The rising popularity of smartphones among those in the agriculture sector has been nothing short of amazing. A new study done by staff at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, with the help of Ipsos, shows 69 percent of farmers now are carrying a phone that handles everything from pictures to emails to the traditional phone call. Thinking it might be time to upgrade your cell phone? Here are five tips to make sure you get what you pay for.
1) Pick the right carrier.
There is nothing worse than buying a brand new cell phone only to discover the only place you have a signal is if you climb the highest tree on the property. Talk to your neighbours, sales representatives, kids and anyone else who is carrying around a smartphone. You will quickly find out which provider is actually going to have a strong enough signal for you to use from every corner of the farm.
2) Determine The Plan
Figuring out what you are going to use a phone for that you’ve never seen before can be tough, but it is important to at least get an idea. This is another step where neighbours and family can help by sharing how much data* you might use, or how often you’ll be making and receiving phone calls. Don’t forget to think about roaming (if you travel outside of Canada), text messaging, long distance, and if you have a specific set of numbers you frequently call. (Many plans now have ‘favourite’ options in which you can make and receive calls with specific numbers an unlimited number of times)
3) Negotiate
If you have multiple carrier choices, don’t be afraid to negotiate on the price. Typically, the best way to do this is over the phone as store and kiosk clerks get little control to waive fees and lower prices. Make sure to include if you plan on having multiple devices and have an idea of what type of plan you are looking for. Another trick with your current carrier may be to threaten to cancel your service as most carriers retention departments have the most authority to be flexible on pricing. Every dollar saved in this process, will be savings over the life of your contract.
4) Pick the device
Obviously one of the more important steps, picking the right device, can be a big challenge. Would you prefer a fixed keyboard that many BlackBerry devices offer, or the high number of apps that are available on iPhone or Android devices? Do you want a larger screen that allows for easier reading and web browsing, or something smaller that easily fits into a pocket? Weighing these pros and cons starts with having an idea of what you would like to use your device for. You can also do an online search that includes the name of the device you are thinking about, plus the word ‘review’. Many technology bloggers will give very good reports on the good and bad about devices they have tried, which may also help narrow your list down. Finally, if you think you will need help learning how to use the device, make sure the people who will be helping you know how to properly work the device. For instance, if your children all have Samsung devices, think about getting one too, to ensure they can help you fix any problems you get your into.
5) Protect it
No matter how tough you think your new smartphone is, it likely isn’t made for the dust, sweat, and drops that you are about to put it through. Start by getting some type of a case that includes a screen shield. That way dust stays out, and the screen is less likely to get scratched. Even more important, is the need to back your device up. Many today can now save your contacts, calendar items and applications automatically online. This is always a good idea in the event your phone ever did meet a water tank or have a software glitch. If you would prefer, you can also back-up your device on your computer, you just need to remember to do this regularly. Your phone failing on you is not an ‘if’ on the farm, but always a ‘when’. Don’t lose everything you’ve worked hard to put on your phone.
Armed with these five steps, you should be more comfortable with the device you are buying and hopefully will see a few savings on your bill. Remember though, this device isn’t a marriage and you will be replacing it every few years. If there is something you don’t like about it, take note for when your contract is up for renewal and the phone company is eager to re-sign you with the offer of a new device. Happy texting!
*Data is a new charge for those moving to a smartphone, and acts as the information you upload and download from the Internet. Things like email, apps, websites and other information being pulled to your smartphone all use varying amounts of data.