Mobile World Cat

Mobile phones come in a bewildering array of shapes and sizes, with wildly different sets of features, and this can make it difficult to decide which one is right for you. Before looking at specific models, it is worth thinking about what you need from a mobile handset, and how much you are looking to spend.

If you don’t anticipate using your phone a lot, and you only need it to make calls, send texts, and act as an alarm clock, then you will probably be fine with a basic 2G handset with a monochrome LCD display. You can pick these phones up very cheaply indeed, and they tend to be the most reliable, simply because there is less that can go wrong. They also tend to have long battery lives, and if you lose or break them, they aren’t very expensive to replace.

However, modern mobile phones are capable of much more than this. Some of the more expensive ones are effectively miniature computers, with features like internet access, touch screens, QWERTY keyboards, and the ability to run a whole range of software applications, from games to image processing. Many phones also include a digital stills and video camera, and some phones have headphone outputs and large storage capacities that enable them to be used as a direct replacement for an MP3 player. It is certainly more convenient to carry around one mobile phone than it is to carry around a digital camera, an MP3 player, a laptop computer, and a mobile phone, but a phone with all of these features can be expensive. A good example of this type of phone is the Blackberry Storm, available from Vodafone in the UK, which includes a QWERTY keyboard, a digital camera, an MP3 player, and is capable of surfing the internet and running a wide variety of software applications.

While you should certainly try to get a phone with all the features that you need at a price you can afford, you should not overlook other aspects, such as build quality, shock absorption and water proofing. It is no use having a phone that does everything if it breaks the first time that you drop it on the floor or use it in the rain. A well built phone will be better in these circumstances than a cheap, flimsy model, but if you are a particularly clumsy person, or you anticipate using your phone outdoors a lot, then you might want to look into getting a ‘tough’ phone. These are built to withstand being dropped or exposed to water, but tend to lack a lot of the features you would find in less sturdy models. However, if you get a good hard shell plastic or rubber case for your phone, you can get the best of both worlds.