| The new fashion statement A mobile phone is no | | | | phones range between 10 and 14 days of standby |
| longer simply a device with which you stay in contact | | | | time and 2 to 8 hours of talk time. Obviously memory |
| with others. Today, a mobile phone is a multi-function | | | | intensive use shortens the re-charge time. Even the |
| fashion accessory, as necessary to your appearance | | | | most basic phones now come with an in-built digital |
| as a hairstyle. From how the phone 'flips' open in front | | | | camera. Some now also have flash capacity, |
| of your friends, to the groove of the ring tone, your | | | | auto-focus, self-timing, continuous shooting and zoom |
| mobile phone is a statement about who you are and | | | | and macro facilities. Many offer low-resolution video |
| how you address the world. And as every parent of a | | | | recording and can be used for video conferencing and |
| thirteen year old knows, you simply are not a 'whole | | | | receiving streaming video. Optimally, a camera with |
| person' without one. To purchase a mobile phone, you | | | | more than one mega pixel is desirable. Connections |
| need to address a number of issues, not the least of | | | | and options A USB port on a mobile phone enables it |
| which is who you will be shelling out a small fortune to | | | | to be connected to your computer to transfer files. |
| each month, and under what conditions, and what you | | | | Wireless connectivity using bluetooth and infra-red |
| want from your phone service. On top of that, you will | | | | allows connection between devices such as PCs and |
| want to decide which handset suits best and what | | | | PDAs, as well as providing hands-free utilities. You |
| extras and accessories you want to go along with it. | | | | may also want a voice-activated dialling feature, and |
| au is where you can compare a range of different | | | | voice recording functions that enable you to send |
| offers from different phones and service providers | | | | MMS messages and voice memos. Phones with |
| very easily, and arrive at a decision that works for you. | | | | polyphonic ring tone capacity enable you to have a |
| The centre of communications Different phones suit | | | | more musical ringtone, and produce a better sound. At |
| different people, but at the heart of the decision is the | | | | au you can compare all of the features of the |
| question: Is your mobile phone the centre of your | | | | different brand names and the prices offered by |
| communications. The answer to this question will mean | | | | different vendors. This takes a lot of the difficulty out |
| different things to people with different needs. The | | | | of narrowing down exactly what you want from you |
| student The student's mobile phone is very definitely at | | | | mobile phone. Connection choices There are |
| the centre of communications, but quite clearly | | | | essentially two choices for how you want to be |
| students have little money to splurge and therefore | | | | connected to your phone network: a usage plan and |
| need to buy a phone that has access to economically | | | | term contract, or a pre-paid option. All service |
| efficient communications. The trendy phone will be | | | | providers can offer both and under Australian |
| important, but at a low cost. It will need to have | | | | legislation, your phone number is portable between |
| excellent texting facility, be able to accommodate ring | | | | service providers. Some however may charge a fee |
| tones, and be easy to carry. Of lesser concern are | | | | for early termination of a contract, and some may |
| issues such as camera and video capacity. The busy | | | | charge a fee for transferring your number from |
| parent Whether working out of the home or not, a | | | | another service provider, and some may charge a fee |
| busy parent needs to be able to be in touch at odd | | | | for transferring you number to another provider. These |
| times and in odd places. This person will be seeking a | | | | fees are entirely at the discretion of the service |
| functional handset with a good network capacity. | | | | provider and have no basis in actual network cost |
| Photographic features are handy as are texting | | | | whatsoever. If it is charged, it is charged simply |
| features and long talk-time. The executive The | | | | because they can. You need to give some thought to |
| executive is constantly on the go, and is always in | | | | how you intend (or do) use your phone. Call plan |
| touch while on the go. This person's phone will have | | | | contracts are offered on the basis of how many |
| added features such as a teledex, web connectivity, | | | | minutes (or in some cases, 30 second units) of call |
| video and photographic features. Additional | | | | time you use, and at what time of day. Carriers |
| accessories will include 'hands-free' capacity and | | | | promote higher costs for high volume times of the day, |
| portability across travel zones. The traveller The | | | | and often reduce costs, or offer 'free' time during low |
| traveller's phone needs most of all to be portable | | | | times. Other low cost offers are made for calls |
| across travel zones and able to access networks in | | | | between the phones on the same carrier network, |
| international zones. Long battery life, video, | | | | while others offer discounts for bundling packages of |
| photographic and web connectivity features are all | | | | home phone, mobile phone and Internet account. It's |
| important features considered by the traveller. Phone | | | | important to read the conditions attached to any of |
| choices At the heart of your decision, is which phone | | | | these offers. Free calls between midnight and six am |
| to choose? Some limitations may apply according to | | | | may be of little value to you if you're sleeping at that |
| the technology you need. If you live in a rural area, or | | | | time. Pre-paid is popular choice, especially if you don't |
| travel to the country a lot, you will likely need access | | | | make many calls. It also enables a better management |
| to a CDMA network, and not all handsets are | | | | of limited funds. When deciding on your plan, look at |
| compatible. The majority of Australia's urban population | | | | costs such as 'flagfall' costs and the different rates at |
| (95%) is covered with GSM technology, and there are | | | | different times of the day. Also check the cost of calls |
| a huge number of handsets available that are | | | | when you exceed your 'cap' or limit. It is often in this |
| compatible. The technology Other technologies that | | | | area that the carrier can make money out of |
| may affect both your choice of handset and your | | | | unsuspecting users. Service providers The carriers of |
| choice of service provider are the GPRS technology, | | | | mobile phone services in Australia include Telstra, |
| designed for sending data over the GSM network, | | | | Optus, 3 (Hutchinson), Orange (Hutchinson), Vodafone, |
| enabling mobile phones to access the internet and | | | | Virgin, B and a number of smaller carriers, or agencies |
| receive email messages; and the PTT service (Push | | | | who provide services on behalf of other carriers. Each |
| To Talk), a technology that allows mobile phones to be | | | | of the major carriers can offer you the connection to |
| used like two-way radios. The handset The next step | | | | their network on contract plan or pre-paid, as well as |
| might be to decide on the type of handset you favour. | | | | sell you a pre-packaged handset. Quite often a |
| Handsets come in different configurations, from the | | | | contract will include a monthly service and you pay for |
| 'candybar' format (long and slim) that is able to fit into a | | | | a number of minutes of talk or sms connections, as |
| protective carrying case and be operated by one | | | | well as pay for the handset. Once the contract is |
| hand. The screen and keypad are limited by the size | | | | ended, you are free to change the plan to a different |
| and shape of the handset. Flip-phones and slider | | | | one, or change carriers altogether. Sometimes the plan |
| phones have the advantage of small size, but their | | | | you select is not right for your usage, and you find that |
| screens and keypads can be larger because of the | | | | after a few months, you could reduce your costs by |
| use of two halves of a 'clamshell' case. Some slider | | | | changing to a different plan. Some carriers enable you |
| phones have keypads on a swivel, offering a two | | | | to do this mid-contract without any extra penalty; |
| handed operation. A smartphone has a fully functional | | | | others may charge you a fee to change your plan. |
| keypad that enables the editing of Microsoft word | | | | Study any plan carefully and imagine how you will use |
| documents, presentations and spreadsheets. Screens | | | | your phone to take best advantage. You may also |
| and memory Colour screens are now standard in | | | | need to compare the services offered by the different |
| most models, but size, resolution and colours can vary, | | | | carriers, especially their capacity to service your area |
| from between 101x80 pixels to 353x288 pixels; and | | | | within their network. There's not a lot of point in being |
| between 4000 and 262,000 colours. The better the | | | | with a carrier whose network doesn't enable anyone |
| screen resolution, the better backgrounds and graphic | | | | to call you when you're at home. Use au to compare |
| images can be displayed. Mobile phones also now | | | | different to find one that suits you. But before you sign |
| have onboard memories from between 16MB and | | | | on to any mobile phone plan, be sure you understand |
| 96MB (although this is a standard that changes quickly). | | | | all of the conditions attached to that contract.Andrew |
| Additional memory (500MB or more) is available on | | | | Gates for comparison online shopping service au. |
| phones dedicated to gaming and mp3 playing, and | | | | au helps you compare the different mobile phones |
| some phones also offer slots for adding additional | | | | from different brands in terms of specifications and |
| memory cards. Battery and camera Battery re-charge | | | | accessories. You can also compare prices from |
| life of a phone is determined by the number of | | | | hundreds of different brands and vendors. |
| features and the amount of talk time used, but today's | | | | |