Saving contacts on your phone

Q: I just transferred my AT&T number to Cingular and now own a Motorola V551. I have the option to enter contacts on either the SIM card or the address book, but I'm not sure which one I should use. I know the SIM card will allow me to transfer my contacts to a new Cingular phone, but won't I lose some one-touch-calling features if I don't use the address book?
--Greg

A: One benefit of using a GSM phone such as the Motorola V551 is that you can easily transfer phone numbers from one cell phone to another by saving them to the SIM card. Overall, however, I would store numbers in the phone book first, then transfer them to the SIM card; you usually can find the transfer feature in the phone book menu.

Using the phone itself as your primary storage space has a couple of advantages. SIM cards hold only 250 contacts, while a phone has space for many more--from 150 up to 1,000. Also, it's important to note that you can't assign home, work, cell, and fax designations to numbers saved on a SIM card. That means if you have multiple phone numbers for one person--which is not an uncommon occurrence by any means--the numbers will just show up as a list without any designations. Unless you have a photographic memory, trying to decipher which number is which quickly becomes tiresome.

Cingular phones: unlocked or not?
Q: I was told by a colleague that Cingular phones often come unlocked, even though they tell you they're not. How can I test my Motorola V551 to see if this is true?
--Neal

A: I've heard these rumors as well, Neal. I recently examined a Cingular-branded phone that worked without incident when I inserted a T-Mobile SIM card, and it was surprising, of course, because it's in Cingular's interest to lock all its handsets. That way, you're forced to stay with the carrier or go through the trouble of unlocking the phone.

While I wouldn't say this is true for all Cingular models, checking to see if your handset is unlocked is easy. All you need to do is borrow another carrier's SIM card from a friend and swap it with your Cingular card. If you can make calls when you turn your V551 back on, surprise--you have an unlocked phone! As with most mobile phones, the SIM card on the Motorola V551 lives behind the battery. Prying out the card can be tricky, but you should have no trouble finding it.

A friendly dispute over the Verizon Treo

Q: A friend and I both have a Palm Treo 650 from Verizon Wireless. She called me the other weekend but didn't leave her number on the message. Since my phone was off at the time, it didn't record her number on the Missed Calls list. She says, however, that her phone will record numbers when it's off. Is that possible?
--Tony

A: Tony, I hope you made a bet with your friend because she's incorrect. If any cell phone is turned off, it will not record any received calls. The same is true if you're out of range (such as on the subway) or if your battery runs out. And at present, there's no way to get around this.

Leaving Verizon
Q: My family's contract with Verizon Wireless recently ended, and we've been consistently harassed by Verizon to renew our contracts. Switching carriers is now an option, but with new activation fees and no discount other than the two-year contract price, it seems as if we're tethered to Verizon's service. Any suggestions?
--Shaun

A: Shaun, it's important to remember that as the customer, whenever you're dealing with a cell phone carrier, you are ultimately in control. This is especially true when you're off your contract. You're now a free agent, and unless you have any outstanding bills with Verizon, they can't stop you from leaving. The company may offer deals to entice you to stay, and you should if you're happy with them. But if you're unhappy with their service or just indifferent, you should absolutely look for a better plan. You can even start here on CNET's cell phone home page.

So with the exception of your phone--you'll have to change phones if you switch carriers--you're not tethered to Verizon in any way. By shopping around, I'm sure you can find a comparable deal. You can even see if Verizon will match a cheaper plan from another carrier. Just remember a couple of things: Since you'll want a phone you can use at work or at home, ask your neighbors and coworkers which carrier they use and whether they like the service. And if you get a text message from Verizon telling you to renew your contract immediately, pay no mind and make sure you weren't charged for the text message. See CNET's cell phone buying guide for more tips.