| Are you frustrated with all the choices you have | | | | Once you've figured out where you are going to |
| to make when choosing a business cell phone and | | | | be primarily using your new cell phone, the next |
| service plan? It doesn't have to be complicated. | | | | step is to figure out what business rate plan is the |
| Assuming you aren't looking for the latest | | | | most economical for your needs. Most providers |
| ubergizmo cell phone, the following three steps | | | | offer different plans based around buckets of |
| are all you need to help you pick the cell phone | | | | minutes that are allocated between different time |
| that's right for your business. | | | | periods in a day and/or week. |
| Step One: Figure Out the Cell Phone Coverage | | | | If you are going to be using the phone primarily |
| You Need | | | | during the day, you'll need a plan that will give you |
| Step one involves figuring out where you are | | | | the maximum number of minutes when the sun is |
| going to be using your new cell phone. Do you | | | | up. On the other hand, if you are going to be |
| work in the city or the country? Also, do you | | | | using your new cell phone primarily on the |
| often travel aboard and intend to use your phone | | | | weekends, you'll need a plan that gives you the |
| around the world? | | | | maximimum number of minutes on Saturday and |
| If you work primarily in US metropolitan areas, | | | | Sunday. Those are the two extremes--other |
| you don't have to worry about whether you need | | | | plans offer some combination of weekday |
| a GSM, CDMA or TDMA phone--they all work | | | | daytime, evenings and weekend minutes. |
| pretty well. On the other hand, if you work in | | | | If you are unsure of your calling patterns, take |
| rural, remote or undeveloped areas, your best | | | | advantage of the free first-month promotions |
| bet is a CDMA or TDMA phone since these | | | | offered by many providers to figure out when |
| providers have the best coverage in rural | | | | you make your calls and then switch your plan |
| undeveloped areas. | | | | accordingly if necessary. Many phone companies |
| CDMA and TDMA providers include Verizon | | | | will analyze your cell phone usage if asked to and |
| Wireless and Sprint-Nextel. | | | | will recommend a plan that minimizes your |
| On the other hand, if you intend to use your cell | | | | monthly cost. |
| phone while abroad, GSM is the communications | | | | Step Three: Buy Your New Cell Phone |
| standard used outside of North America. If you | | | | If you are going to be buying a GSM phone |
| purchase a GSM phone so that you can use it | | | | because you intend to travel and use the phone |
| abroad, you need to make sure the phone is | | | | abroad, stick to tri-band/tri-mode phones. These |
| purchased "unlocked", which means that the | | | | phones can operate on a multitude of frequencies |
| phone is not tied to a specific network. With an | | | | that various operators abroad may use. |
| unlocked GSM cell phone, you can easily swap out | | | | Otherwise, don't worry about whether the phone |
| the SIM card (a white chip usually behind the | | | | is tri-band/tri-mode or dual-mode. |
| battery) with local country, prepaid SIM cards to | | | | Other than that one consideration, choosing a cell |
| avoid expensive roaming charges. These local | | | | phone is all a matter of taste. Generally speaking, |
| country SIM cards are often available in corner | | | | if you enter into a one-year or two-year |
| stores in most countries. | | | | contract, the phone provider will often give away |
| In the US, GSM providers include Cingular and | | | | a cell phone that would otherwise cost many |
| T-Mobile. | | | | hundreds of dollars. That's usually your best bet |
| Step Two: Figure Out the Cell Phone Rate Plan | | | | but be careful of early-termination clauses that |
| You Need | | | | can impose a penalty of $200 or more. |