 | Handsets Buying Guide
| The first thing to consider before buying a mobile phone is the kind of service provider you are using / plan to use. There are two kinds of service providers in India based on the network technology used – GSM (e.g. Hutch / Orange, Airtel, Idea, BSNL) and CDMA (Reliance, Tata Indicom). These two technologies are not compatible with each other. GSM phones use a SIM card to communicate with the service provider’s network, hence the same handset can be used with different service providers. On the other hand CDMA phones are tied to a particular service provider and cannot be transferred across service providers. |
Handset Features: Overview
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Handset Features: OverviewMobile phones today come with a bewildering array of features. Some of them are important and need to be carefully considered, while others are hardly used by the majority of the users. The following list of features gives a brief overview of some of the popular features you should consider while buying a mobile phone. While most phones have a colour screen, look for a phone with a TFT (thin film transistor) or Active Matrix screen which provides a wider viewing angle compared to the traditional passive LCD technology. Also TFT screens are a must if you plan to play games on your phone or use it to take / view video clips. Some of the upcoming technologies to watch out for are Samsung’s UFB (Ultra fine & Bright) seen in the Samsung X430 & X100 models and the OLED (Organic light emitting Diode) also pioneered by Samsung in their E700 model. The other parameters to consider when evaluating the display of a mobile phone are size, resolution and no. of colours. While polyphonic ringtones have become standard, look out for phones that can play MP3 songs as ringtones. Use a camera phone to take spontaneous pictures or even video clips. Camera phones have gained in popularity significantly over the past few years. While earlier camera phones used to typically offer 640x480 resolutions today’s models routinely offer 1 Mega Pixel / 1.3 Mega Pixel cameras. The higher end phones have started offering 2 Mega Pixel cameras A GPRS / EDGE enabled handset will allow you to browse the internet (on your phone itself or on a laptop by doubling up as a modem). A bluetooth / Infra-Red capability will come in handy if you want to connect your phone to your laptop or to exchange files with other handsets. GSM phones worldwide work in 3 bands – 900, 1800 & 1900 (these numbers refer to frequency ranges in MHz). If you plan to take & use your mobile abroad, make sure you get a tri-band phone (one which can operate in all the three bands). Some phones have also started offering the WCDMA (the future of the GSM network) 2100 band. An FM radio & MP3 player can be a useful feature especially if you are doing a lot of local travelling. Some handsets require the handsfree kit to be attached (to function as an antenna) for the radio to work. Some of the higher end handsets can display streaming video. Memory is an important part of a handset if you plan to use it as a multimedia or business device. Memory cards (Multi-media cards, RS-MMC Cards, Memory Stick / MS Pro) come in denominations of 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB. Java enabled phones are able to run a number of games and applications. Consider buying a handset with a speaker phone which can come in handy while driving or while making a call while in a group. Some old but evergreen favourites an efficient Organiser / Alarm application, Predictive Text Messaging (using the T9 system), and good battery life. |
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Entry Level Phones
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Entry Level PhonesGo for an entry level phone if all you’re interested in is reliable conversation and messaging. There are a range of no-frill phones available for less than Rs.5000 which are good value for money. Some of them even bundle some useful features. For starters consider the following: Nokia 1100 / 1108 for its sheer simplicity
Sony Ericsson J200i for its polyphonic ringtones
Nokia 1600 / 2600 – The Entry level colour screen phones
Sony Ericsson T300 – has GPRS
Samsung C210
Motorola C115 / 116 |
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Mid Range Phones
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Mid Range PhonesA mid range phone will have an expanded feature list that may include some or all of the following: a camera (typically less than 1 Mega Pixel), brighter & better display, MP3 & FM capability, Infra-Red & Bluetooth, GPRS and / or EDGE and occasionally great looks! Some of the models to consider in this range (Rs. 5,000/- to 15,000/-) are: Nokia 3230, 6260, 6230, 6600, 6670, 7260
Motorola RAZR V3
Sony Ericsson K700i, K300i, K500i, K508i
Sendo |
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High End Phones
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High End PhonesThese phones are typically newly launched models. In terms of features they offer greater memory, enhanced connectivity options, more powerful (1.3 - 2 MP) cameras, Touch Screens, MPEG4 video, huge displays and business applications. Prices range from Rs.15,000/- to Rs.25,000/-. Some of the models to consider in this range are: Sony Ericsson W800i, K750i, K600i
Nokia N-70, 7710, 6680, 7280
Samsung D500, D600
Motorola A780
O2 Xphone II, XDA Mini
Panasonic X800 |
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Find Mobile Phones on eBay
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Find Mobile Phones on eBayOnce you know what type of cell phone you want, go to the Mobiles & Accessories > Handsets category Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by brand. Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Bluetooth headset, type "bluetooth headset" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords. Visit an eBay Shop: If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Shops, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available. 1 Paisa Auctions: Avail the best of all deals on 1 Paisa Auctions. To search for 1 Paisa Auctions, go to the top of any page in ebay.in and click on “Advanced Search”. When in the advanced search page, go to the section named “Show Only” and click the check box against “Items starting at Re.1”. Click on the “Search” button and you will be shown the list of all 1 Paisa Auctions. You can narrow your search by selecting the various options available in advanced search.
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Buy Mobile Phones with Confidence
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Buy Mobile Phones with ConfidenceBefore making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PaisaPay protect you. Carefully read the details in item listings. Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships. If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile. Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs. Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction. What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise? Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PaisaPay are there for you. Pay safely with PaisaPay: eBay Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.
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