Talk, email, surf the Web, instant message, take pictures, and more. With the right smartphone cell phone you can do it all, and you'll find a dizzying array of options on eBay. To narrow down your smartphone choices, decide which operating system and features you need.
Get Smart About Smartphones
Different types of smartphones are designed for different types of people. Some, like the Palm Treo and Blackberry, keep you connected to the office, while others, like the T-Mobile Sidekick 3, focus on mobile messaging, and still others, like the Samsung Blackjack, Motorola Q, and Apple iPhone, give you ultimate multimedia mobility. Cell phone service providers around the world typically offer several smartphone options and tiers of service. Decide which operating system and features are on your list before you sign a service contract.
Select a smartphone operating system
For smartphones with full PDA functionality, the operating system (OS) you choose helps determine what you'll get out of your smartphone. For example, the iPhone runs on Mac OS X and includes the Safari Web browser. Other options include:
Windows Mobile smartphones: A Windows Mobile smartphone is a good choice for many business users. It seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Exchange, so you can use it to get and respond to your work email (consult your IT department), and it makes viewing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Windows Media files easy as well. There are many third-party applications that make Windows Mobile smartphones more versatile.
Palm OS smartphones: Palm smartphones run the Palm OS. Although program variety can be limited, many programs are award-winners. Palm OS is very stable and designed to run on devices with low processor speeds.
Symbian smartphones: Although not the largest player in the U.S. market, Symbian is the most popular mobile OS around the world. Symbian smartphones, like the Nokia E62, come with email and Microsoft Office file viewers.
Make the Right Smartphone Connections
You get a smartphone for one reason: to stay in constant contact with work, home, and the Web. The following technologies can help you stay connected.
3G: For more seamless email, messaging, and downloads, look for 3G smartphones. 3G technologies such as UMTS and HSDPA (from T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless) and EV-DO (used by Verizon Wireless and Sprint) are significantly faster than previous 2.5G data services.
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM): If you'd like to use your smartphone almost anywhere in the world, look for GSM smartphones. They deliver high digital voice quality, and you can typically find lower international roaming rates (for details, check with your service provider). If you don’t plan on traveling outside of your calling and data plan's local area, CMDA or TDMA networks may suit your needs.
Bluetooth: Talk without wires. Bluetooth-enabled smartphones let you connect to other Bluetooth devices, such as Bluetooth headsets, that are less than 30 feet away. You can even use some Bluetooth smartphones as wireless modems for Bluetooth-enabled laptops.
Wi-Fi: Tap into wireless 802.11b or 802.11g networks with a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone so you can share files with computers on a network or access the Internet.
Infrared: An infrared port can come in handy if you want to transfer data a short distance to another infrared device.
USB: Look for smartphones that use USB to transfer data to and from your computer. Some smartphones can also charge over USB.
Pick Your Must-Have Smartphone Features
Find features that can add a lot to your smartphone experience.
Unlocked: An unlocked smartphone will work with any service provider that supports the specific technology of the phone.
QWERTY keyboard: Smartphones typically come with a full QWERTY keyboard to help you quickly type emails and instant messages.
Speakerphone: Smartphones with a speakerphone make conference calls easy and let you chat with friends while you do stuff around the house.
Digital camera: Take photos wherever you go or save images as custom screensavers. Look for a smartphone with a 1.3-megapixel digital camera or better. Many even include a camcorder feature.
Multimedia playback: Bring music and video to your smartphone with an integrated MP3 player, video player, or multimedia player that supports both music and video.
Internet browser: Smartphones that support Mobile Web 2.0 allow you to surf pages designed to be viewed on cell phones, while other smartphones support full Internet browsing capabilities.
Global Positioning System (GPS): If your service provider offers turn-by-turn directions, consider a GPS smartphone with navigation software.
Charger: Most smartphones come with an included wall charger, but you may want to consider a car charger as well.
Find Smartphones on eBay
Once you know what type of smartphone you’re looking for, go to the Cell Phones & PDAs portal and start finding what you want on eBay.
Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type.
Product Finder: Use the drop-down menus on the PDAs and Pocket PC's Finder or Cell Phones Finder to quickly narrow down item listings by brand, feature, or condition.
Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Bluetooth headset, type "bluetooth headset" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.
If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.
Buy Smartphones With Confidence
Before making your purchase, be sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.
Know your purchase
Carefully read the details in item listings.
Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.
Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.
Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Know your seller
Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.
What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protection
In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.
Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $2,000.
eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.
