Nowadays, time is of the essence, and most of us would consider anything that can save us even a few precious seconds as invaluable. Enter the cellular phone. In today's busy world of work and play, convenience seems to be the driving force behind the growing demand for cellular phones. Many people have also recognized that a cellular phone can be a "life-saver" in the case of danger or breakdowns while traveling.

Shopping for a cellular phone, however, is a bit more complicated than choosing a regular home phone. It will be easier and easier to make mistakes as more cellular phone companies enter the market, giving consumers more choices than they can ever imagine. It is not uncommon to get a cellular phone and two weeks later have to take the phone back and hope it can be exchanged for something more suitable for your specific needs. A good thing about the cellular phone world is that many companies are now offering a free cell phone. That way if you want to return your free cell phone in exchange for another cellular phone, it’s really not a big deal. The conditions to receive a free cell phone though, often depend on the cell phone plan you get. So if you return your free cell phone, you may be stuck with the cell phone plan. That’s something you need to investigate when deciding on your cellular phone.

The most expensive part of owning a cellular phone is not the phone itself, but the cell phone plan. Because you will be selecting a cellular phone as well as the type of service plan you need, it helps to prepare a checklist ahead of time so you won't be disappointed. 

Talk to others who use cellular phones--listening to their experiences may give you an idea of some questions to ask that you wouldn't normally think of. 

Make a list noting exactly how you plan to use your cellular phone, and what features of the cellular phone and service you will need.

When you actually get out there start and looking for a cellular phone, don't be afraid to take notes. Have clear in your mind what your needs are and try not to get lured into buying "special features" that you don't really need. These options can add up to a larger monthly bill. 

THE PHONE

List the features of the phone itself - for example, comfort of holding and using the phone; ease of using the keypad; whether the display can be read in bright light (for instance, in a car or walking on the sidewalk) and in dark lighting conditions; redialing or programmable features that may be important to you. Compare this list with the list of features that you want. 

Be sure you tell the salesperson how you will be using the cellular phone, and try out some cellular phones at retail stores. 

Ask the salesperson about the cellular phone's range. 

Check if the cellular phone carries warranties and what those cover.

THE CELL PHONE PLAN 

Note how often you will be using the cellular phone --occasionally, on weekends, every day, several times per day. 

Figure out when you expect to be using the cellular phone most of the time - during work hours, in the morning or afternoon, in the evening. Check out several providers' monthly rates, their charges for peak and off-peak times and what time periods these encompass, as well as the local and long-distance charges. If you're planning to use the cellular phone mainly on week-ends, some providers may offer special week-end rates. 

Note the geographical areas where you'll be using the phone and check these against the areas covered by several providers. A calling area too small to accommodate many of your calls would mean that you would pay higher roaming fees when you call outside the calling area. Be sure you understand how much these roaming fees are.

There are also three different types of cellular phones from which to choose from. Once you have an idea of how and where you plan to use the phone, it should be fairly simple to choose what kind of phone would be best for you. 

HAND-HELD cellular phones seem to be the most popular cellular phones currently on the market. Again, their popularity can be attributed to their convenience. Because of their weight (the lightest weighing just over 3 ounces) and size (small enough to fit in the palm of your hand), they offer the most portability. 

MOBILE phones are permanently mounted and hard-wired inside your vehicle. If you plan on using your phone exclusively in your automobile, this is a good choice. 

TRANSPORTABLE phones ("bag phones") are not permanently mounted, so they can be transported from place to place. These phones are bulky but they have a powerful transmission and longer battery life. 

The cell phone plan subscription rate is growing at an astounding pace (some say as much as 27 percent annually). Pretty soon owning a cell phone will be as common place as carrying a credit card. When you do decide you want to become part of the growing number of subscribers, take the time to evaluate what the market has to offer, and what your needs are. As with any other investment, it's important to explore all your options before making a final decision.