Cell phones have become just as much a part of modern life as iPods, computers and flat screen TVs.Indeed, in some cases, they can now do the functions of all three thanks to the latest advancements in technology.But where do you start and what should you look for when looking to buy a new phone?The number one consideration when finding the right device should be your budget, according to CellOne’s marketing manager Schereene Outerbridge.“It’s important to have a budget in mind when shopping for a new cell phone,” she said. “With a range of devices to choose from on the market, there’s bound to be something to suit anyone’s pocket book.“The general rule of thumb is the longer the contract, the lower the price of the device. With a two-year contract, customers can often save themselves hundreds of dollars.”Next up is the person you are buying the phone for. Any cell phone purchase is usually attached to a monthly service plan and fees that the buyer needs to be aware of, such as standard monthly plan fees, overage rates, and Government Licence Fees.Technology, much like buying major appliances and electronics, comes with warranties and return policies, said Ms Outerbridge, whose company maintains a 30-day policy allowing customers enough time to get familiar with their device, coverage and service.“Whether the phone was purchased as a gift or for yourself, it is important to keep all receipts for return and exchange purposes,” she said.When weighing up that all important purchase, at the forefront of the buyer’s mind should also be its use for business or leisure or both, she said.“The beauty of modern day technology is the ability to combine work and play together on one device a smartphone,” she said.“Now you can own an iPhone, Android or a BlackBerry and receive work e-mails, download your favourite apps, listen to music or stream your favourite videos.”Some people use their phones for making calls, others prefer to text and others want to just surf the Internet, so knowing what you want may help to narrow down your options, according to Ms Outerbridge.“If you’re the type of person who loves to chat with instant messaging, shop online, send messages to your friends or have lengthy chats throughout the day, then what you want is a smartphone,” she said.At CellOne there is an interactive display for shoppers to try out the phones before buying if they are not sure and need some help in making that final decision.Furthermore, depending on how often you are planning to use your phone, heavy users might want to consider packages that provide ‘anytime minutes’ while those whose usage is much higher during the evenings and at weekends but light during the daytime can get a package tailored to their needs, said Ms Outerbridge.On top of that is the need for a full keyboard or a touch-screen, she said.“A popular term in the mobile device world is QWERTY,” she said. “This relates to the popular type of keyboard found on many smartphones, most notably the BlackBerry.“If a customer is expecting to compose numerous emails, or use social media platforms, a full keyboard will make typing a lot easier.“Touch screen options can be found on most smartphones such as iPhone and Androids. BlackBerry devices are now manufacturing smartphones that cater to both touch screens and standard keyboards.“It’s really a matter of personal preference.”For the jet-setters amongst us, it is important to have a phone that is truly mobile and to find out from your wireless carrier about the availability of service access in the country and/or city being visited before travelling, said Ms Outerbridge, while it goes without saying that users are encouraged to use their mobile phones wisely when abroad to avoid high roaming bills.Special requirements also come into play, she said, particularly when it comes to eye strain caused by reading from a smaller screen, however most cell phone makers have created options to increase the size of numbers and letters with many smartphones having this option in their settings and touch-screen devices offer larger screens allowing for easier legibility.Meanwhile the volume settings for ringers can also be quite loud for those hard of hearing or who live or work in a noisy environment.Last but not least, users should think about the other devices such as a tablet that they will connect with their phone, said Ms Outerbridge.“Many Smartphones have recently been designed to work with laptops, tablets, even HD TVs,” she said. “Customers can sync music, videos and photos between many of these devices.“It’s no secret that Apple products are designed to work in tandem therefore an iPhone 4 or 4S can now sync music from iTunes on a Macbook over the air! You can also use HDMI cables to connect a Samsung GALAXY S II to an HD television to view videos.”Aziza Ahad Furbert, marketing executive at Digicel, said that choosing the right payment plan should be at the top of the list when buying a new phone.“Think about how you would like to pay for the phone service,” she said. “If you want to track your spending as you use the phone, you may want prepaid service.“If you prefer to choose a monthly plan and pay the bill at the end of the month, you should choose a postpaid plan.“Prepaid has the benefit of being flexible, but the rates per minute are more expensive than postpaid. The phone itself will also cost more when choosing prepaid.”She said that when selecting a postpaid plan, carefully consider how much you plan to use the phone as the lowest initial price plan may actually up costing a lot more in overages than if you had opted for a more suitable plan.“Think about how you would like to use the phone,” she said. “If you are a talker, when do you do your talking? If you send a lot of text messages, an unlimited SMS package could also save you money.”Ms Ahad Furbert said that when choosing a data plan, the same rules applied to that of a postpaid plan, namely being realistic about your usage.“Do not opt for the lowest plan if you will use more data than is included in the allowance,” she said. “It will end up costing you more than if you had chosen a slightly higher plan.”Another key for many is being on the same network as friends and family, she said, with the cell phone providers having special rates for “on-network” minutes, which could save you money if you choose to be on the same network as the people you call the most.Style may not be as high a priority for some, but choosing one that suits you is important, for example for those who like to put their phone in their pocket may prefer a flip phone or a phone with a key lock feature, while others may opt for a trendy slider phone or the simplicity of a candy bar phone.“It needs to be something that you are comfortable holding, using, and carrying around,” said Ms Ahad Furbert.“If you send many text messages or e-mails, you may prefer a phone with a QWERTY keypad over a traditional numeric keypad.“The keypad should also suit the size of your fingers; some people have issues typing on a touch screen keypad or find the buttons on some phones to be too close together.”If you are on the go all the time, she said, it was also paramount to have a phone that lasts a long time between charges.Then decide which extra features you would like to have on your phone such as a camera, flash, video, she said.“Many phones not only come with cameras, but with MP3 players, games, applications, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities,” she said. “If you are just looking to make phone calls without the bells and whistles, you can find a classic phone for less money.”Above all, Ms Ahad Furbert said, take care of your phone.“There is no worse feeling than losing or destroying a new phone,” she said. “Keep it somewhere safe. Be careful not to drop it overboard, spill coffee on it or throw it around, as water damage and malfunctions as a result of dropping the phone are often not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.”