If you read our Cellular Phone Technology section, you understand that when you place a call, the service has to be able to rapidly identify your phone as a subscriber and establish a radio connection with it. This is simplified by the fact that each service plan offered by the Cellular Phone Companies is available on only a few phones. If you've set your heart on a certain cellular phone model, be prepared to sign up with one of the plans that uses it.

o How durable is my cellular phone?

Surprisingly durable! Cellular Phones have a hard plastic housing which can take a certain amount of bumping and dropping. Of course, you should always treat your phone as gently as possible and consider using a cellular phone case to protect it and keep it looking sleek. As with any electronic device, avoid extreme heat, which could damage the battery or the electronics. And keep it dry to avoid corrosion-don't get the phone wet, and don't handle it when your hands are wet.

o What happens when I want to switch from one cellular phone service to another?

Great news! As of November 24, 2003, Cellular Phone Services in the 100 largest U.S. urban areas are required by the FCC to support wireless local number portability. This means that most people will be able to keep their cellular phone number if they switch carriers, as long as they're staying in the same area. It's not clear yet whether some carriers may be exempt from the start date for number portability or how easy switching will be.

o Why can't I use a cellular phone in a hospital or on an airplane?

As we've described on our Cellular Phone Technology page, Cellular Phones are essentially two-way radios. Most hospitals ban the use of Cellular Phones, either throughout the building or in certain areas, because the radiofrequency energy from Cellular Phones can interfere with electronic medical equipment such as heart monitors and defibrillators. On airplanes, there is the potential for interference with electronic instruments.

o What is PCS and is it better than cellular phone service?

Available in some areas, PCS stands for Personal Communications Services. It is a digital wireless technology that is based on the same principles as Cellular Phone Technology, but its cells are smaller and it uses more transmitters (since each cell has its own transmitter) than traditional cellular service over the same area. For users, what you'll notice is more emphasis on a range of digital services such as email, text messaging and other features that allow you to tailor your cellular phone service to your personal communications needs.

o What happens if I take my U.S. cellular phone to Europe, Asia, or Africa?

Unless you bought a GSM (Global Standard for Mobile communications) phone in the first place, your phone operates on a frequency that won't be recognized by overseas service providers, and you will not be able to find service outside the United States and Canada. You can buy a GSM phone that will work abroad; check out our section on International Cellular Phones.

o How can I get my cellular phone to vibrate when I turn the ringer off?

It depends on your cellular phone and your interface. There may be a menu option (try the "Tones" or "Sounds" menu if you have one) that lets you choose either ringing or vibration. If you have a phone that's supposed to vibrate but no "vibrate" menu option, you might just need to turn off the ringer; vibrating is the default for some phones when the ringer is turned off. If you have a non-vibrating phone, don't despair. You can still buy a vibrating belt clip that works with all Cellular Phones.

o When is it rude to use a cellular phone?

Definitely turn off your cellular phone (or at least the ringer) in the movies, the theater, the classroom, and any place where a ringing phone would disturb others. This includes any place where you've been explicitly requested to turn off your phone. If you're talking on a cellular phone in public, be aware of your volume; don't speak louder than you would if you were conversing with the person next to you. When you're with others and you get an incoming call you need to answer, be sure to excuse yourself before answering, and keep your call brief. The people you're with deserve your attention first.

o What's with Cellular Phones that play a tune instead of just ringing? Why not just let it ring like a regular phone?

Many Cellular Phones let you choose a distinctive ringtone-check your owner's manual to see whether yours does. Some people enjoy choosing a little tune for their phone to play instead of ringing, and there's no question that a distinctive ringtone helps when you're in a roomful of Cellular Phones and someone's phone rings-but whose? Some newer Internet-enabled phones have polyphonic ringtones, which sound more like music than little beep-tunes. These phones can also play sound files.

o I'm moving out of my area code, but not out of my service area. Should I change my cellular phone number?

If you live in a large metropolitan area, your cellular phone service area probably includes more than one area code. Or you may have a regional plan with a service area that extends over an entire state or multiple-state region. If you're moving within your service area, you may not need to bother changing your cellular phone number. But you may want to, so that people who live near you can call you without making a long-distance call. The cost and difficulty of making the change varies, so check with your service provider to see what would be involved in making the switch.

Cellular Phones

Welcome to CellularPhoneServiceGuideAndOutlet.com, where you'll find everything you need to know about choosing a cellular phone! Now that cellular phones and services are more available and affordable than ever, you'll find that it's a challenge to keep track of all your choices. CellularPhoneServiceGuideAndOutlet.com can help with our Cellular Phones Overview, great advice on Cellular Phone Plans, and comprehensive Cellular Phone Information for both first-time buyers and seasoned cellular phone users. And after you do your research, you can link straight to major online retailer Letstalk.com to sign up for great deals on cellular phone service and the specialized Cellular Phone Accessories you want.