Tips for Selecting Your First Smartphone

I often receive emails from friends and family who use feature phones asking me about smartphones. These are the tips I usually give.

1. Pick your carrier first: Your mobile phone experience will be severely hampered if you cannot get a signal or talk on the phone without the call dropping. Sometimes I’m asked what carrier provides the best service. Answer: it really depends on your geographic area. Some cities have good coverage by one carrier and not another. Ask friends, neighbors, etc. Maybe borrow a phone from someone on the carrier you are considering to make sure it works in your home.
2. Choose your platform next: The primary choices are (alphabetical order): Android, Blackberry, iPhone and WinMo/Windows Phone 7 (coming soon). I say people should avoid any device that doesn’t run one of those OSs.  Google “Android vs. Blackberry” and “iPhone vs. Android” etc. I would avoid relying on any source that relies directly on manufacturers for advertising revenue like print publications. Also, carrier websites are not that helpful in choosing a platform because they tend to present all options they offer as near equals. Even Palm still gets promoted. Ask friends what they use and whether they would switch to another platform if given the choice. (There are also some surveys on this subject like this one.)
3. Visit Official Websites and Carrier Websites: Now, with the exception of the iPhone, you may find your options somewhat confusing. The Blackberry Curve or the Bold? The Ally or the Incredible? Visit your preferred carrier’s website to compare the specs of the phones. Here are some links:
   • Verizon: https://smartphones.verizonwireless.com/ is a terrific site. It’s easy to navigate and displays only smartphones. Click on “Shop Smartphones” and then select the OS you want on the left.
   • Sprint: http://shop.sprint.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPhones?INTNAV=ATG:HE:Phones provides a way to filter Sprint’s offerings to only display smartphones but it doesn’t offer a way filter by OS like Verizon’s site does.
   • AT&T: http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pda-phones-smartphones.jsp has a smartphone section but only allows sorting by manufacturer, not OS.
4. Visit a Brick and Mortar Store: Narrow your choices to two or three devices and go to a corporate owned store, not an “authorized retailer.” Don’t pester the employees who are willing to push just about anything on unsuspecting customers. Just spend a few minutes with each smartphone. Try the camera, see if you like the screen, push the buttons and poke around a bit. Formulate a final opinion.
5. Order Online: I’m not a big fan of waiting in line at a store and being pushed a bunch of accessories while I wait for the smartphone to boot up. Have the phone shipped to you. It will come with detailed instructions and if you need assistance activating your phone contact your carrier.
6. Mark Your Return Period on Your Calendar: Many carriers will allow you to swap out your phone for a different model once within your first 30 days of ownership. If you really made a huge mistake, pay up the $20-$30 and swap smartphones.

If all else fails, pester the person in your social circle who knows smartphones the best.

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