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Get Started With Your First Cell Phone

By Stuart Thompson

Cell phones have suddenly become much more than just phones. For instance, when you look at the newest batch of AT&Tcellphones, you will find the more expensive ones have an array of gadgets and functions that seem like they come right out of Star Trek. The cheapest phones often come with cameras built in now and when you buy the more expensive models you get a whole lot more.

Cell phones now routinely cost in the hundreds of dollars and it seems people are willing to pay the price. As all your friends get the better phones, it seems the pressure to keep up with the Joneses has gotten the best of many people. Phones now come with so many other capabilities that it seems the only thing missing is the phaser option right out of Star Trek. The question is: do people really need all these gadgets and do they really use them all? Of course some people love all the newest technology and have to have it but do the masses really need so much?

There are many cell phone carriers to choose from as well as the many different cell phone choices. Are the phones made for Verizon the exact same as are made for the other carriers? Sometimes a cell phone maker will make a phone model that is exclusively for one carrier. Each carrier has a phone or two that you can only get if you sign up for their service. Most phones however, are made for all carriers and are the same phones. Of course, with those models that are made exclusively for one carrier, people have learned how to open them up and "unlock" them for all carriers. With modern technology, it is hard for the phone makers to make something that prevents people from altering it and using it for their competitors.

Even after making your choice of phones, you have another choice that can be confusing of what type of plan to get. If you are getting a phone that goes with all carriers, you will have to decide which one to go with. There are even many different plans within each carrier that all have different limits on minutes and other little variations. It is difficult for any first time buyer to know what they want or might need and the salesman will of course try to sell you more than you probably want to spend.

All in all, anyone looking to buy a cell phone for the first time has a lot of decisions to make. Advertising plays a big part in the decisions we make and the cell phone makers and carriers advertise like crazy. They all hope to get our business and lock us in to their plans and phones for as long as possible. It is our job to do the legwork first and make educated decisions of what to buy.

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