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Industry News/Reviews
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Choosing the Best Mobile Phone and Phone Plan for You
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Cut Through the Techno-Babble... "Hands-On User's Info"
Are you a first-time buyer? Is it time to upgrade your mobile phone? Need help finding the right mobile phone plan for your use? We want to help.
We review:
Planning: Which Mobile Phone handset is Right for You?
Planning: Matching the Phone with the Plan
Research: Where to Find Information on Mobile Phones & Available Plans
Shortlisting: Other things to compare and consider
Buying: Getting the Best Service Provider, Price & Plan
Additional information and Review sites
Statistics: www.amta.org.au states "There were 8,735,090 mobile phone shipments last calendar year. This was 8.9% more than the previous record year of 8,021,724 in 2004." "With 3G technology; multimedia mobile phone users are expected to double this year after more than tripling to almost 3 million Australians in 2006."
"Standard" features on mobile phones are fast increasing; with consumers' being able to do much more than just call and message, even on lower cost handsets. In-built camera quality is increasing, so much so some consumers don't see the point in owning a digital camera as well.
Of course, there's also a big demand for high-speed data connectivity and MP3 playback; and with the increasing introduction of new 3G and 3.5G HSDPA (high-speed downlink packet access) compatible handsets, why not?! (See more information below on 3G technology)
So, what do you need? |
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Planning - Which Mobile Phone handset is Right for You?
The sorts of things you need to think about before buying a mobile phone are:
What's your budget (for both the mobile phone purchase and payment of your usage)?
What sort of handset do you want?
What plan type do you want; and how will you pay (monthly, pre-paid etc).
To help work out which handset you will need:
What will you mainly use it for?
- Business: Calls, Wireless connectivity Internet, Calendar, Email
- Personal: Calls, SMS, MMS
- Extras: Camera, FM Tuner, Music playback, Games
- Download content: Internet, Music, Sports updates, News, Maps and more
Which look do you prefer? Clamshell (flip), Slide, touch screen (PDA) etc
What's more important to you?
- Functionality
- Looks
- Price
Planning: Matching the Phone with the Right Plan - Things to Consider
Usage
Review your last few months' bills and take note of your usual habits for times of calls, length, whether calls are to mobiles, landlines or international, how many messages you send a month etc.
Are you spending more, or less, than your current plan (and therefore would benefit by a higher, or lower, plan)?
Are you a high user of MMS, internet browsing or game download?
Are you disciplined with your use / monthly mobile spend? Or do you need help to reduce your monthly phone bill, like with capped calls or pre-paid options?
Be sure to check rates, as capped plans and pre-paid connection and call rates are sometimes (but not always) higher than those on contract.
Determining your usage first helps with matching up to the right plan.
Outright purchase of a phone
Outright purchase means you're not locked into a contract - perhaps you want to make sure the service provider is ok prior to signing on the dotted line?
Can you afford to buy the phone that you want outright? This may work better for business purposes.
Purchase outright can also be an affordable option for pre-paid (perfect for first time buyers and/or teenagers).
Sometimes outright purchase is unavoidable if you're upgrading (or replacing) when still on another contract.
Remember though that you still need to pay monthly for your casual or prepaid access (so you're kind of paying for your phone twice?)
Contract
Most contracts are now 24 months with nil, minimal (or considerable) outlay for the phone upfront; and monthly access/plan fees.
Are you ok with being locked into a 2-year contract? It screams "commitment" which some are just not ready for…
Leasing
Leasing a phone may suit if you only need it short term, or want a phone without signing a long fixed-term contract with one of the service providers.
Suitable also for some business users for taxation purposes (but this differs on an individual basis and situation).
Research: Find Information on Mobile Phones & Available Plans
Whether it's your first mobile phone purchase, or it's just been two years since you "did the rounds", the amount of information you are about to have thrown at you can be quite baffling. Where can you find information?
Mobile Phone Retail Stores: Your first step should probably be to spend considerable time checking out all options available in local mobile phone, service provider (or electrical) retail stores. This is the best way to find out what's on the market at the moment, check out the new technology available, play with the phones in person, go through their menu options and see which service provider is offering the most suitable deal for you.
Ask friends and colleagues: Have they recently bought a new phone? You're going to get better advice from those you know on brands/models to avoid. Ask for their feedback on what they like and don't like about their model, any glitches they've discovered since purchase and the like. (Retailers are very unlikely to point out anything wrong with what they're trying to sell you.) Also be sure to ask about their service provider; plan, pricing, customer service etc.
Online: Check out the manufacturers' websites for the brands and models you're interested in. They list all the product specifications, most allow you to compare their models side-by-side and you can double check anything you may not have noticed in store. They also advise the RRP, so you can compare those with the stores you visited (most retail shops prices are below the manufacturers' website listed RRP). Also, don't forget to check out the online auction sites for prices.
Review sites: There are many websites that have product reviews and information, whether or not they sell the products. Some sites are listed down below.
Shortlisting: Other things to compare and consider
Menu navigability: can you navigate easily through the menu options?
Battery capacity: how long will the battery last between charges?
Internal memory: what comes as standard and what is needed for how you want to use your phone (eg how many song downloads before the internal memory is full)?
Plan Charges / Service Providers
Where do you need coverage? Check the coverage of your proposed service provider/s.Compare all the different plan options / providers with regards to their call rates, price and whether by the second, 15 second intervals etc.
Compare also if they have connection fees (flag-fall) and how much they are. Does it also apply to reconnecting calls that drop out (some do, some don’t)?
Pre-paid and capped plans - check credit expiry times, ie 30 days, 45 days etc.
Also confirm how you can top up your pre-paid (if not on monthly account) - in store, over the internet, by phone etc. Make sure it will be easy and convenient for you.
How much are the SMS, MMS and browsing / download rates or packages?
Do they have any freebie offers or bonuses on any of the above (like free SMS network to network, free calls for first 3 mins, free or cheaper calls to dedicated numbers or those on the same network, etc).
Can you switch between their plans (up or down) without being penalised?
Can your mobile phone contract be bundled with your home phone and/or internet to make it cheaper?
What are the penalties for cancelling the contract early?
Don’t be tricked into the "$0" upfront - your phone cost is factored into your contract.
Read the fine print of your contract before signing.
So, you’ve found the phone you just "have to have"!? Different retailers and service providers often stock dedicated models, so keep that in mind when you think you find the right mobile phone (but at the wrong shop or on the wrong plan). Of course, this limits price-matching, but if you’re more settled on a certain retailer / service provider, ask what they have that’s very similar in design and functionality to what you want.
Can’t afford the hottest new mobile phone? As new phones burst onto the market, they start out more expensive (as with all gadgets). Unless you’re cashed up, perhaps don’t rush out and get it straight away. Why not wait just a little while so that you can find reviews on them, get feedback from others - and what’s more, it will work out cheaper!
What if something goes wrong with your new phone after purchase? Check it’s easy to take or send your phone to the manufacturer for repair/replace in case something goes wrong… Where is the manufacturers’ nearest shop? Or is an authorised service repairer in your area?
Buying: Getting the Best Service Provider, Price & Plan
Some consumers stay with the same service provider each time (for ease?), whereas others chop and change each contract, phone or plan. Stats show that more consumers change plans and service providers due to price than service received - we chase the lower price calls or freebie offers (as mentioned before).
Mobile Phone Store: As mentioned with our Guide to Buying a Digital Camera, you never know where you are going to get the best price, follow-up service or extras thrown in. Bargaining face-to-face in your local shop may help you swing more "extras".
Online: As well, some online stores may be cheaper than bricks and mortar stores, but make sure they offer delivery insurance and signature proof of delivery; and that you’ve checked their returns policy.
Some of the sites listed below are also comparison shopping portals, so they list several stores prices in the one location for you.
Online Auction: Depending on your trust levels, you can also buy from online auction.
Check out OZtion.com.au (Australian); or Ebay.com.au
Be very wary of fraudulent selling of items such as mobile phones on any auction sites. Refer to our February newsletter for mobile phone safety tips and security.
All in all, I think it comes down to personal preference on how and where you buy your mobile phone, what you’re comfortable with and whether you truly have the gift of the gab when securing the best price.
Do your homework, research well and shop around before signing on the dotted line...
Additional information
Australian sites with reviews, guides and comparisons:
CNET.com.au
ZDNET.com.au
iMobile.com.au
eBay mobile phone buying guide
Australian sites with more information:
AMTA 3G - Where technology is taking us
CNET article on 3G technology and phones
Do you need help managing mobile phone bills? Check out these articles:
Managing your spend
Controlling costs on kids phones
Also:
CNET: PDA buying guide
Check out CNET's handy guide for buying PDA's "What to look for when buying a handheld".
Author: Nicole M, 2007 owner of FunkyCoverz
DISCLAIMER: This article is protected by copyright laws. The above content is not professional advice. It is to assist customers with sourcing information and is meant as a guide only.
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