Gadgetory

unless you have money to burn if someone's paying your bill for you you should probably understand how your monthly plan is gonna work before you buy a new phone this really is good to know before you get your hopes up on any particular phone so any plan breaks down into three basic buckets you get your call time your text messaging and data your bottom two your plans will likely put a cap on all three and if you go over your allotment you're going to be charged a fee and it's always going to be more than you think at the top tier you're gonna find your unlimited plans but even here data is capped at a certain amount when you read the fine print now there's enough jargon and mysterious charges included on every cell phone bill that they deserve a master class all their own but a lot of that stuff is gonna be there no matter what kind of phone you buy there are some exceptions though so here's what you need to know if you buy a smart phone like an iPhone or Android or Windows Phone in many cases you'll be contractually obligated to buy a data and messaging plan it makes sense that's the whole point of these phones is to stay online and stay connected but if you're just shopping for a basic phone and you're tempted that the idea of a smart phone that's being offered for a penny just know that these mandatory data and messaging plans are going to potentially double or triple the amount that you're paying each month if the idea of a two-year contract scares you consider a prepaid phone every carrier has a contract free pay-as-you-go option typically they're limited to just a few models and you'll often pay more upfront but this can be a great solution if you need something right now and you'll put off finding the perfect phone for another time you can dish this phone whenever a better option comes along if you need a phone that can be used internationally let the salesperson know that up front they may point you to a cellphone plan that includes international use or a phone that can be used on multiple networks but the price of ignorance is steep as international roaming charges are insane finally if you're buying a phone for a child you should know that there are phones and plans made specifically for them and for parents who want to be able to control how that phone is used on the other end there are phones and plans made specifically for seniors so don't be coy about who the phone is for it will help you find the right phone and the right plan of course before signing any contract you should read the fine print and take a lookout for any hidden fees you can visit RC net cell phone buying guide from more information including what to expect when leaving a contract early for cnet.com I'm Donald