What features are a must have on your cell phone?

[boyblue]

My current cell is a Samsung Slim, I've had it for about five years and it’s still kickin but the TDMA technology is being phased out so I need a new phone.

I'm considering some additional features. I was tempted to go with a smart phone but I spend 99% of my time at my desk at work, my desk at home or driving to/from. Is a camera really necessary? I guess Bluetooth is a must?

I could use internet access while we're traveling but that's just 6 weeks per year.

What features can't you live without?

 

[timeos2]

There's only one for me

My current cell is a Samsung Slim, I've had it for about five years and it’s still kickin but the TDMA technology is being phased out so I need a new phone.

I'm considering some additional features. I was tempted to go with a smart phone but I spend 99% of my time at my desk at work, my desk at home or driving to/from. Is a camera really necessary? I guess Bluetooth is a must?

I could use internet access while we're traveling but that's just 6 weeks per year.

What features can't you live without?

Call me spoiled but ever since I got my first Palm Treo about 4 years ago I coiuld not have a phone without:

- Touch screen for dialing & navigation
- full keyboard for texting/dialing/navigation
- high speed Internet access
- ability to collect /reply to standard email in real time using your ISP
- the usual suspects of calendar, contact list - the traditional Palm features that they have done best since the first Palm Pilot but with the added bonus of live "links" to phone numbers, web sites & email addresses.
- built in media player for mp3's & videos
- access to Word/Excel/Power Point / PDF files (read & write)
- super bright, hi-res screen visible even in bright sun light
- allows me to use the phone as a high speed wireless modem on my laptop
- usable (not great) camera & video recorder
- Bluetooth (great for car & using the PDA while talking)

To which I have added third party software to give me:

- time & billing functions
- full television access (using the free Slingbox system)
- TomTom GPS with US/Canada maps

Most importantly I get to carry just one light, small item that replaced my cell phone and separate PDA while adding far more functionality than even both combined offered. I could never go back to a standard phone. My daughter & i both have Treo 700P's - as soon as Verizon offers it I plan to get my wife the Palm Centro - the $100 version that is still a great all round phone/PDA.

Be sure to look at the PALM OS version not the Windows based Palm as they are a terrible model (low res screen, slow, usual Windows issues).

Few phones have touch screens & full keyboards. I like both.

 

[PigsDad]

My number one feature is that it must fit in my front pocket (and be comfortable there). I simply will not wear a phone holster. At times, it would be nice to have those other features -- especially when traveling. But up until now, using my iPod Touch as a second device has worked well (and I don't carry the iPod on my person -- in my briefcase instead).

Now w/ a small phone, you can still get several of those powerful features -- you just won't get a full keyboard / touch screen / etc. The features I like the most on my current phone are Bluetooth and integration / sync capability w/ Outlook (calendar and contacts).

Kurt

 

[Icarus]

What features can't you live without?

It's a very personal question

I just want my phone to be a phone. Mine has a camera, and that's ok, but it's not something I use very often. I think bluetooth is a must-have feature, especially since many states have/are passing laws requiring hands-free use in vehicles.

I don't care about PDA-like features in my phone, but if you really want/need PDA-like features, that changes the landscape quite a bit.

-David

 

[geneticblend]

The only reason I have a cell phone is for making a call in the event of an emergency.

I purchased a cell phone when I was pregnant just so I would have it in case of an emergency. Then it seemed like a good idea to keep it when my son was a baby for the same reason. We still have the same phone. It has some special features, but I never use them. I think the cell phone has rung only three times, and they were all wrong numbers. I don't even have my cell phone number memorized, as its sole purpose is for out-going calls if needed.

I am curious to see how many people have the same answer I do, or if there are people who do not own a cell phone.

 

[Icarus]

I am curious to see how many people have the same answer I do, or if there are people who do not own a cell phone.

I use mine a little bit more than you but not much. Mostly I have it for emergencies and so my daughter can reach me. When I travel, I use it to make a few calls. I use so few minutes per month, I recently switched from a normal Verizon plan to a pre-paid t-mobile plan. My monthly cost is going to be around $9 per month instead of $39.99 per month I was paying Verizon. (You can buy the $100 t-mobile refill with 1000 minutes good for a year, once per year. No contract, etc.) I ported my Verizon number to the t-mobile pre-paid account, so I kept my old number.

I ended up buying an unlocked quad band GSM phone on ebay, but t-mobile has virtually free phones available for t-mobile to go. (they might cost $30, but you also get $30 worth of time with them.)

Text messaging is cheaper on t-mobile to go than Verizon also. 10 cents per outgoing, 5 cents per incoming. Without a text messaging plan, Verizon was 15 cents per message in either direction. My daughter likes to text me, but not enough so it ever made sense to add a text message plan.

-David

 

[easyrider]

I couldn't do with out a cell phone anymore. Im on it a least 40 minutes a day. I have to agree with PigsDad about it needs to fit in my pocket. We have 3 razor and had to replace 1 krazer and 1 samsung. Only once has anyone sent a picture to my phone.

 

[Patri]

Ah geneticblend, I see there are two of us.

 

[susieq]

Ah geneticblend, I see there are two of us.

Make that three ~~ DH has a cell for traveling ~~ that's about all we use it for. I'm on a phone AND a cell all day at work, so I could care less.

Sue

 

[Glynda]

For me...

I like the touch screen too. A full address book, memo pad and calendar. Solitare for passing the time in waiting rooms. I use the calculator. Oh and an alarm clock!

I have the Palm Treo 700p too but I'm finding I don't use the internet enough to be worth what I pay for it.

 

[Cathyb]

Just bought two Nokia 6555's to be compatible with our Lexus IS250 to drive without earplugs or hands and use the phone. Does anyone know if I can use the Yahoo email on it for free? I use yahoo as my normal provider on the 'big' computer. I know nothing about these fang-dangled creatures

 

["Roger"]

Make that three ~~ DH has a cell for traveling ~~ that's about all we use it for. I'm on a phone AND a cell all day at work, so I could care less.

Sue

Number four reporting in.

 

[Keitht]

All I need or want from a cell phone is one that rings clearly when I am being called and that I can hear the caller clearly on. The diary / organiser feature is useful, but I managed well enough for years without one.
What I don't need is built in camera, colour screen, fancy ring tones etc.

 

[Brett]

I am curious to see how many people have the same answer I do, or if there are people who do not own a cell phone.

count me in on the limited cell phone plan spending less than $10/month. But I can see going to cell phone and cable internet someday (doing away with the old phone land line). I just hate paying for the special batteries !

 

[chellej]

We have a family plan and with 2 kids at college it gets constant use. More and more we use text messaging because we never know if someone is in class, meeting or work.

I need something small, with a nice size screen, large keys and a camera.

I currently have a samsung Gleam and love it.

DH has one that is mil spec - water, dust and drop resistant because he is at field sites often. The clarity on his is also amazing.

 

[Kay H]

I, too, have a cell phone that is turned off most of the time. I purchase prepaid time and always have lots of time left when I purchase new time. I use it mostly when travelling to communicate with my fellow travelers or to make emergency calls.

 

[laura1957]

I have a Verizon family plan with my 17 year old daughter - 700 minutes monthly. I use maybe 15 minutes a month TOTAL myself (if my nightshift clerk needs to reach me), my daughter - a couple hundred minutes. Most of her friends and the family also have Verizon so they dont count against her minutes. The only reason I keep the cellphone at all is so both my daughters, my husband and my mother can reach me if they NEED me. I have a camera phone but never use the camera, dont use text messaging, but my daughter has the unlimited option I am on the computer all day at work and have 3 desktop computers and a laptop at home - I dont need my phone to act as one too. But all that said - I would HATE to not have it on me all the time, I never go anywhere without it!! I definately do not need any "extras" on the phone.

 

[tlwmkw]

Something to look for and avoid....

Have a Motorola phone- don't know exactly which model (it is a red flip-phone with a matte surface and rounded edges)- anyway it has controls on the side and drives us crazy because these controls get hit and re-adjusted while in pocket or purse. Often it switches to vibrate, turns speaker phone on, or the volume controls go up or down seemingly at random. Anyway this is very annoying and I would recommend you avoid this feature if you can. I am not too tech-savvy and it takes ages to get the settings back to rights again. This phone is only used to make calls so don't need any bells and whistles.

 

[jlr10]

I have a Verizon family plan with my 17 year old daughter - 700 minutes monthly. I use maybe 15 minutes a month TOTAL myself (if my nightshift clerk needs to reach me), my daughter - a couple hundred minutes. Most of her friends and the family also have Verizon so they dont count against her minutes.

I have the plan, and family usage, except I have an 18 year old son instead of a 17 year old daughter. He uses most of the minutes. We all have unlimited text messages because we have found he will answer a text message within minutes but ignore an incoming phone call. For that reason I requested a phone with a keyboard. I am not going to use a number pad to send a text message. Other than a address book/phone directory that is all I really need. Mine has a camera but the only time have used it is to store pictures so incoming call reflect the person who is calling. Not necessary, but it came with the keyboard. What it does not have, that my first cell phone did have, was a message light when someone has left a message. I have to see the icon on the screen but it doesn't appear when the phone goes to sleep (for lack of a technical term.) I miss my message light, but would still pick the keyboard over that light given the same choices again.

 

[cerralee]

I use mine for limited contact with distant family who are still going to call me at home no matter what and to stay in contact with my two college kids. My most important feature is that it is small and flat enough to fit into my bra when I don't have an outfit on with pockets. Can't stand the holsters.

 

[swift]

Must haves for me are:

1. Bluetooth - (law requires hands free starting July 1 in CA)
2. Voice activated dialing - I think more people are distracted dialing their phones than talking on them personaly
3. Voicemail
4. Call Waiting
5. Texting- with quick phrases saved. It is much easier to text a quick phrase of "I am on my way" then call or type it all out.
6. Must fit in my pocket. I don't always carry my purse around

 

[Tacoma]

I am trying to be the last holdout on getting a cell phone. Drives my kids crazy. Even have a place at the lake for July and August and no one can contact me. I use the phone booth to make calls to keep in touch. My husband does have a cell phone but he is generally only at the lake on wekends. If people want to find me they have to leave a message at home on the answering machine. I don't believe I'm missing much.

Joan

 

[boyblue]

My 5 year old Samsung Slim

My ideal size

The dimensions on the Slim are 108mm (4.26 in) tall x 42mm (1.65 in) wide x 17mm (.67in) thick. The phone weighs 93 grams (3.28 oz). Using this as a point of reference I want a phone that weighs a bit less. I would want a bigger display area so the phone would have to be wider. The height is ok minus the external antenna and the thickness is ok but I wouldn't want anything thicker.

Features I want:

Technology - GSM
Form - Slide or Bar (never did take to the clamshell design)
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Voice activated dialing
Speaker phone

Other features I'm considering:

EDGE
GPRS
Email (not sure if this comes wth EDGE or GPRS)
Touch screen
Camera & Flash
Infrared port
Memory card slot
Radio
GPS w/Voice prompts



I'm not quite up on the difference between EDGE and GPRS but I don't think I'll go with either because I'd only be needing 24/7 internet access while traveling and that's only 6 or 7 weeks a year.

 

[UWSurfer]

I picked up a Palm Treo 755p with Verizon service a month ago and love it.

The "p" refers to it running Palm OS vs. Windows which is also available. I've carried a Palm Pilot and upgrades for about 10 years, so it was important to me to be able to load applications I've used into the one device.

I've resisted integrating my PDA into a phone for quite some time, but it appears the technology has matured enough to let me do just about everything in the one platform.

I will not the service for all the bells and whistles is not cheap and it's a work item. IF I were to pick up a phone for personal just, I'd likely get the smallest durable phone availalbe so I could carry it while running. The 755p is about the same footprint as a classic Ipod & nearly twice as thick. As I think about it I likely have an armband holster which the 755p might fit into. hmmmm

 

[EAM]

Bluetooth that connects automatically rather than having to confirm it by pressing a key on the phone each time.

An address book.

Speaker phone easy to turn on.

Ability to change to vibrate mode easily.