What to Look for in a Contract Phone Deal?

What are contract phones?  The term contract phone tends to refer to cellular or mobile phone that come with a monthly bill. Essentially, when choosing a phone you will be offered several tariffs to choose from and you will need to work out which one is best for you. In this post, we tale a look at what to look for in a contract phone deal, what handset to choose and what you should look out for.

What to Look for in a Contract Phone Deal?

How do I choose what is best for me?

It is crucial to think about how you use your phone. Who do you call, how often do you call and do you plan on heavy data usage? These will all affect your monthly bill. If you are planning on purchasing a contract phone, be sure to keep up to date with all major phone providers and make your decision over a period of weeks rather than days. Tariffs and plans change almost on a daily basis and staying on touch with what is available for a few weeks will help you to make a good decision.

Are they expensive?

Contract phones tend to be less expensive up-front than pay as you go phone’s. For example, instead of paying through the nose for the latest iPhone, you can instead purchase it as a contract phone for a small percentage of the retail cost. However, this will entirely depend on the model and how new onto the market the phone of your choice is. You need to calculate the total cost of each option over the two year period of the contract to compare costs accurately.

Does internet usage affect my phone?

The majority of phones now feature internet usage and of course will affect your phone contract. Although no phone is completely dependent on internet usage, many rely on an Internet connection to get the absolute most out of your phone. Services such as e-mail, maps and various apps all require a live Internet connection to download data. Be sure to research the internet data plans on offer from each network provider.

I’m worried about having to pay monthly, can I reduce my bill?

When first purchasing your contract phone, you will be given a set list of tariffs so be sure to pick one that you can afford; this is a major financial commitment. You will of course have to pay that price every month, but if you are worried about going over your included text and call minutes there are a few steps you can take:

Minimise Text Messaging

No different than pay as you go phones, the majority of your bill will come from text messaging. However, taking certain measure’s to tone down how often you text can help keep your bill at its standard rate. Also, if your phone offer’s apps service then you can download apps that let you text and call for free

Choose the right network

Be sure to consider the phone network when deciding on a contract phone. If the majority of your friends or business contacts are with a certain network, then it would be wise to join that network. Calls and texts within the same phone network will always be cheaper than those made outside the network.

A contract phone is, effectively, a loan and will affect your financial standing if you default. Even not paying your monthly bill can adversely affect your credit record. You need to take your time and to get it right.

Author Bio: Jill Satchwell has just switched from pay as you go to a contract phone for the first time; it took a lot of research.