CHOOSING A CELLULAR PHONE FOR BUSINESS

By Biz$hop*

Overview

The cellular telephone has become an essential tool for many business owners. It allows you to proceed about your business without being tied to a desk, waiting for an expected call to come in. Some types of businesses, particularly those that involve a lot of appointments and a large number of clients, find cellular phones indispensable. Real estate agents make house-showing appointments on the road. Service providers out on a job can do parts checks from the site. The range of businesses helped by cellular technology is limitless.

The choice

The major choice is in how mobile you want the phone to be. Will you be in or close to your car when you want to make a call? In that case, a car-mounted phone provides maximum power and range, and with hands- free features is safe, even while hurtling down the highway. If you will be doing a job onsite, a portable may be better. About the size of facial tissue box, this phone has power and range but can be moved to wherever you need it. If you are constantly on the go, walking as well as in your car, or if it is absolutely essential you get a call wherever you happen to be, a pocket or hand-held model fits the bill. They generally have less power and are more expensive than the others.

Options

Other options available include fax and modem plug-in capabilities, charging and power options, paging, and voice mail services.

Shopping for a cellular phone is little different from shopping for any other hi-tech device. Talk to others who use them. Talk to the salespeople, and explain exactly how you will be using the phone. That will help them recommend what is best. Ask about exchange options. If you buy a portable and decide you really need a hand-held, can you trade it? Mobile or car-mounted phones generally, require installation, so installation charges on an exchange generally are not refunded. Ask about warranties. The cheapest phone is not a good deal if it breaks down a month later and you have to pay big bucks to get it fixed. Ask about roaming. If you will be traveling out of the local area, roaming allows you to continue using your phone in another area.

Keep your eyes open for ads that offer free telephones.  While you won't be getting a top-of-the-line model, many companies give away cell phones in order to build traffic in the store, or for special events. The only catch is that you sign up for a year's service, which you would if you bought the phone anyway. These free phone offers are a 100% win, and a way to see if cell phones are right for you.

Usage fees

Remember that with cellular phones, you are charged for every call you make, as well as for every call that you receive.  For that reason, many people do not give out their cellular number. Having a beeper will allow you receive notification that somebody wants you to call, and you can then decide to respond by cellular or wait till you get back to the office and call for free.

The latest thing out is digital cellular, and it's hot. Transmission and reception is much clearer. However, it will be some time before digital cellular service is universally available. Some of the newer units have the capability of using both the digital service of the future and the analog service of today.

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