How often should you change your phone?
Since its nearly the Holidays, I’ve been getting a lot of queries on what phone my friends should get. popular choices were the Nokia N90, the SE W800i, and even some inquired about the upcoming Treo 700w.
Truth is, I always give them my standard answer of “hey yeah those are great phones” but once the ice is broken I try to play some mind games and explore the reasons why they would want a new phone when in fact they’ve only had them for about four to five months prior.
So this got me thinking and I decided to post something to help decide how often should you go changing phones? Now if it is an office-issued phone then that’s out of the question. But consumer-bought phones seem to become a function of what’s available more than what we really need. (Hmm, an interesting topic for another day)
So my short answer: two years. Why? Because this is how often my telco of choice offers a retention plan that comes with a free phone. In effect, sticking to the one phone every two years leaves me with no money out. I can even sell my old phone after two years at a very small fraction to make up for some of the bills.
The two year cycle is also how long it takes for (1) new technology to become adopted, and (2) more importantly for the prices to go down. Two years ago, megapixel camera phones were so overpriced. Now, I can get a SE K750i for free with the current postpaid plan I have. Music playing phones were so new two years ago that at best, you had a phone with an FM tuner that could also play OGG files. Now, with the hype of the Walkman phone, it is much easier to find a phone with heaps of memory and good earphones for music. Dig?
Next time you consider buying a phone - and I mean buying THE phone which you plan to stick with, try measuring it for a two year relationship, at least.
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POSTED IN: Editorial, Special Features
3 opinions for How often should you change your phone?
Jon
Nov 2, 2005 at 11:40 am
For me it’s one year. Every XMas I get the next shiny thing.
Well, that’s the way it *has* been, but the pickin’s are so slim this year in Canada that I think I’m going to take a step back. Kind of.
I had a Hiptop for a year and really liked it. I then traded it in for a Kyo 7135 which is a complete piece of crap. Now Xmas is approaching and there’s no good phone/pda combos that are luring me (I refuse to buy a Windows phone) so I think this year I will go back to the Hiptop. The Hiptop 2 that is!
Melissa AnP
Nov 2, 2005 at 1:40 pm
here in Germany, telcos also gives you a new phone at the beginning of your 2 year contract. however, I get a new one every year since my dad gives me one every time I hie off to Pinas for xmas. hehe
Jayvee
Nov 3, 2005 at 7:27 am
melissa,
are you coming to the philippines this xmas then?
as far as i can remember ive never actually bought a mobile phone for the past 4 years. i always get one bundled with a new plan or with a retention plan. i guess telcos here are too paranoid to lose subscribers so they give em freebies every 2 years.
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