Cell phone shopping...

Cell phone shopping…an activity to love and hate. For the shoppers, there are a seemingly limitless amount of options for both phones and plans. Android, Windows or Apple OS? Blackberry, Android or iPhone? Prepaid or postpaid? Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Cricket? Talk, text, data? Camera megapixels, video capabilities, ease of texting, processor speed, type of network and the list goes on and on. For those of us non-shoppers, it is an overwhelming array of ever changing specs. By the time I’ve completely researched a phone, it’s obsolete. What do I really want in a cell phone anyway? Being able to talk to friends and family, easier texting through QWERTY (either touchscreen or keypad), a small size to fit in my wallet, great camera quality, data to upload those pics to facebook, quick internet to search for my next activity and maps to get me there, gtalk, and a quality sound recorder to capture the interview that begins my public radio career.

After surfing the internet until my eyes glazed over the last two nights, it was time to experience the actual cell phones. First stop, Wal-Mart. Few options, adequate staff and cell phones permanently adhered to the electronics counter. Next stop, Best Buy—very helpful staff, wide variety of phones, yet still the phones could not be experienced. Each had a frozen screen (or sticker?) that offered no opportunity to try out the so-called “blazing fast” GHz speeds or check to see if “the call volume is too low” or determine if the picture quality really was lacking. CNET has been my main source for reviews on cell phones; and, I guess their reviews will have to do for now. One item that I did find amazing was the relatively small size of cell phones today. Most of the phones, even the Androids, could fit inside my wallet. In terms of networks, Sprint already has a 4G network. However, disappointingly, the sales rep explained that none of Verizon’s, AT&T’s or T-Mobile’s 3G phones will be able to work on at the new 4G LTE network speeds next year. Yet, maybe that’s my opportunity. In 2011, when everyone is upgrading to 4G, 3G phones should be cheap!