| Unless a family member hands you an activated cell | | | | Buying a cell phone may not be as drastic an option |
| phone and announces it as a gift, you will more than | | | | as you might think, and to be honest, you are more |
| likely learn that no cell phone is free. You always see | | | | likely to have a better quality phone for it in the long |
| the advertisements for free cell phones being | | | | run. The reason many higher end phones aren't free |
| offered on the Internet and on commercials however | | | | is they actually do have higher quality standards in |
| there is no such thing. | | | | the manufacturing process that allow for more |
| Okay, so maybe the phone is free however there is | | | | reliable voice and Internet communications. The best |
| a catch as is usual with most things. This catch is | | | | part is, if you are going to be getting a new phone |
| called a contract. Service contracts are the life blood | | | | and going into a new 2 year contract, you can get a |
| of any cellular carrier and as long as they can entice | | | | great discount on a higher end phone in place of a |
| you into that contract they will continue to offer | | | | free phone. Trust me, the carriers don't mind giving a |
| newer and more cool "free phones". Now, I'm not | | | | heavy discount to get you into the contract with |
| saying carriers are evil or deceptive, but you must | | | | their calling services. Remember, it is the contract |
| become more conscious of your consumer behavior. | | | | they make their real money from. |
| Depending on your needs and uses of a cell phone | | | | So depending on what you plan to use your phone |
| not all free phones are created equal. You may want | | | | for, it may make sense to spend some extra cash to |
| to ask yourself exactly what you want from a cell | | | | get the phone you really need and want. Most |
| phone before leaping into a free cell phone contract. | | | | importantly though is what carrier you choose. What |
| Ask yourself if you are going to want to text | | | | good is a cell phone without the right area coverage? |
| message a lot, check email, surf the web, take | | | | Consult with friends, family, and colleges in your area |
| pictures, or how big of a calling list you are going to | | | | and ask them what carrier they prefer or wish they |
| have on your cell phone. | | | | used for their area. The answer may not always be |
| Each cell phone will have it's strengths and | | | | what you would have expected, so ask. Never ask a |
| weaknesses which may include ear piece sound | | | | carrier sales person themselves due to the fact that |
| quality, speaker phone quality, mega pixel quality (for | | | | they are after your money. You might not get an |
| both viewing and taking pictures) as well as other | | | | honest reply. |
| features you may want to utilize in a cell phone. It | | | | There are many different types of phones out there, |
| may make more sense to buy a phone instead, but | | | | and who knows maybe a free phone is what will |
| don't be swayed by the possibility of actually paying | | | | work best for you, however a little bit of research |
| for a phone based on retail pricing, there are still | | | | can go a long way. Do a bit of digging and get the |
| benefits to forking out some extra cash for the | | | | most for your money aka contract. |
| cause. | | | | |