We all want the best cell phone features for our phones.  Most cell phone plans offer you the standard list of consumer features. These may include:

• Voicemail — standard voice mail usually allows you to play, replay, rewind, skip or save incoming voice messages. You can record your own greeting, or you can use the robot greeting provided by your server.

 

• Call waiting — call waiting just lets you know when someone else is trying to call you while you’re already on the phone. You will be informed of incoming calls and can decide whether to accept the call, send it to voicemail, or ignore it altogether. Often the incoming phone number will be displayed on your screen.

 

• Caller ID — caller ID allows you to see who’s calling you. If you have programmed in their number, you will not only see the number but the name of the person who is calling. You get to decide whether to take the call or not.

 

• Camera — Now you have a camera with you all of the time.  You can email the photos to your own account or send them directly to family and friends.  Never miss a shot — you have your phone in your pocket.

Your plan may also include text messaging, wireless Internet access, modem function, and a dozen other functions, some of which you may never use. You may need a PDA to keep up with your schedule and your contacts, or you may want an MP3 player so that you’ll have your music with you. The GPS will get you where you’re going at a map application will tell you where you’ve been.

Smart phones obviously give you more options. You can sync your phone with your computer and backup the days information so that they can be restructured, store, and used in your business the next day.

You are also going to want text messaging. Unlimited texting is usually available for small price, so make sure your phone is text friendly unless you got really tiny thumbs. If you love to instant message then you may want a phone with a QWERTY keyboard.

Here are some other features you may want to look for.

WiFi — don’t expect your phone to be as fast as your computer, but as more and more businesses offer free WiFi, it’s a handy tool to have on your phone.

Touch screen — iPhone set the standard for touchscreen with both iPods and iPhone. It’s a convenient way to navigate, even with the smudged screen.

Speakerphone — you don’t always think about it, but a good speakerphone can really make a difference especially if you need to talk while your hands are busy. Listen to a speaker ahead of time so that you’re sure that the audio is clear and strong.

Memory card — check out the memory card slot and storage capacity. The ability to use higher capacity cards will make an enormous difference as you begin to use more and more of your phone’s capabilities.

Media player — beyond playing MP3s, many media players now allow you to organize your music, videos, and pictures in a way that makes it convenient to access them. You can repeat or shuffle, and you can create playlists just as you do on your computer at home.