When next replace your cell phone, to avoid confusion it might be a good idea to learn a few facts before you buy; they now boast an ever increasing range of functions but just where does it end? Education is the key to successfully buying or arranging a contract; however, a little knowledge can make all the difference.

With the advancements in battery technology, batteries last much longer than they did when they were first invented but waiting until the last possible moment to recharge is not a good idea. Leaving the recharging to last minute like this, over an extended period means the battery will need to be replaced earlier than it needs to be, and these cell phone batteries are quite expensive.

There are several ways to prolong the life of your cell phone battery; Keep your back light off unless you know for sure you'll need it and whilst this might be annoying at first it will save battery life. If you travel in areas where there is no coverage or there is only roaming coverage, turn your cell phone off completely to save battery power while trying to locate a network and in addition to this , try to limit the length of your conversations. The more you talk, the quicker the battery will drain; this is also true for times your cell phone is connected to the Internet, downloading games or playing music for example.

One way that young people get caught out is with the many things they can now download onto their phones which are often chargeable even if this is not made clear at the time of purchase. For parents buying a phone for their child, most companies will now allow them to disable this download function so only the mother or father has control over it via a password feature that the child cannot override.

Cell phone plans are generally available where you pay only when it is used or through a contract that supplies a pre-agreed amount of minutes per month. It really does depend on the type of user you are as infrequent users benefit from the 'pay per use' plans. Only you will know how often you make calls and how long they are on average but the pay-per use agreement is probably not going to be the most cost effective if you are someone who uses the phone a great deal. You will find that as a kind of 'thank-you' for taking out a longer running contract, many of the latest feature will be included in the package.

If you travel as part of your work then ensure that roaming charges are part of the contract you decide on and be careful of those hidden costs that are only noticed after you have signed the agreement. Steer clear of a contract that does not supply the phone with an insurance warranty as you could be liable for any costs if it were stolen or inadvertently damaged.

If you decide to buy your cell phone on the Internet, make sure it is not an old or outgoing model unless you do not mind of course; otherwise you may find it doesn't have all the features you want included.