the service; many companies require that you buy a phone from them when you sign up. Some offer great discounts when you do so. (The prices for phones listed below reflect the full retail price of the phone without service plan. The service plan prices are monthly charges.)

Wireless Phone Shopping Tips

Think you’re ready to go wireless? Here are PC World’s recommendations for wireless phones and service plans that fit the needs of most users.

Service Plans

Skip the wireless Web (for now): Slow wireless network speeds make Web surfing laborious. Wait until 3G networks are available nationwide and from multiple carriers, and upgrade to a plan and phone that supports its use then.

Voice mail is a must: Make sure voice mail is included in the cost of the service plan. You won’t always have your phone on, and you certainly don’t want to miss important calls.

Go regional: Unless you travel extensively around the country, a regional calling plan offers the best mix of minutes, features, and cost. While local plans may have more minutes included, most don’t offer free long distance.

Get at least 150 anytime minutes: Unless you plan to use your phone only for emergencies, you’ll quickly go through the minutes offered in a low-cost, low-minute plan–and get stuck paying exorbitant rates of up to 45 cents a minute for additional calls.

Phones

Get at least 3- to 4-hour talk-time battery life: Don’t get stuck without a charge; a battery that lets you chat away for three or four hours can save many headaches later.

Go dual mode: These phones, which work on both digital and analog networks, provide greater coverage area, even though sound quality may suffer on analog networks.

Pick up a headset or earphone: Inexpensive hands-free ear-bud headsets let you safely converse while driving, working, or just walking. Some phones even allow you to set voice commands to dial frequently called numbers, so you rarely need to touch the keys.

Ask about E911: By 2006, all new wireless phones should contain a feature allowing emergency services to track a phone to its exact location. This so-called Enhanced 911 feature isn’t common now, but you should look for it if you intend to use the phone for emergencies.