When choosing a mobile, Ian Cambpel, the editor of What Cellphone magazine, recommends you to check:

The amount of talk-time you get before the batteries need recharging. This varies from less than one to more than four hours.

Whether a phone comes with at least a year’s free warranty.

How calls are charged. Three-second units are more cost-effective than one minute.

Replacement cost. This could be four times as much as the purchase price, which likely to have a special promotion.

Watch out for hidden extras. Before you sign your air-time agreement what and how you pay and other conditions, read it carefully. Check how long it runs for, how much notice you have to give to terminate it, whether it costs more if you don’t pay by direct debit and whether you must pay a deposit. Most air-time contracts run for at least 12 months, and even if you return your phone you have to pay until the agreement ceases.

Mobiles are changing our life for better. Whether you want to be safe, super-efficient or just plain sociable, there are many good reasons for joining the mobile revolution.