Cell Phone Contract Tips - Cell Phones Article

By:Roberto Sedycias

Cell phones are increasingly used in the modern world. They are no longer a luxury, but are considered a need. They can send and receive e-mail, get information on news, entertainment, make a call home while traveling and contact the police or the ambulance during an emergency.

The radio, telephone and computer technology fused together to make the cell phone technology. Nevertheless, with the advancing technology, marketing became much tougher, and cell phone operators devised numerous clauses in their contracts to ensure that their competitors do not erode their customer base. Thus the cell phone contract was born.

A cell phone contract is an agreement between the buyer and the wireless cell phone service provider. Usually it is of 1 or 2 years of duration, during which a consumer is legally bound to remain with the wireless service provider. Certain operators give a trial period to their consumers. After the trial period of 14 or 30 days is over, when the contract is entered upon and the phone is bought, the penalty for breaking the contract can range from $150 to $600, depending on where the phone was bought.

Before the contract finishes, if a new phone is to be bought, then some companies give a customer loyalty discount, which in effect extends the contract. This may prove to be expensive when compared to buying a new phone with a good discount. Thus, you may be locked in to a single operator, without your knowing it, if you do not read and understand the terms of the cell phone contract.

If one is not satisfied with the service provided by the cell phone service provider, then one can come out of the contract, without paying a termination fee, if someone else is willing to go through the contract for the remaining period. Finding someone willing to undertake this may be difficult. Numerous websites have come up which help you in finding someone to transfer your contract to, however cell phone service providers do not endorse such websites as they only connect the buyer and the seller, doing nothing with the actual transfer.

Thus once you find a buyer for your cell phone contract, you have to contact your cell phone service provider to complete the transfer. This may take quite some time, as your provider will do a credit check on the buyer and if the creditworthiness is not found sufficient for the contract, the transfer will not take place. In case the transfer does take place, then you have the option of keeping the same number that you originally had. Usually, it has been seen that with transfers, you may have to supply the cell phone also as a free incentive to the buyer. High-end cell phones offered free along with the transfer usually get buyers within a couple of days.

Cell phone service providers generally give a trial period before enforcing the contract term, which may be of 1-year or 2-year duration. Almost all providers give at least 14 to 30 days of trail period. A 1-year cell phone contract has a shorter commitment period, which may prove to be beneficial if the phone needs repairs, or is lost.

In addition, since the period is short, one may avail of new discounts that come up. After the term of 1-year ends, the phone can be kept without any contract and no penalty is charged for quitting. However, in a 1-year contract, the activation fee and/or the phone may not be cheap. Certain discounts and promotional offers cannot be availed of as in a 2-year period.

In a 2-year cell phone contract, the activation fee and/or the phone may not be expensive. Huge discounts on the phone may be availed. Special promotions may be availed. However, since the phone is kept for a longer duration, more money may be spent on repairing, insuring, or replacing. The opportunity to buy a new phone reduces, and thus may not be eligible to switch cell phone service providers. Expensive phones may also opt for phone replacement insurance plans. However, due to the costs of such plans, few subscribe to these plans.

Pre-Paid or No Contract cell phones are not available with all cell phone service providers. They are attractive as they require no commitment, the credit history is unimportant, and there is no penalty for quitting. However, call charges may be more expensive, and no promotional discounts etc., may be availed of.

It is always advisable to read and fully understand the terms of the cell phone provider as stated in the contract form, including the fine print, before signing the cell phone contract.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: cell phone, telephone, cellular, celular

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

This article can also be accessed in portuguese language from the News Article section of page www.polomercantil.com.br/celular.php

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for www.PoloMercantil.com.br

Top Cell Phones Articles
1). Cell Phone Buying Guide to Help You Get the Best Value For The Money By : David Arnold Livingston Whether it's your first or umpteenth mobile phone you are planning to buy, knowing or being reminded of the following tips will surely better your chances of getting the perfect one.
2). Has The Crazy Frog Gone Psycho? By : Philip Nicosia A mobile phone rings. You listen. It’s not an MP3 tune of the latest hit. Neither it is the tone that imitates the natural and man-made sounds you hear in a setting. You discern voices, but they’re not names tones nor are they famous lines from popular movies or TV series. If so, then this has to be it. This has to be the latest craze that they are talking about.
3). MP3 Ringtones – Inject your own grove into your daily grind. By : Philip Nicosia Mobile phones have become one of the most prominent status symbols. It has gone beyond a mere tool to make and receive calls. It’s an expression of identity; a fashion statement; and with Mp3 ringtones, a way of injecting your own groove into your daily grind. An Mp3 is a compressed audio file. For years, music lovers have exchanged these files on the Internet, playing them on their PCs or from dedicated Mp3 players.
4). Motorola V3 im Razr mobile the ultimate iTunes mobile Phone By : dave4 Yet another Motorola mobile handset destined for mobile phone stardom, the Motorola V3im a quad band mobile phone, with all the features you would expect from a motorola mobile phone plus more, in particular Apple iTunes®. Motorola mobiles typically have a good history with cool modern sleek designed mobile phones, The V3 by Motorola is no different a great mobile phone with memory expansion for Micro SD formerly Transflash, GPRS for mobile internet a 2 Meg Motorola camera & a range of other mobile features from MMS to Polyphonic ring tones.
5). Knowing the difference between Cell Phones and Cell Phone Plans Will Save You Time and Money By : Declan Tobin Many people go looking for cell phones without too much emphasis being put on the cell phone plans. Many new users who sign up to the different networks have been sold to rather than choosing the best option the suits them. Research is important. Cell phones & plans can be an expensive commodity. Types of Cell Phones: ·Camera Cell Phone ·PDA Cell Phone ·GPS Cell Phone The cell phone itself is not an ongoing expensive.
6). How To Get A Great Deal On A New Cellphone By : Charles M. Morelli If you're in the market for a new cellphone, now is a great time to go shopping. Cellular carriers and resellers are constantly offering special offers. Some companies offer free cellphones (after rebates), calling plans with thousands of minutes, etc. With all these ads, where do you start? You can go to a local wireless store and see the latest makes and models.
7). Sony Ericsson W810i Mobile Phone By : dave4 The Sony Ericsson W810 is a Quad-band EDGE phone (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and enables users to transfer their legacy CD collection or access operator music download services, while staying connected to friends, family and business colleagues anywhere in the world. The Sony Ericsson W810 offers the latest in mobile multi-media functionality by taking advantage of high speed data downloads; listen to hours of music, capture and send high-resolution mega pixel images, access the Internet and stay connected through instant messaging or email.
8). Guide to Cell Phone Ringtones By : Sandra Stammberger Ringtones for cell phones are a huge business. The majority of cell phone owners have a number of ringtones that they can choose from that come supplied with their cell phone. This enables everyone to personalize the sounds that their phone emits when they receive a phone call or a text message on their phone. However, many people do not like, or get bored quickly with these ringtones and look for something a little more interesting.
9). Ringtones – Where Did Those Tones Come From? By : Dave Carter These days cell phones are ubiquitous – almost everybody has one. But with this popularity came a great deal of confusion, with everyone in the room reaching for his or her phone when the ringtone sounded loud and clear. Combine this with our contradictory human desire to be different while fitting in, and you have the perfect backdrop against which the development of the myriad ringtones available today took place.
10). Have Fun With Mobile Phones By : George Williams Mobile phones become fashion now like cloths. They are not used for entertainment only, but also used as a fashion accessory. Everything about the phone has changed - its size, shape and colour too. It’s appropriate then that the dial tone can be changed to play your favorite tune. Simply log on to the appropriate website and click on your choice. But more than that, mobile phones also perform a variety of other functions.

New Cell Phones Articles
1). All The Secrets About Getting The Right Plan For You By : Dane Stanton Find out everything there is to know about the different types of cell phone plans on the market today. Should you go on a plan or are you more suited for prepaid? Find out this and more in this comprehensive article...
2). Why You Must Read The PDA Review Before Buying A PDA By : Gregg Hall There is now an easier way to keep track of all the things we need to accomplish, called a PDA. They keep track of all the things we have to do, so our day can be better organized. The best place to find the right one for you is the PDA review.
3). Crazy New Cell Phone Ring Tones By : Kip Goldhammer Cell phones have been in vogue for the past 15 years or so, and have today become the most inseparable tool to professionals and businessmen alike.
4). Mobile Phones - Complex Choices And How to Navigate Through Them By : Dan Sherman Most of us buying a mobile phone are often confused by the bewildering choice of phones and price plans. Although more choice keeps prices low, too much choice confuses consumer more than being helpful. There has to be an easy way to sift through thousands of deals to find the one that suits your lifestyle. Yes there is. Read on...
5). How To Use A PDA Cell Phone To Reduce Stress And Organize Your Life By : Gregg Hall Do you stress over trying to remember schedules and appointments? Do you need to be able to access the internet on the road for email or information? If, so you consider getting one of the new PDA cell phones that are now available.
6). Nokia N80 is Best Mobile Phone Imaging Device 2006 By : dave4 Nokia today revealed that the Nokia N80 multimedia computer has been voted the Best Mobile Imaging Device in Europe 2006 by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), the largest photo and imaging press association in Europe. The award is an endorsement of the Nokia N80's industry-leading feature set, which makes it one of the most high performance devices currently available in the marketplace.
7). The Growing Trend of Comparing Shopping on Your Mobile Phone By : Michael Brito We live in a world where we can do just about anything from a computer; chat with people in other countries, trade stocks, visit exotic locations that would never be seen otherwise; rent DVDs, and of course engage in the growing trend of comparison shopping. The Internet is gaining in popularity at an exponential rate and as adoption for broadband increases, so does the opportunity for consumers to compare prices for products and services as they look for the best deals on the web.
8). Facts about free cell phones By : Isabel Rodrigues There has been a rapid growth in demand for cell phones. Today, cell phones have become an important part of communicating with your friends and relatives. With the growth of mobile phone users many mobile companies are trying to capitalize on mobile web markets. Many cell phone companies are coming up with different ideas to provide value added services to its customers.
9). Satellite Phones - Who Needs One? By : Sebastian Romero Who needs a Satellite phone? Anyone who needs to use a phone on a ship, in the middle of the ocean needs a satellite phone. Anyone who needs telephone contact in wilderness areas like the desert or mountains needs a satellite phone. Anyone who needs constant telephone contact while driving across the country where there are vast rural areas with no cell phone signal needs a satellite phone.
10). T mobile ringtone By : OliviaAndrews Mobile phones no longer remain the same as they used to be earlier. Today, free download ringtone music and other accessories such as wallpapers reflect the personality of a person. Ringtone is a music or tone that sounds when there is an incoming call in the mobile. When there are many mobile phones users at a place, customized ringtones make you know that which one is your call.