Wireless Phones
A mobile phone's voice and data capabilities are only as good as the wireless service plan that goes with them.Grace Aquino
Mobile phones have become more than just convenient
communication tools. 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. With few exceptions, mobile phones work only on one provider because carriers have exclusive networks.
Next year, carriers will release the third generation of mobile communications technology, called 3G, which is supposed to deliver data transfers up to 2 megabits per second, compared with the current data transfer rate of up to 115 kilobits per second. 3G will be handy if you use a phone for wirelessly accessing data such as e-mail, text messages, and the Web.
Also on the horizon is Microsoft's Smartphone 2002 platform--a pared-down version of the Pocket PC OS that will support Outlook, Internet Explorer, and Windows Media Player. Samsung and Sendo plan to release pocket-size handsets running this platform, and Cingular Wireless says that it will support it.
PC World Spotlight on Wireless Phones (chart)
Key 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 the Global System for Mobile Communications standard. In addition to GSM, U.S. carriers work on the Code-Division Multiple Access and Time Division Multiple Access standards. Because carriers run on different networks, you can't, for example, use a Sprint PCS phone on Cingular's service.
Wireless mode: Choose a dual-mode mobile phone, which sends and receives both digital and analog signals. It can fall back on analog service if a digital signal is unavailable, though roaming fees apply.
Band support: Tri-band phones operate across three frequency bands. Theoretically, they provide better coverage than dual- or single-band phones. Tri-band world phones, which are compatible with three GSM frequencies--900 MHz (mainly in Europe), 1800 MHz (in Asia), and 1900 MHz (in the United States)--can function around the globe. Some tri-mode phones will work on two digital frequencies and an analog network.
Design: You can choose between flip-open and nonflip phones. To screen calls via caller ID, get either a nonflip model or a flip phone with a caller ID screen on the cover. If you buy a nonflip unit, make sure it has a keypad lock that prevents inadvertent dialing. Also consider ergonomics: Can you hear callers without constant adjustment? Can you use the phone with one hand? For example, you can't easily hold a slim phone to your ear by scrunching your neck and shoulder.
Size and weight: A typical nonflip mobile 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. Exceptions: phone/PDA hybrids such as Kyocera's 7135 Smartphone and Handspring's Treo units (each about the size of a pack of cigarettes), and Samsung's I300 (typical handheld size).
Battery life: Most new phones allow at least 3 hours of talk time and six days on standby. Some phones, including Nokia's, can last up to 14 days on standby. Of course, usage affects battery life, and (depending on the phone) recharging the battery may take an hour or longer.
Screen: If you intend to send and receive text messages, surf the Web, or use a built-in organizer, look for a phone that displays at least six lines of text. Anything less will make your eyes--and your thumb--sore from the scrolling. Some handsets let you adjust the font size to fit more text on screen, but the more digits you pack in, the tinier they get. Consider a phone/PDA hybrid (from Handspring, Kyocera, Nokia, or Samsung) if you plan to go online--hybrids offer larger screens than standard mobile phones do.
Make sure you can adjust display contrast and backlight strength; they make text and graphics easily viewable, even in bright places. Phones with color screens can make text easy to read, but you'll usually pay for that perk in short battery life.
Phone/PDA hybrids such as Handspring's Treo come with a tiny keyboard that makes data entry less complicated than touching a keypad on a handheld screen like those on Samsung's I300.
Call features: New phones are loaded with call-management features like phone books, call histories, and speed dialing. Some handsets (including a few from Kyocera and Nextel) even come with a speakerphone. Nextel also offers models that function as a two-way radio connecting you with other Nextel users in your group. This feature doesn't count as airtime--great for roving staff. Enabling other features such as call waiting, caller ID, and voice-activated dialing requires activation from a carrier.
For security features, look for a phone that restricts outgoing and incoming calls, locks the keypad, and protects or mass-deletes phone book entries. If you want to talk on the phone hands-free, get a headset or an earpiece. For cord-free calling, consider a wireless, Bluetooth-enabled headset; Sony Ericsson and Nokia offer phones with this extra-cost accessory.
Wireless data: Though few people exchange data wirelessly through their phones, nearly all new models can send and receive e-mail and SMS (Short Message Service) text messages, download ring tones and simple games, and connect to the Internet (usually through a minibrowser that works best with text-only versions of sites like Yahoo, Amazon, and CNN). The availability of such features depends on your service plan.
Going online while you're waiting for the elevator is a cool idea, but most mobile phones connect at slow speeds: 8 kbps on current 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 can run at speeds up to 115 kbps. Some phones from Motorola, Nokia, and Sony Ericsson are compatible with GPRS; Cingular and T-Mobile offer it. Faster still is 3G, which we expect carriers to roll out next year.
Phone service: Not all networks are created equal. Service can be erratic even if a carrier claims to have coverage in an area; reception quality varies, too. Before you buy, try the service and one of its phones; some providers (including Verizon) offer free trials. Poll friends and colleagues about their experiences.
Travel cross-country? Sign up for a national plan, so you can send and receive calls anywhere in the United States and in parts of Canada without incurring extra charges; with local or regional plans you must pay roaming fees outside your area. To use a world phone in other countries, you'll need international roaming service.
Carriers offer discounts if you sign a one-year or longer contract (break it, and you'll get hit with hefty fees). Signing up for more minutes than you'll likely use per month will ultimately cost less than a lower base with additional per-minute fees. Services like wireless Web, e-mail, and text messaging cost extra. Look into replacement plans or extended warranties, which entitle you to a new phone if yours is lost, gets stolen, or goes kaput.
Recommendations
The sweet spot: a compact, dual-band phone like Sony Ericsson's T68 that lasts for 3 or more hours of talk time. Globetrotters, look for a GSM-enabled, tri-band phone and international roaming service; check rates from AT&T Wireless, Nextel, and T-Mobile. In choosing a carrier, compare calling-plan rates and coverage areas.
Dialing for Features
