| This article explains briefly the most common | | | | service provider to complete the transfer. This |
| type of cell phone contracts. It also talks about | | | | may take quite some time, as your provider will |
| the advantages of pre-paid cell phones. | | | | do a credit check on the buyer and if the |
| Cell phones (telefone celular) are increasingly used | | | | creditworthiness is not found sufficient for the |
| in the modern world. They are no longer a luxury, | | | | contract, the transfer will not take place. In case |
| but are considered a need. They can send and | | | | the transfer does take place, then you have the |
| receive e-mail, get information on news, | | | | option of keeping the same number that you |
| entertainment, make a call home while traveling | | | | originally had. Usually, it has been seen that with |
| and contact the police or the ambulance during an | | | | transfers, you may have to supply the cell phone |
| emergency. | | | | also as a free incentive to the buyer. High-end cell |
| The radio, telephone and computer technology | | | | phones offered free along with the transfer |
| fused together to make the cell phone | | | | usually get buyers within a couple of days. |
| technology. Nevertheless, with the advancing | | | | Cell phone (telefone celular) service providers |
| technology, marketing became much tougher, and | | | | generally give a trial period before enforcing the |
| cell phone operators devised numerous clauses in | | | | contract term, which may be of 1-year or 2-year |
| their contracts to ensure that their competitors | | | | duration. Almost all providers give at least 14 to |
| do not erode their customer base. Thus the cell | | | | 30 days of trail period. A 1-year cell phone |
| phone contract was born. | | | | contract has a shorter commitment period, which |
| A cell phone (telefone celular) contract is an | | | | may prove to be beneficial if the phone needs |
| agreement between the buyer and the wireless | | | | repairs, or is lost. |
| cell phone service provider. Usually it is of 1 or 2 | | | | In addition, since the period is short, one may avail |
| years of duration, during which a consumer is | | | | of new discounts that come up. After the term |
| legally bound to remain with the wireless service | | | | of 1-year ends, the phone can be kept without |
| provider. Certain operators give a trial period to | | | | any contract and no penalty is charged for |
| their consumers. After the trial period of 14 or 30 | | | | quitting. However, in a 1-year contract, the |
| days is over, when the contract is entered upon | | | | activation fee and/or the phone may not be |
| and the phone is bought, the penalty for breaking | | | | cheap. Certain discounts and promotional offers |
| the contract can range from $150 to $600, | | | | cannot be availed of as in a 2-year period. |
| depending on where the phone was bought. | | | | In a 2-year cell phone (telefone celular) contract, |
| Before the contract finishes, if a new phone is to | | | | the activation fee and/or the phone may not be |
| be bought, then some companies give a customer | | | | expensive. Huge discounts on the phone may be |
| loyalty discount, which in effect extends the | | | | availed. Special promotions may be availed. |
| contract. This may prove to be expensive when | | | | However, since the phone is kept for a longer |
| compared to buying a new phone with a good | | | | duration, more money may be spent on repairing, |
| discount. Thus, you may be locked in to a single | | | | insuring, or replacing. The opportunity to buy a |
| operator, without your knowing it, if you do not | | | | new phone reduces, and thus may not be eligible |
| read and understand the terms of the cell phone | | | | to switch cell phone service providers. Expensive |
| contract. | | | | phones may also opt for phone replacement |
| If one is not satisfied with the service provided | | | | insurance plans. However, due to the costs of |
| by the cell phone (telefone celular) service | | | | such plans, few subscribe to these plans. |
| provider, then one can come out of the contract, | | | | Pre-Paid or No Contract cell phones (telefone |
| without paying a termination fee, if someone else | | | | celular) are not available with all cell phone service |
| is willing to go through the contract for the | | | | providers. They are attractive as they require no |
| remaining period. Finding someone willing to | | | | commitment, the credit history is unimportant, |
| undertake this may be difficult. Numerous | | | | and there is no penalty for quitting. However, call |
| websites have come up which help you in finding | | | | charges may be more expensive, and no |
| someone to transfer your contract to, however | | | | promotional discounts etc., may be availed of. |
| cell phone service providers do not endorse such | | | | It is always advisable to read and fully understand |
| websites as they only connect the buyer and the | | | | the terms of the cell phone provider as stated in |
| seller, doing nothing with the actual transfer. | | | | the contract form, including the fine print, before |
| Thus once you find a buyer for your cell phone | | | | signing the cell phone (telefone celular) contract. |
| contract, you have to contact your cell phone | | | | |