Mobile Phones

Purchasing your first mobile phone may not be as big a step nowadays as it was during the nineties, but it can still be scary if you don't know what to look for. In a country with more mobile phones than subjects, there are still some people who haven't fully woken up to the potential of mobile technology. Not many though.

We are bombarded with mobile phone deals day in, day out. It seems impossible to turn on the television, open the newspaper or browse the internet without being told what the networks are offering this week and why it is better than rival offerings. All major networks spend a huge amount on branding each year in an attempt to stand out from each other and appeal to particular markets. Brand loyalty is key with mobile phones because the networks forsake profit when luring customers away from rivals.

In truth, the difference between the networks is minimal. Unlike in the early days of mobile phones, you get roughly equal levels of coverage on an O2 mobile phone and one operated by T-Mobile UK. If you choose your handset and package carefully, you will generally pay a very similar amount on any network and be offered a similar selection of handsets. There are occasional exceptions, such as when one network introduces a new tariff designed to shake the market out of a stagnant period or drag a swathe of customers away from rival networks in time for quarterly business figures.

Choosing the right mobile phone is arguably more important than choosing between networks, as your handset provides the interface between yourself and your services. Unlike with the networks, the quality of handsets on the market varies greatly. For a good idea of what is currently available and what is forthcoming from the mobile manufacturers, the Mobile Gazette is a good place to start. The website views all handsets impartially and is very up-to-date on what's happening in the industry. There is also a large archive of mobile phone reviews dating back to some relatively early examples of Nokia mobile phones and Motorola mobile phone offers.

If you cannot, or do not wish to, sign up for a contract mobile phone deal, other options are available to you. The most common choice is a pre-paid handset, where all calls are paid for before they are made. The advantage of this system for many people is that it is easier to manage expenditure than when calls accumulate and are billed monthly or quarterly. The disadvantage is that calls are usually more expensive and running out of credit can be a pain when you have important calls to make.

Whatever you do when you purchase your mobile phone, do not be intimidated by the options available to you and take your time to make sure you get the phone and contract that suits you best.

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