How often do you change your cellphone?

Check out my new Nokia 6288 ;-) - My new nokia 6288.
Singapore
March 11, 2007 3:03pm CST
Yippie, I am getting a new phone and I am so excited!! I've placed an order online and the delivery is scheduled to be this Thurs. I am trading in my 5-yr old Nokia 7650 for a Nokia 6288. It's packed with quite a few features like a 2MP camera, video camera, video call, bluetooth, java, FM radio, media player & Chinese support. I only have one gripe at this moment - though I can do surfing or emailing, it would have to be through 3G, EDGE or GPRS. All these options are slow and cost money. I am pretty disappointed that it cannot take advantage of the free WIFI access available at many public places in Singapore. :/ If you are interested to feel as excited as me, check out the 2 reviews below: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39051200,39270820p,00.htm http://www.osnews.com/story.php/17097/Review-Nokia-6288-3G-Feature-Phone Otherwise, I do have a question for you with this discussion too. How often do you change your cellphone? Like I mentioned, my current phone is about 5 yrs old. In fact, I still like it pretty much! If not for that the keypad has become unresponsive, making me unable to sms effectively, I would have continued to keep it. I know of people who change their phones to the newest models every few months. Others may do it once every 1 or 2 yrs... I guess I am the odd one out again. :P So what about you? Which category of people do you belong to? Do you change your phone only when it gets rotten? Or as soon as a new model appears? Or... ? Do share your habits. ;-)
23 people like this
135 responses
@lols189 (4742)
11 Mar 07
i change ny phone about every 6 months. i love getting a new mobile phone once it hits the shops if it is a nice phone and a must have. i have a samsung D900 and soon i want to get the nokia N70.
5 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
12 Mar 07
You want to change a Samsung for a Nokia!!! I love Samsung phones - have tried many others but since my D500 then I have not been able to see past samsung! Have had 4! xx
• Ireland
11 Mar 07
I try to keep my phone for as long as possible as I am very technically minded and once I get used to something I hate to change. I once exchanged my nokia for a motorolla but I couldn't figure out all the functions on it, so a week later I bought another nokia. All I want to be able to do with a phone is to make and receive phone calls and the same with texts. Oh, and I know how to use the camera which is handy.
4 people like this
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
Nokia remains my all-time favorites. ;-) That's also why I zoomed in straight to the Nokia section when I checked the phones in person - because ordering it online.
3 people like this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
11 Mar 07
I get to change my cellphone once a year, the company ring me up once a year and give me a free upgrade, so long as I stay with their network, I get the latest Nokia upgrade for free! So every year I get a new phone. The current phone I have at present is the Nokia 6280, but I actually prefer my old one the Nokia 6630 it is a much better phone, so I use my old one instead.
3 people like this
• Singapore
11 Mar 07
For free? Lucky you! We get a similar arrangement as yours but we normally have to pay at least a few hundred bucks for the difference - unless we are getting a not so good model. Then it could be free. You are using 6280? Ha! This 6288 has a firmware upgrade and is supposed to be better than 6280. :P
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
I know it can go up to 1GB but I am only getting a 128 MB that comes free. I don't think it would matter much to me since I use it mainly for sms or calls only. I may use the camera but I would be transferring the pics to my computer or online anyway. I don't think I would be using much of the media player too - I rather on the radio. :P
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
11 Mar 07
I don't even own a cell phone, I find them to be expensive especially when you have a home phone. It is not even practical to have it as your only phone if you have more than one person living in the house because then they can't use a phone if you are out and you have it. So I stick to my old trusted land line.
3 people like this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
11 Mar 07
Oh I have not had the need to change my cellphone I have had mine for 6 years now. But in a few months I am thinking of buying a new one. Mine is not rotten but as I did not know how to register and asked someone else to registered it they registered my mobile in their name that is what I found out just recently.
4 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I change my cell phone about every 2 years, though I do get tempted by the new ones out there every once in a while. LOL
4 people like this
• India
20 May 08
I am not interested in changing mobile phones and not crazy about phone.I am still using an old nokia 1100 for the last 5 years.
2 people like this
• Singapore
20 May 08
Cool!
1 person likes this
@pinklilly (3443)
• Australia
19 Jun 07
Not as often as I would like too it is usually when my phone company offers me a New one which could be every 2 years I think...
2 people like this
• Singapore
19 Jun 07
Yea, about the same here.
1 person likes this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
11 Mar 07
I get a new one for free every 2 years with my phone plan, we have a drawer full of old ones, inc case one gets lost or is rendered unuseable, this way we don't need to buy a new one. IE My son drove over a phone one week, then lost one the following week, he was not happy having to use an old phone but it is better then no phone. I only talk, sms once in a while. A camera on a phone is not exactly going to give a quality picture. Surfing is too slow and small.
2 people like this
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
You guys are lucky! Phone companies in Singapore are stingy mercenary bast***s. They charge so much for us to change our phone, and insist on a 2yr contract to give us this "discounted" price.
2 people like this
@mummymo (23706)
13 Mar 07
That shows waht I know - I thought mobiles were much cheaper in Singapore!
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
11 Mar 07
Hi wizzzzy, presently, I'm using 2 cellphones. I usually replaced the old one after 2 or 3 years. Last year, I bought N70 and I'm feeling euphoric. After a month, it was STOLENNN...I felt so bad and forlornnnn. It was my first time to buy a cellphione that's expensive and just like that...."disappear." So I decided to buy a cheaper one, N6101. Just a few days ago, I was looking at the newest model from Samsung. I like the features and its function. But I need to think about it first. It doesn't matter if my cellphone is a new model or not. I always look for quality, easy to function, the features and best of all the camera. So I can take bunny a picture everyday. PS: What happened to your avatar...was it burn or something or is it a sign that you're losing your powerrrr!!! "maniacal laugh"
2 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
I'm sorry, wizzzy...I still need to exercise my power of intuition to picture you out. I try to avoid looking at your avatar coz it looks like a female. "guffaw" I am not particular if it has 2MP or whatever is the latest features. I saw this Samsung E250 and I really like it.
1 person likes this
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
Lol.. a picture a day keeps the doctor away, yea? Tell me bunny, I thought 2MP isn't a big deal but the reviews I read seems to suggest otherwise. How many pixels is the top end now and how many pixels are usually found in cellphones?
1 person likes this
• Singapore
12 Mar 07
Btw, regarding my avatar, I thought it looks nice! Look at it from my profile page where it is bigger. I made it as an animated gif but it didn't work out after I uploaded it. I am still waiting for a reply from myLot why it won't work. And gosh, I am so hurt. You are not the first person who said my new avatar isn't nice! *sob* :(
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 07
I have Verizon Wireless and they give you $100 every two years that you could use towards a new cell phone. It's called the new every two plan. Normally I get a new phone every 1-1.5 years because I love new gadgets but i'm going to start waiting 2 years so I could take advantage of the new every two plan. I've had my current cell phone for about a year and I can't wait to get a new one.
2 people like this
• Singapore
18 Jun 07
But 100 bucks is really quite little. Phones nowadays are so expensive.
2 people like this
• Singapore
18 Jun 07
You still need to fork out quite a bit. And some phones need subscription of certain pricier contracts.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 07
I guess that's true but you usually get a phone at the discounted price when you sign a new contract so you are getting $100 on top of the discounted price which isn't too bad. My boss just got a $400 phone for $75 with the new every 2 plan and added discounts.
2 people like this
@dbhattji (2506)
• India
19 Jun 07
I was thinking of changing my old cell for a PDA but then I bought a small handy laptop that I now carry with me, so goodbye new cell, I will have to wait a year before I can afford you, but do I really need a PDA now?
2 people like this
• Singapore
19 Jun 07
Exactly. It would become redundant. :p
1 person likes this
• Philippines
20 May 08
only when it is worn out
2 people like this
• Singapore
20 May 08
Thrifty!
1 person likes this
@busta1 (1026)
• United States
19 May 08
i dnt change my cell fone often at all...im not picky and need the newest cell fones that come out every month ...lol
2 people like this
• Singapore
20 May 08
Yup, not always necessary.
1 person likes this
@jahvo6 (623)
• Peru
18 Jun 07
I am not a cell,phone person, if I have one is just because I have to contact and be contacted by my clients and I plan to change it in 5 years.
2 people like this
• Singapore
19 Jun 07
Do phones even last 5 years nowadays? :P
1 person likes this
@mae1216 (658)
• Philippines
16 Jun 07
I never buy or request for a new cellphone. It is my dad who is addicted in collecting gadgets and technology. And, after he buys a new one he always gave it to me instead of storing it in a closet or selling it in bargain. The stuff he is giving to me is as good as a new one and it never get out of the fashion. Sometimes, he is in advance in buying stuff.
2 people like this
• Singapore
16 Jun 07
Wow! Guess you are fortunate to have a "gadget dad"! ;-)
1 person likes this
@Lucille7 (509)
• South Africa
15 Jun 07
Congratulations on getting a new cell phone. I love getting a new phone and would like to get a new one each year but it does not work that way. Usually we take out contracts here and then every two years you get to upgrade your phone. So basically every two years on average you get a new cell phone. Unless of course you are hi-jacked or your phone is stolen in that time. So ja... it is pretty cool. I have never know anybody that keeps a cell phone for a long as 5 or 6 years before getting a new one. Enjoy the new phone.. I would like to get the latest Sony Ericsson W880I that has just come to our country or the Nokia 95. But anyway.. you enjoy..
2 people like this
• Singapore
16 Jun 07
Yea, it is similar here. But of course the free phone each 2 years is a "basic" one that costs the lowest in the market then. You have to top up for the "better" phones.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 07
hmm. my first phone was siemens sumthing. i was in 2nd yr then and had it for 2yrs. when i graduated i bought a nokia 3210. then changed again after 2 yrs. bought a nokia 6600 and i'm still using it. it's gonna be 4yrs this december.
2 people like this
• Singapore
18 Jun 07
Aw siemens... good thing it didn't spoil your mobile phone experience. :P
1 person likes this
@saierchok (1294)
• United States
16 Jun 07
I change my mobile as soon as a new model comes out! can't wait till it rottens because mine never does :P I resell and buy and then resell :)
2 people like this
• Singapore
17 Jun 07
Oh gosh, you sure are rich! :P
1 person likes this
@mike2003 (287)
• Philippines
16 Jun 07
I change mine once in a year and a half or when I get bonus or a little savings.. What I do is i make sure my unit is in good condition even so I can sell it on ebay...even for a third of the price..then I add a few bucks and buy myself a new one...
2 people like this
• Singapore
16 Jun 07
Yup, it is important to keep it in good condition so that it can fetch a better value.
1 person likes this