Do you want a new mobile phone?
We've got all the networks listed and all the big name mobile phone shops
to help you find the best offers available
Other shops and retailers offering great deals on moble phones
What sort of mobile do you want? One whuich takes video, photos, records
sounds, plays games, or just one which makes phone calls.
Its amazing really what a mobile phone can do now. You can surf the
net with them, play some pretty cool games and send video to people.
We use a photo camera to snap photos. Its less effort than taking a
proper camera out, and if you really want to you can send them to people
straight away, however I generally save them til I get home and then
copy them to my pc. This means that I can then send the photos by email
for free ;-)
Of course you might find yourself snapping loads of things that you
wouldn't have bothered to get a camera out for. The photos aren't as
good as my current digital camera but they're about the same quality
as the first one I ever had.
Do you want a contract or PAYG? If you're not sure how much you use the
phone then think about how much you spend on it? Do you put £10
on every 6 months? Or are you £30 a month phoner? If you spend a
lot then you have to think about when you use your phone and how. If you
make peak time calls its not any good getting a package which will only
let you have free evening calls.
Mobile Phone Glossary
3G A newer mobile network with faster connection speeds
than GSM or GPRS now covering over 90% of the UK. Lets you make calls
using advanced features such as multimedia messaging (MMS) and video calling,
and connect to the Internet at higher speeds.
3G promises increased bandwidth, up to 384 Kbps when a device is stationary
or moving at pedestrian speed, 128 Kbps in a car, and 2 Mbps in fixed
applications. 3G will work over wireless air interfaces such as GSM, TDMA,
and CDMA.
AAC.
Advanced Audio Coding is a type of audio file format, higher quality than
MP3.
Anytime minutes. Anytime minutes are minutes included
in your phone's tariff that you can use at anytime; peak or off peak.
These vary from provider to provider and may start at different days of
the month. Always check.
BlackBerry a complete wireless solution for always connected
email - so useful if email is vital for you on the move.
Bluetooth A short-range wireless technology, excellent
for connecting your mobile phone to a hands-free kit or sat nav device
or laptop.
DECT Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. A
standard for cordless phones, with a range less than 100m. Your cordless
home phone is likely to be one of these.
Digital Rights Management. also known as DRM. This is
any technology which is used to control the use and distribution of copyright
data, it can make files play a limited number of files or stop playing
after subscription has ended.
Dongle - something which plugs in, often USB.
DUAL BAND - UK/Europe coverage
GSM Global System for Mobile communications. The normal
mobile phone network. Enables you to make voice calls from anywhere where
there is coverage, currently over 99% of the UK.
GPRS General Packet Radio Services. A faster data network
operating 'alongside' GSM. Enables equipped handsets to connect to the
Internet and send emails or surf the web. It’s useful, but slower
than broadband.
Internet Phone A phone that uses your broadband connection
to make calls rather than the traditional landline network.
Quad-band Allows a mobile phone to make and receive calls
worldwide. See also tri-band.
Megapixel 1 megapixel (MP) = one million pixels. The
more pixels in an image, the higher its resolution. Pictures of 5MP or
higher can be enlarged to A4 size.
MMS Multimedia Message Service. A simple method of sending photos and
text messages over the mobile network – as easy as SMS, with the
added bonus of being able to send photos you've taken on your phone.
The higher the better generally.
PDA Personal Digital Assistant. An electronic diary that
lets you keep your calendar, contacts, and task list in your pocket and
synchronise the list with your computer. Many phones now have PDA technology
built-in.
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) is used to measure the
amount of radio wave energy (radiation) absorbed by the body when using
a mobile phone.
SD Memory Card Secure Digital Memory Card. A plug-in
'stick' that increases your phone's memory capacity, letting you store
more photos, video clips or music. Common types include Mini-SD, Micro-SD
and M2.
Skype
Service provider who can enable you to make voice and video calls over
the Internet. It’s free to call other Skype users and cheaper to
call other mobiles and landlines.
SMS Short Message Service.How text messages are sent
between phones.
Standby Time The length of time your phone can stay connected
to the network, ready to make or receive calls – typically several
days, between charges. Useful to know if you might not always have your
charger handy.
Talk Time
The length of time you can use your phone for actual calls without recharging
its battery – typically a few hours. Also see Standby Time.
The more intensive activity you use on your mobile the quicker it will
need recharging.
Top Up How you add credit to your mobile phone. A simple
voucher available from thousands of corner shops, Argos stores, and even
ATM machines gives you a code to type into your phone, or the amount is
credited to a registered ‘top up’ card, after which usable
call time (measured in Pounds) is added to your phone.
Tri-band Allows a mobile phone to make and receive calls
in the USA and Europe.
VGA Camera
Video Graphics Array. This is the entry level camera on mobile phones
that displays images at 640 x 480 pixel resolution. Older digital cameras
may take pictures at this level
Video Capture
Enables the recording and playback of video.
VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol. The software that
lets you use your Internet phone over your broadband connection, also
used to describe Internet phones.
Webcam A video or still camera that connects to a PC and can
send images or footage over the Internet.
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