Shopping for a smartphone, with a focus on Features

　　WHEN shopping for a smartphone, it is common to be drawn to the coolest design. But a phone is basically a collection of features wrapped in a case. Too often that case is a distraction from what is more important: whether the phone has the right features for its prospective user and how well those features work.

　　If you shop for a phone by first picking the type of handset, that also often determines the carrier. But what good is the fanciest phone if you cannot get a signal? Start by checking reception where the phone will be used. You can consult the carrier coverage maps or refer to a great tool from Root Wireless, which collects data from volunteers whose phones track coverage. Your best bets are littlenoticed policies that let you test a phone for 30 days at little or no cost at all major carriers.

　　Travel is another consideration. Most of the world uses a signal format called GSM. In the United States, AT&T and TMobile use GSM, which means pretty much any of their handsets can work overseas, and with a European SIM card, calls there are local and cheap. While Verizon and Sprint offer phones with a GSM band, a user may not be able swap out the SIM card in some cases.

　　How many Gs do you need? In tech parlance, G stands for generation, and usually the higher the number, the faster the network sends data, which is a benefit when downloading movies, pictures and music. But the current state of G is complex. While most carriers have nearly ubiquitous coverage for 3G, some are offering 3.5G (often advertised as “4G speeds”). Only 68 markets offer WiMax 4G from Sprint, for $10 a month on top of a regular contract.

　　A big dividing point is virtual keyboards versus physical keyboards. Some people do not like the virtual onscreen keyboards, but those now have some advantages, like Swype, a technology that lets you glide your finger across the keyboard to type instead of tapping out each letter. Phones with keyboards are always a little larger and heavier, but there are compact keyboards, like that on many BlackBerrys, as well as larger layouts, like that of the Samsung Epic.

　　Bluetooth is in nearly every phone now, but if you want to listen to music wirelessly, check to see if it is an up to date stereo version.

　　Finally, do not feel that you have to buy from a carrier store. Thirdparty sellers, like Best Buy, often offer better deals than the carriers on the same phones and contracts. Web sellers like Wirefly also have deals, but some people have complained online that customer service can be spottier with Web-only sellers.

 

　　1. You can do the following things to check your smartphone’s signal EXCEPT ________.

　　A. consulting carrier coverage maps

　　B. using a tool from Root Wireless

　　C. consulting the maps where you will use the phone

　　D. testing the phone at all major carriers

　　2. Which of the following is wrong according to the passage?

　　A. You cannot use your smartphone in a foreign country.

　　B. If you do not like virtual onscreen keyboards, you may choose BlackBerry phones.

　　C. Most carriers do not have coverage for 4G on a large scale.

　　D. If you want to use your smartphone in Europe, you may choose the carrier AT&T.

　　3. According to the passage, what should you focus on when shopping for a smartphone?

　　A. The fanciest design and the accessories.

　　B. The brand and the price.

　　C. The signal format and the price.

　　D. The right features and how well those features work.

　　4. What have some customers complained online about Web sellers?

　　A. They have complained that their price is higher than the carrier store.

　　B. They have complained that customer service is not good from some sellers.

　　C. They have complained that their phones are not the coolest design.

　　D. They have complained that their delivery is not on time.

　　5. If you want to download movies faster, how many Gs will be better for you?

　　A.2G. B.3G. C.3.5G. D.4G.