With so many features, styles and prices out there, how do you find the best systems for you? When you think back, can you recall the time when a cell phone was not essential? It is no longer a luxury to have a phone in your possession at all times. The cell phone has more bells and whistles and ringtones than the dictionary has words it seems. Plus you can do all sorts of things on your cell phone other than calling home. You can use it to get on the internet. take pictures or video, play games and much more. It can be very confusing and complicated. But what combinations of carriers or contracts is the one for you? Let's just take a while to think about your needs with our hopefully simple guide below.

Is your area covered?

The neatest and newest phone connected to the best and cheapest plan will be useless if your signal does not get through. If you are in your home or office this could be a problem during the weekday period. Some models get better reception than others but the area covered is determined by the carrier. If you do not travel outside of your home town, choosing a regional carrier would be the simplest answer. Some of the smaller carriers like Sprint or Verizon offer better coverage for rural users, as well as more personalized care and convenient retail locations that come with your local carrier if you often spend time traveling to different cities or live in big towns. Travel the globe? T-Mobil or Cingular both use compatible systems with European and Far Eastern networks.

What Plan?

There are many different plans and service selections offered by all of the carriers. You need to think of how you are going to use the phone, then choose the plan that give you all of the time you think you need. Then add more just to cover your bases. Fees can be very high if you go over your limit, some up to 45 cents per minute. You also need to look into what your carrier considers 'night' if they state that they have free service on nights and weekends in your area. The plans with free long distance is the one to look for if you make more of those than local calls. Traveling more outside of your home base? Then you need to look into the regional or nationwide calling plan to avoid roaming charges that will be sure to follow. Prepaid cell phone plans are good for young ones that need limits or anyone with questionable credit. For those who only need a phone for emergency in the call or who call very infrequently would benefit with a prepaid plan too.

Extras?

Just talk on a cell phone? Must be old technology. The latest thing on the phones is ring tones that are downloadable plus text, pictures and video. You can check your email and surf the web. Some of these features can be pricey but if you check into a minimal data plan it may be worth your while if you frequently use some or all of them.

Try them out first.

It can be mind boggling to go through all of the prices, features, styles, colors and other extras. Your personal needs will dictate what phone and services you will choose. After you have your phone you need to look for the right service. Just remember that all carriers offer trial periods of at least 2 weeks of no risk service. Get out there and use that phone and pay attention to the service. Good Coverage? Dropped calls? How many bars do you see in the most places you use the phone. How about the battery? Does it hold up? And most of all can you use the features? Is the manual easy to understand and can you operate all that you need to. The best phone for you is out there somewhere and all you have to do to is find it.