How to choose your mobile phone

[Jeffrey]

The era when mobile phones used to call prosaically seems distant when we see what the current supply can be: surf the Internet, send and receive email, navigate with a GPS, watch video, take photos, etc.. The list of possibilities offered by these small devices takes the inventory to Pervert as it expands with each new generation and new technological revolution


Understand the technical vocabulary
Before entering the race for the treasure, passing through the sheet manufacturer is often a barrier alone, both the words used are obscure to the uninitiated. Overview of the less obvious terms:

GSM: Acronym (G) lobal (S) ystem (M) obile Communications, GSM is a standard for mobile communication established in 1982 and using the 900 MHz frequency. Designed for communications-type voice, it is still widely used, so that GSM is the name of mobile phones in some countries.

GPRS (or 2.5G): Acronym (G) eneral (P) Acket (R) adio (S) ervice, GPRS is a technology of GSM communication issue which allows the improvement of upstream and down on phones mobile and has paved the way for the mobile Internet. There remains much slower than UMTS.

UMTS (or 3G): Acronym (U) niversal (M) obile (T) elecommunications (S) ystem, UMTS 3G is also called (because it is the third generation communication standard). To achieve data rates in the city of about 384 kbit / s (for 1920 Mbit / s theoretical throughput), UMTS is the evolving needs of mobile users wishing to use the Internet and resources on their mobile phones. However its implementation requires a specific installation, compatible devices and major investments, so that its development is being delayed even in France and Europe. In addition, unwilling to invest in technology too expensive and not sufficiently profitable immediately, many European operators have chosen to ignore on UMTS, preferring the EDGE or HSDPA.

EGDE (or 2.75 billion): Acronym (E) nhanced (D) ata (R) ates for (G) SM (E) volution, the EDGE is an evolution of GSM, which can reach speeds close to those of UMTS (384 Kbps) but without significant investment since the EDGE is compatible with GSM. However, its sustainability facing UMTS is not assured because of a low scalability (the theoretical maximum speed of EDGE is only 473 kbit / s) in the face of growing needs in the consumer side.

HSDPA (or 3G or 3.5 + G): Acronym (H) igh (S) peed (D) ownlink (P) Acket (A) ccess, HSDPA is simply called 3G +. It offers (compared with 3G "classical") for theoretical speeds up to 14.4 Mbit / s. Simple evolution of UMTS, it could nevertheless become a standard if operators, burnt by the costs of the UMTS equipment and willing to put forward highly profitable services such as music, video or TV on mobile chose to go directly to this development.

Dual / Tri / Quad: These terms refer to the main beaches of frequency with which your phone is compatible. These frequency ranges differ depending on the parts of the globe. To work in France, a phone must be at least dual-band (900 and 1800 MHz). To work in Asia and the United States, it must be tri (1900 MHz). To work around the world without restriction, it should be quad (850 MHz).


Bluetooth: The Bluetooth (literally "blue tooth", the nickname of the Danish King Harald 1 which had unified the Scandinavian countries in the tenth century) is an invention of the Swedish company Ericsson (now merging with the mobile division of Sony, Sony - Ericsson), which makes mobile devices communicate with each other. Based on a radio technology for short distances, Bluetooth allows download speeds of 1 Mbps in its original version. In the world of telephony, Bluetooth is widely used in hands-free kits, headsets and other headsets, but it can also be used to communicate between two compatible or synchronize them with his laptop computer (if it is equipped with Bluetooth).

Bluetooth stereo (or A2DP): More particularly suited to wireless headsets, Bluetooth stereo you can listen to music direct (Streaming) between two Bluetooth devices provided that your phone integrates Bluetooth stereo (in the Otherwise, the sound would be limited to mono).


MicroSD (formerly known as TransFlash) for MicroSD Micro Secure Digital. This is the format most widely used memory cards for mobile phones. Barely bigger than a 1 euro coin, MicroSD cards offer capacities ranging from 16 MB to 2 GB near Changes to the format MicroSDHC (for High Capacity) is expected to produce up to 32 cards Go noted that the manufacturer Sony Ericsson has preferred to keep its proprietary MemoryStick Micro M2 on the majority of its models.

[Jeffrey]

Very different but complementary
We can distinguish 3 main user profiles:


You just want to call: It is sometimes forgotten that the primary function of a phone is to ... make phone calls! Some users are not at all interested in multimedia devices and mobile looking for simple and functional to enable them to take their calls in the best conditions. If you are in this case, you should focus on weight, autonomy and quality of listening to your device much more than its potential "gadgets."


You are a professional: Your job requires frequent travel abroad or on national territory, you need to have part of your office with you, you need an effective and practical? You have two choices: you can choose a smartphone that will allow you to find your files and folders into a professional eye (like a laptop) through office suites often incorporated into these devices. Or you can do with a "simple" phone, which should be at least tri-or quad and manage 3G .


You're a technophile: Even outside, you can not stay out of your inbox or your favorite sites, you are looking for a quick phone to replace your MP3 player, your digital camera, your coffee or your wife / husband. If the latter two cases, the technology has not yet developed, the other options available to you now. Depending on what you are looking for priority (surfing the Internet, listen to music or take photos), you'll find 3G smartphone, the musicphones or photophones to meet all your expectations. The limitations are more to look on the side of the price (quite high because equipment is usually very recent and very comprehensive) and operator (in the case of 3G, for example, coverage is far from 's spread to the entire territory and consumption - excluding specific package - is generally expensive, it is billed by the minute or quantity of data exchanged).

Note that user profiles are not mutually exclusive: manufacturers have understood that the devices high-end had to include a number of refinements as a camera quality, the ability to listen to MP3 music, see the record mini-movies or watch on the aircraft without abandoning include desktop software compatible Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel. The year 2008 should also mark the democratization Camera quality on mobile entry and mid-range, and the emergence of chip GPS in the top models.

[Jeffrey]

Memory and memory cards: once reduced to a single directory, the memory of our phones must now welcome our many wonderful photographs, our essential MP3 songs, and our various files that we receive by mail or MMS. Generally limited in size (a few MB for the entry-level models to several GB for smartphones the most popular), the memory of our phones was soon found for them. To fill this gap growing, manufacturers have added some memory card readers to deport on third storage units, the growing needs of space. Today there are two major memory card formats: microSD and the MemoryStick Micro M2 (used only on Sony-Ericsson).

Bluetooth and WiFi: connect devices without embarrassing or awkward son, surf the Internet without paying for 3G are all possibilities offered by the protocols of wireless connection. Bluetooth will be reserved for devices such as headphones or headsets while WiFi is ideal for surfing the Internet in the city close to free Hot-spots (some hotels, airports, tourist office or fast-food chains offer this service ). Bluetooth stereo will be almost indispensable to enjoy a musicphone in the best conditions when one has tasted its wireless headphones can not be without it! Also note that there are few phones simple "equipped with WiFi: This type of connection is rather the domain of smartphones including the operating system (see below) is much better suited to manage wireless networks. More generally, the wireless can replace cable synchronization (to update your phone from your computer for example) or you can exchange data with other users, if they themselves are also equipped.


Access the Internet on their mobile: The first thing to check if surfing the Internet from their phone is of course the type of protocol supported by his machine. Thus, support of GPRS will be the minimum union to send / receive mail or visit a few sites little heavy but he clearly preferred the EDGE or 3G, which provide a real comfort surfing. With one of these protocols (and if you are in a coverage area for 3G), you'll see the majority of web sites, possibly to download music or watch videos in acceptable conditions. The ultimate in this area is currently confined to the Apple iPhone or Touch by HTC competitor. Note that smartphones are generally better equipped to surf the phones "classic" because of software better suited to Internet use. Also, the choice of package must be in addition to your needs time, with regard to the purpose for which you receive your new mobile. In fact, if you plan to use your camera in an Internet, make sure to check the times if you are in an area covered by 3G (EDGE or otherwise), if your carrier is compatible with the protocols used by your device, especially if your subscription includes what type of communication! Because what is more encouraging that abuse of mobile Internet and finally realizing that your subscription does not understand this option: the bill may be dirty! In the same vein, if you are a traveler impenitent (personally or professionally), check if your subscription includes calls abroad and what territories (European Union only? World?)

Autonomy: Should a nuclear power in his backpack to feed the latest generation of phones? One might ask as their bloated features appear well as power-hungry and even limit the autonomy of these devices. Behind the joke, we must recognize that the batteries of these technological gems are strained and are increasingly often limited or insufficient to fully use his mobile. Indeed, the use of 3G or GPS functions so reduce the autonomy of devices that come to consider whether it would be better not to renounce the use to save at least the phone battery and avoid to find out in the middle of a conversation! Far from being trivial, the question of autonomy has a direct influence on the aesthetics of your device by following a simple rule: the smallest unit is one whose autonomy is weakest. Hence the dilemma: is it the look and functionality of the mobile (and bound to recharge almost daily) or choose a more cumbersome, may be less attractive or less well off technically, but held without flinching several days? Anyway, your use will determine your priority: if you travel a lot and you're away from your recharging station, choose a device that "will shock". Conversely, if you can recharge your phone easily, then it seems to be happy and take the one you like the most.

Ergonomics: We forget too often but a mobile phone, however powerful, can be a real nuisance to use. The lack of buttons too small for your fingers large sausages, a screen unreadable or too small, which makes surfing on the Internet so attractive that a meeting of roulette at the dentist, or an operating system that too greedy all your resources and any apparent action to a cross to bear. Do not hesitate to get in physical store to make the device in hand and you see for yourself its ease of use. Some tracks to look for: in the case of a smartphone running Windows Mobile, you should avoid taking it with a memory (or RAM) less than 128 MB for advanced use (surfing, GPS, etc.). In order a focus on Internet use, remember to choose a good screen size (2.2 or 2.4 inches at least) and of good quality if you want to save your eyes, a touch screen can replace a poor keyboard.

The multimedia features: now present in the majority of middle and high-end multimedia functions - such as the presence of a digital camera quality, the ability to play music files or videos, the possibility of watching television or listen to the radio, or to locate via GPS - are all in favor of digital convergence. Yet all these new features are not equally distributed among all the phones. Thus, there are few devices that offer both a convincing camera, radio, GPS, and may prime substitute for a MP3 player! In any case, keep in mind that most of the time, the functions do not replace a dedicated natively only devices designed for those purposes then, as musicphones or photophones can take the comparison with real MP3 players or APN entry level.

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[Jeffrey]

Although apparently to mobile phones, smartphones stand out on an essential point: the presence of an open operating system that runs the device. While all phones using a software layer more or less complex to make life easier for the user, but operating systems integrated into smartphones offer the possibility to customize and add third-party software like any other Internet browser (Opera is the best known), an office suite compatible with Microsoft Office, games, utilities and a variety easily found for download on the Web.


If one makes this distinction, we find that only two major systems market share:

SymbianOS equipment smartphones and mobile brands such as Motorola, Sony-Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, SymbianOS is the most popular on the market. Boasting a large software and natively designed for mobile devices, the Symbian system differs from its competitors by its various interfaces, different from one version to another and taking into account the technical specifications of equipment on which they are installed. The downside is sometimes a burden on the low power devices.

Windows Mobile: giant Microsoft could not go near the smartphone market and it also offers its operating system for mobile device. Like its big brother on the PC, Windows Mobile is a multi-media, can drive both a GPS, a smartphone or PDA. With the software provided most of the market and guaranteed compatibility with other software company (Windows XP or Vista and the Office suite), Windows Mobile has a strong case to make. However, this system does not win votes all: indeed, his detractors accuse him (sometimes rightly) its weight and lack of ergonomics, which are certainly a powerful and complete, but not pleasant to use. The latest version, Windows Mobile 6, however, corrects many negative aspects found in previous versions, although a robust configuration is required for optimum use.

Other operating systems exist as PalmOS, precursor systems for mobile devices, but now suffers from a serious shortage of innovation and a certain technological backwardness. While benefiting from a large library, it appears clearly in the background, both in terms of functionality than aesthetics. Samsung also seeks to distinguish itself from the competition by launching its own software layer, based on Linux, but at one device, the SGH-F700, uses. Finally, true to his reputation, Apple's iPhone on a proprietary operating system from Mac OS X, which is currently one of the best in the market but the firm to head to limit unfortunately only iPhone!

There is also the case of RIM OS, the system equipped with the Blackberry: limited to only these platforms, the system graphically close to Windows Mobile, is a serious competitor in the market for professional terminals where Blackberry reign without sharing . Based on a proprietary system developed by the Blackberry, RIM OS is best known for its ability to send / receive mail in real time and without additional cost, but its lack of development on machines other than the Blackberry reserve for professionals which will see advice from their society.


Finally, one last point, which certainly does not fit well within the specifications of our buying guide, but should be addressed: is it better to buy a naked or coupled to a subscription? From a strictly financial point of view, the cost of the monthly multiplied by the length (usually 24 months in the case of the latest equipment to price-cutting) is often prohibitive in terms of the cost of a nude. Now, we must recognize that a new device, especially if it has new features, may lead to new requirements and make obsolete your old subscription. Moreover, the opportunity to retain its number despite a change of operator makes easier the migration of a subscription to another and is no longer an obstacle to a frantic change of aircraft, according to the promotional that never fail to offer the operators. Attention, however, read the Terms of the contracts that are available and not find yourself stuck with a plan that does nothing for you but for which you signed a commitment of several tens of months for a price high: the bargain yesterday could turn into a nightmare tomorrow. In any case, be careful with what you sign and do not yield to the siren came first: your bank you will be grateful.