How to Use a Cell Phone
How to Use a Cell Phone
From flip phones to
camera phones and all the way to a phones with music and apps, cell phones help
us communicate and connect us to the world. They're especially a must for
teenagers and adults alike, and sometimes essential to have for work, school,
and in order to socialize.
Part1
Finding the Best Cell Phone Plan
1.Research local cell phone carriers in your area.
Depending on your region, there will
be numerous phone companies with a variety of plans. Go on their website or to
their shops and ask for information about their services. Or read reviews and
ask others what their experiences are like with their provider.
·
The amount of people using a certain provider is a good indicator of
which carrier is the best in your area.
2.Look for a provider with the best network coverage.
A good company should be able to provide
a large range of reliable coverage and reception. This usually means they will
own the most number of cellular towers in order to provide network service to
more areas. It ensures that your calls won't be dropped while you're moving
from place to place and you'll be able to receive service in low populated or
underground locations.
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Most countries will have a map of all cellular towers that label which
towers are used by which provider that you can find by doing a quick internet
search. A good provider should have the most towers in your area or areas where
you frequent most.
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A company might advertise plans with great deals but this doesn't
necessarily mean they will have a reliable network. A great plan is only useful
if you're able to carry out calls and receive service where ever you are.
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If you travel a lot, consider looking for a carrier that provides
national or international coverage.
3.Evaluate data network speeds of cell phone providers.
Like network coverage, data coverage depends on your region and the
carrier. Data is useful if you plan to use the Internet on your phone or if you
have a smartphone.
·
Compare data network speeds between carriers. You can usually find this
information on their website or from a sales representative. The higher the
number of kilobits per second (kbps), the faster you'll be able to use the
internet to upload and download data.
·
Technology is always updating. The latest data "G" or
generation of mobile technology will be the fastest. However, not all phones can
support the latest and fastest data connection.
4.Decide what cellular service plan is right for you.
The plan you choose will dictate what
kind of phone you can get, what you can do with your phone, how long you have
to stay with the carrier, and how much you'll have to pay each month. Choose a
plan that is within your budget but still allows you to have the features you
want to use on your phone. Some common features include:
·
Minutes: How many minutes of
call time are you offered per month? How much does it cost to go over the
maximum? Do these minutes rollover to the next month if left unused? Some
providers designate certain times of the day or days of the week where you can
use an unlimited amount of minutes to make and receive calls. Some may offer
unlimited calling.
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Texting: Today, texting is
probably the most important must-have feature of cell phones. And most
providers will offer unlimited texting or a certain number of free texts. Be
careful, some providers may charge you just for opening texts.
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Data Usage: Providers will
offer varying amounts of data you can use each month to download and upload
from the Internet. This can range anywhere from 500 MB to 6 GB to an unlimited
amount of data usage.
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Voicemail: There is often an
additional charge to use this feature. It is very useful when you can't always
answer your phone. However, calling your voicemail box may count towards using
up call time minutes.
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Caller ID: Caller ID is
essential in today's world. Most plans will include caller ID now that it is a
highly demanded and expected feature.
·
Contracts: Most plans require
you to sign a one to three year contract with the provider. Usually, you'll
receive a discounted price for the cost of the physical phone up front or a way
to finance your phone throughout your contract. However, you'll still be paying
the cost of the phone plan through the span of your contract, along with any
fees for additional features and taxes.
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Family Plans: If several members of your family use cell phones, then it may be more affordable
to go with a family plan. The number of minutes, data, and texts are shared
among your family to use each month.
5.Purchase a pre-paid phone plan.
If you have bad credit, want to save money, or you simply want to try
having a cell phone without signing up for a long contract, you may want a
prepaid or pay-as-you-go plan. However, some of the cons are:
·
Phones cost full price and you have to pay for it all at once. Although,
some older models of phones are relatively cheap.
·
Your coverage is not the carrier's top priority. Even though you may opt
for a carrier that has the best coverage in your area, contract users will have
top priority when it comes to their network.
·
Customer service may be lacking.
Part2
Choosing the Right Phone
1.Choose a classic cell phone if your cellular needs are simple.
You might only want to call and text
your friends and family. They are designed for ease of use and come in a
variety of models such as a flip-phone design or slide out keyboard.[3]
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The cost of a classic cell phone is much lower. Some contracts will
offer the phone for $0.
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Classic cell phones are quite durable. This is great if your life
involves being in conditions where you might drop your phone or need to use it
in unstable situations. You won't have to worry about breaking them as easily
as a smartphone.
·
If you're older and want a simple wireless phone, classic cell phones
are your best choice. Some phones have enlarged keypads for easy dialing.
2.Invest in a smartphone.
Smartphones are like mini-computers and are the most popular choice of
phone for consumers. They have touch-screens, wifi connectivity, HD cameras,
and come in different operating systems (OS). The most popular OS systems are:
·
Apple's iOS: This OS has the
largest variety of content and applications, and is known for its ease and
polished user interface. It is most popular for mainstream consumers who just
want to absorb content (like watch video, play games, or connect with friends)
rather than create content for professional uses. For this reason, many work
professionals may prefer another OS.
·
Android: Android offers more
flexibility for developers or those who want to customize how their OS looks
and works. The OS is highly customizable if you know the basics of tech
education and is useful if you'd like to develop applications.
Windows: If you're a business owner, then this
OS might be right for you. Windows integrates many traditional Windows
applications such as Microsoft Office, Exchange, and its cloud. It offers more
power to create and customize advanced documents.
3.Consider alternative phones such as tablets or personal digital
assistants (PDA).
PDAs are not as popular these days but upgraded models of these phones,
such as the Blackberry, work well if your focus is primarily on browsing the
Internet without all the extra features that come with smartphones. Tablets
have larger screens and have more versatility and power close to a desktop or
laptop, but have the convenience of a smartphone.
Part3
Using Your Cell Phone
1.Create a contact list by gathering up phone numbers of people you want
to talk to.
For smartphones, there should be an app or icon that has a picture of a
phone or says "Phone". Tap to view your contacts and/or tap the
button to add a contact (this is usually indicated by a "+" symbol).
Input your contact's information and phone number with the keypad and save. If
you're using a classic phone, it's as easy as dialing the number and pressing a
button that allows you to create a contact.
·
Some phones will have different tabs for your favourite numbers, recent
calls, contacts, keypad, and voicemail.
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Read your phone's manual since each OS can vary slightly the way
contacts are made. Android phones will differ from iPhones and Windows phones.
2.Make calls by choosing or dialling a number and pushing the
"send" or "call" button.
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End the call by pushing "end" which is indicated with red
lettering or symbols. Calls will usually end automatically after the person you
spoke to hangs up, but it's best to get into the habit of hanging up,
especially since some calls are billed by the minute.
·
You can view any missed or recent calls within the phone app on a
smartphone or by looking through your menu on a classic phone. Details about
who the call came from, when the call was made, and options to redial and save
new contacts are available.
3.Set up your voicemail box.
Most phones will have a button that directly dials your voicemail box
for you. If you can't find this button, holding "1" on your keypad
will dial your voicemail number. Follow the system prompts to create your
password, record your name announcement, and/or record your greeting.
·
If you don't want to record your own greeting, the system will use its
own programmed greeting and personalize it using the name you recorded.
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You can change your password, name, and greeting anytime by dialling the
voicemail number and following its menu prompts.
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When you receive a voicemail, your smartphone will alert you or display
a notification. Tap the voicemail number or hold "1" to access your
mailbox. Input your password and listen to your messages. Follow the prompts to
either callback the number, save the message or delete the message.
Most phones will label your text messaging inbox or app as
"Messages" or "Messaging". You can then "Create a New
Message" from there. Or you can choose a contact from your contact list,
press the options key, and look for an option that lets you send a message to
the contact.
·
Classic phones without QWERTY keyboards may require you to learn and use T9 or predictive text to type messages.
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Smartphones will have an array of different messaging apps you can
download and use. Some messaging apps will use your provider's cellular network
to send messages and some will use the Internet or data which count towards
your plan's data usage.
5.Lock your keypad or smartphone to secure it from pocket dials or thefts.
Each phone and OS will have a different way to lock your keypad. For
example, Apple's iOS 8 and up, and iPhones 5 and greater, offer Touch ID
security that reads your fingerprints in order to unlock your phone. While
other smartphones will only require you to enter a password or a 4-digit
number. Check your settings or user manual to learn how to lock your phone.
·
For most classic phones, locking your keypad is not a form of security
but rather a preventative measure against pocket dialling. If you have a flip
phone, this should not be a worry for you. If not, most phones lock by pressing
the menu key, quickly followed up the asterisks key. To unlock your phone,
press the unlock key (indicated on your phone key) and then the asterisk key.[4]
·
If you're worried about theft, most smartphones have apps or measures to locate your phone if it's stolen.
6.Connect your phone to a WiFi network.
For most classic phones, connecting it to a WiFi connection is not
possible. Instead, your phone will use data if it ever connects to the
Internet. Smartphones, when connected to WiFi, will stop using data and you
will no longer be limited to the amount of data your plan offers.
·
iPhones: Tap the Settings
icon, then press the Wi-Fi bar. Turn on the Wi-Fi if it's not already on and
choose a network from the list below. You will need to enter a password if the
network is protected. Tap "Join".
·
Androids: On your home
screen, tap the Apps icon and then open the Settings app. Make sure the Wi-Fi
master control is on in the top right hand corner and choose an available
network in your area. You will need to enter a password if the network is
protected. Tap the "Connect" button.
·
Windows: Swipe left to
reveal your App List, tap Settings and then Wi-Fi. Make sure your Wi-Fi is
turned on and choose a network from the available networks in your area. You
will need to enter a password if the network is protected. Tap
"Done".
·
Once you're connected to Wi-Fi, its symbol should appear on the status
bar of your phone. For most phones, it will replace the "G" data
symbol to indicate it is no longer using your carrier's data.
7.Learn how to download apps.
Most smartphones will have a set of
applications already downloaded and one of them should be your operating
system's app store. Tap on its icon and browse or search up apps you wish to
use. You may need to set up an account to download apps. Your phone should
prompt you to set up an account which often asks for your personal information
and payment options.
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Some apps cost money. Make sure you have the correct payment information
in your account. Be careful when allowing others to use your phone or your
account to download apps. In most cases, a password is required to download any
apps that cost money to protect you from unwanted purchases.
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Some apps have in-app purchases or options to buy more features to
upgrade the app you downloaded.
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Classic phones don't usually have apps stores you can download from, but
rather already have a set number of applications downloaded. Some later models
of classic phones will have games, pictures, or music applications.
8.Charge your phone regularly by plugging it in with a charger.
Phones will have a battery life indicator that will tell you the
percentage left or the time remaining of your battery life. Most phones will give
you a warning or reminder when its battery life is running low.
·
Invest in different types of chargers such as a car charger, dock
chargers for home audio systems, or another extra charger.
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