How to decide if you need a new smartphone

With a new iPhone looming on the
horizon, it might be time to take
stock as to whether you really need
to buy a new one. Just last week I
had a conversation as to whether it
was time to replace my iPhone 4, and
the first question asked of me was,
does my phone work and do
everything I need it to do? My
answer was yes. So, even with that
burning desire to upgrade, I decided
to keep what I have.
It's always best to consider the whole
picture when making a decision to
upgrade your phone and Gigaom has
hit the nail on the head with Alex
Colon's article, "How to decide
whether to buy a new smartphone."
Alex offers some good concise advice
to consider in your lust for a new
smartphone. This sidesteps that
burning desire to own the latest and
greatest products though.
The article poses a set of 10 rational
questions for you to consider before
emptying your wallet on some
retailer's counter.
Does your phone work?
Can you renew your contract to get
a subsidized price?
Can you get a discount?
When was the last version of the
phone you want refreshed?
Have you chosen a carrier?
Which is the right platform for you?
(Gigamon recommends the iPhone if
you're an app junkie.)
Or do you love freedom? (Gigamon
cites that Android and Windows
phones offer more customization than
the iPhone.)
And which is the right phone?
Try before you buy.
Can you return your phone? (I once
bought a phone only to discover it
had no cell coverage in the states
where I travel. Thankfully, the
carrier took the phone back within
the first month with no hassle.)
Do you even need a new phone?
If cell phones hold a certain
fascination for you, then you should
take a gander at this article, "The
Evolution of Cell Phone Design
Between 1983-2009" from Web
Designer Depot. It's a fun look at
phones we have used and discarded
through the years.