Purchase advice

Choosing a cell phone that will meet all your needs is not easy. There are many models, with variable features. Add to this the number of packages offered, and the puzzle is complete. How can you make sense of all this? You may want to get some answers before going to the telephone boutiques or Internet sites!

The starting point: determine your needs

To choose the right telephone and package combination, you will need to evaluate whether your telephone will be:

• a tool to use from time to time (occasional use),
• an indispensable tool (frequent use),
• or a working tool (professional use).

This will help determine the minutes of airtime you need as well as your priorities in terms of ergonomics, simplicity of use and autonomy. It will also be a basis to select the accessories that you will need.

The telephone

Choose a service provider who will provide access to pre-programmed sites, including Desjardins, or to a range of sites among which you can select Desjardins. You should also be located in a zone with digital coverage.

What criteria should you use to choose a cell phone?

When buying your cell phone, you should look at the following aspects:

• Autonomy: differentiate standby time from talk time. Standby time refers to the battery life during which the telephone is ready to make and receive calls. It uses less power than talk time. A shorter standby time means you will have to recharge the unit more often, and maybe buy a spare battery or a car adapter.
• Screen size: this is important for ease of use. Screen size varies depending on the model. The screen may have from 3 to 18 lines and 12 to 32 characters per line. The bigger the screen, the easier it will be to read.
• Sound quality: this varies a great deal depending on the model. Ask for information from the sales person.
• Ergonomics: the keypad must be large enough and easy to see. The size and weight of the unit are also factors to consider.
• Sturdiness: you will probably like your cell phone to be shock resistant.
• Cost: the price can vary from $0 (included in a package with contract) to $700. Set a budget for purchasing the unit and plan for the monthly cost of the package. Consider postal rebates that may come with a package subscription.
• Network compatibility: a bimode or trimode unit will make it possible to make calls in both digital and analog zones. If you regularly travel outside the major urban centres, your telephone must be able to function, even when moving from one zone to the next. See the supplier's zone maps.

Then, compare telephones that meet your basic requirements and examine the additional components:

• Extra options: voice activated dialling, vibrating unit, telephone directory (from 100 to 300 numbers); clock, calculator, games, calendar, different rings, etc. are some features that can vary from unit to unit.
• Accessories: long lasting battery, case, charger, headset, covers, and car adapter are some examples of items that can be purchased as extras or included in a promotion.

The package

The choice of subscription is just as important as the choice of phone, and in some cases, they both come in a single package. Generally, a package includes a set number of minutes that are usable at any time in a local calling zone. Minutes or seconds that exceed the package limitations are billed in addition. Some packages offer free minutes on weeknights, between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. (for local calls). However, the choice is not as easy as it looks. Numerous variations are offered. There are so many packages available that it is often difficult to sort them all out.

How to choose the right package?

To begin, it is essential to determine your needs in terms of mobile communications. Ask yourself the right questions:

1. How many minutes do you think you will need each month?
2. Will you use your cell phone more in the evening, the daytime or the weekend?
3. How much do you expect to spend per month?
4. Will you need your cell phone to travel in the country? Or abroad?
5. What options will you need? How much do they cost? (call forwarding, holding calls, etc.)

After answering these questions to the best of your knowledge, you simply have to combine your answers with offers by suppliers covering your zone. Check out all the details:

• Contract duration: the duration of a contract with a supplier is variable. During the contract period, you will not be able rescind your contract, except in exceptional situations, and often with a penalty.
• Airtime: this is the time (minutes) included in the package that you signed up for. Any additional minutes that you use when you go over or exceed your subscription is billed per minute or per second, at the price determined by the package.
• Navigation time: check the time included in the package that is allowed for visiting the Web.
• Fixed monthly fees (may be included in network access): The package gives access to a certain number of hours of communications for a certain cost. Beyond the package, the calls are billed as a surplus. Add fees for 911 (a few cents per month) and the taxes.
• Free periods: depending on your use of the phone, you may want to consider packages that offer unlimited local calls on evenings and weekends.
• Extra fees: in some cases, there may be other fees added to the activation fees, penalties for rescinding a contract and, of course, long distance fees. You should also check the pricing that applies when you are outside your coverage zone.
• Services included: some examples are call waiting, call forwarding, three-way conferencing, assistance, text messaging and e-mail, voice dialling, etc. Do not forget that these services will use your minutes.

You don't like monthly bills?

If you find a subscription, and the related monthly bills, too constricting, another alternative might suit you better: pre-paid airtime. If you think that you will use less than 70 minutes of airtime per month, pre-paid services may be an advantage for you. Without a subscription, and therefore no commitment on your part, this plan allows you to pay for your calls according to your needs.

The principle of pre-paid time is relatively simple. You first have to purchase the telephone from one of the major suppliers. Then you purchase the airtime that is sold in different amounts ($10, $20, $30?) for a certain number of minutes of local calls that must be used within a predetermined period. You can increase your account with a credit card, or buy pre-paid cards giving access to more minutes. This way, you do not have to pay a fixed amount each month for only a few calls. If you no longer like this method, you can always sign up for a package at some time in the future!