Decide Phone Features and Plan
The vendors that sell wireless phones also sell service packages which they usually call “plans”. It is best to decide what kind of plan you wish to buy by comparing vendors’ offers and then see which of the phones that the vendor sells work with this plan.
The issues you need to consider when choosing a phone and plan;
- Are you already invested in a phone company? For example, you may have a family plan you want to keep, or had good coverage experience or other personal preferences.
- What are your roaming needs? Do you travel overseas? If so, make sure you phone company has international roaming plans available. Also make sure the phone device you choose supports international standards.
- Which services do you wish to have on your phone? Mail, calendar, contacts? How often do you need to get updates on those services?
List your Requirements
Before you start to shop, make a list of the features you require and use it as a checklist when you are looking at different vendors and products. Some functions to consider may include:
- Number of members in the plan (single? kids? parents?):
- Local coverage (Do you and/or your plan members just need to communicate in the greater Houston area?)
- Extended coverage (Do you and/or your plan members travel or camp in rural or remote areas?)
- International travel (Do you ever need a communication tool outside the U.S.?)
- Text messaging (Do you need to send or receive text messages?)
- Email (Do you need to read or send email messages from your phone or PDA?)
- Internet access (Do you plan to check traffic or otherwise browse the Internet from your device?)
- Calendar (Do you just want to review your existing appointments or do you want to enter new appointments from your device?)
