Cell Phones and You: What You Need to Know
There I was, 22 years old, a recent graduate, a busy gal interning with a few different companies and I’m still carrying a flip phone. Not even like a cool flip phone. An old school, President’s Choice cell phone. You didn’t even know President’s Choice had cell plans- did you? Well, they do and it’s super embarrassing to take out your lame flip phone at events or parties and have everyone stare at you and say, “you still have one of those?”
Needless to say, it was time for a new phone. I’m a pretty smart cookie so I set about doing my research and promptly gave up. My head was filled with MBs, GBs, data plans, Androids and iPhones. I knew what I liked and I knew what I wanted, only I didn’t know where to find it. Did this elusive ‘Mr. Right (cell phone plan)’ even exist?
In a good, supportive relationship, you share the same values and each partner provides the other with what they need. Think about what you value in a phone- do you text a lot or do you talk on the phone? Do you tweet or facebook? I knew I wanted a keyboard since I tend to be typo-ridden with touch screens and I knew that I needed email and social networking. If you decide on what you want, and what you need, then you can easily go to a company and ask what they have in terms of phones and plans that suit you.
Once you know what you're looking for, it is time to date around. Courting cell phone companies is like speed dating. You have to speak to what seems like a million people, each one giving you the same lines trying to butter you up into um… "signing" with them. When you speak to various companies (and I suggest that you do go in person to all the different companies) you need to be straightforward. Tell them what you are looking to get out of this relationship and then ask them plainly if they can provide you with what you’re looking for.
Seeing as I have an intense fear of commitment, imagine my chagrin when the cell phone company asked me to sign a contract for three whole years! The tab option appealed to me until I realized that going that route meant I would be tied to the phone, though not the plan, for six years. The tab means that you can get out if that relationship at any time- but, for the price of your phone. Think of a contract like a pre-nup, the phone is yours but you need to stay for a minimum of three years. If you leave before hand, you end up having to pay for the phone.
Like boyfriends, a better model is just around the corner. Soon after purchasing my new phone, the Blackberry 705 collection of a new Bold and two new Torches were released. You aren’t going to keep up, so don’t try. You’ll just end up losing money and time. Don’t be swayed by a fancy phone, promising you the moon and the stars. Chances are it won't deliver. Go with the stable, nice, reliable phone instead- make your mother happy.
Finally, always remember- sisters before misters. Girlfriends were invented for a reason- ask them for advice when buying a new phone. Ask what they use, how they like it, what they don't like about it. Ask about their plans, how they pay and how easy it is to deal with the company. You'd be surprised at the wealth of info they'll give you.
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 | I've heard Wind has like CRAZY bad reception and service. My friend's ex-boyfriend had wind and their calls were constantly being dropped and cut off. Then she'd get super mad at him haha- probably why they broke up! Wind is to blame!!! (joking of course!) |
 | @Becky, I checked out Wind! |
 | WHoa Becky...$40 for all that!?! I'm with Bell and I pay over $80 a month for Canada wide My 10. Damn. I am so going to check out Wind mobile now...well after my stupid contract ends with them. |
 | Ohhh girlfriend welcome to the smart phone world!! :-D Lucky you, there are tons of options out there nowadays. You don't have to confine yourself to yay-long contracts, plans and your first born child. Robelus (rogers, bell, telus and all their sub-companies) is no longer the only option you have. I had a Telus pay as you go phone, way back when. After which I moved to Rogers and, jeez was that a mistake! But to my defense we didn't have much options back then. |
| @curlysue10 I went with virgin in the end too- it isn't the best plan ever- we still have some kinks to work out in our relationship, but it is pretty good so far. I am THE worst with touch screens takes me a about a month to type out a text haha! |
| ! I went through this when looking through plans, but I'm a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge (and I mean HUGE) cult-follower when it comes to technology brands, whether or not it fits my criteria! |
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 | what a fun way to look at this topic! I am in the market for a new phone too and was quite daunted at the prospect. |
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