Choosing a cellular phone contract and choosing a cell phone for you can be very challenging. Choosing a cell phone that's right for you depends on your personal preferences and your needs.

Cellular phone choices vary from the multi-featured and cool style to the strictly functional and unassuming. It is strictly a personal choice, and you'll want to choose a cellular phone that is right for the way you use it.

A good cellular phone choice is one that has features you'll enjoy using. While there are many factors to consider, it all boils down to choosing a cell phone that will offer you the best design, features, and performance.

If you thought choosing a cell phone design was hard, choosing your features isn't any easier. Cellular phone choices range from simple and functional to complicated features. As a general rule, don't buy anything more than you will use.

If you want your phone to strictly make calls, stick with the basics. If you're going to use your mobile for e-mail or multi-tasking, go with a higher-end cellular phone choice. If you want to have fun with your phone consider one with a camera.

When choosing a cell phone plan, think carefully about how much you'll actually be using your phone. Usage time is the basis of every cellular phone contract. The more minutes in your plan the more money you will have to pay. Most cellular phone contracts from the major carriers vary from 300 minutes a month up to 5,000 minutes.

You also have to think about when you'll be making most of your calls. Most carriers consider only those calls made during peak periods typically, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., as minutes that actually count toward your plan minutes.

Calls made during the weekends, nights, and holidays, are usually free and are considered unlimited anytime minutes. Calls made to other cell phones on a carrier's network can also be free.

You'll need to find out if checking your voicemail, incoming and outgoing calls count toward unlimited anytime minutes. Be sure you know how everything works when comparing cell phone plans.

When choosing a cell phone plan that is best for you, you're better off overestimating the number of plan minutes you'll need rather than paying extra, expensive airtime charges each month.

If you find that you've overestimated or underestimated your usage, you can easily change your rate plan. When comparing cell phone plans, keep in mind that this may affect your contract date by moving it out further, so ask.

7 points to consider before agreeing to a cellular phone contract:

1. Verify the unlimited anytime minutes you have and what kind of calls count toward them.

2. Be aware of all roaming, overtime, and extra charges.

3. If you travel a lot, or have lots of friends and relatives all over creation get a cellular phone contract nationwide plan with free long distance.

4. Know where your local calling area begins and ends.

5. Many of the great deals require a two-year cellular phone contract. Make sure you understand this commitment and how much it will cost you to break it.

6. If you're in the middle of a cellular phone contract or not on a contract and just want to buy a new phone you don't need to sign a new contract. But you probably won't get any discounts that would come with a new contract.

7. Extended warranties and insurance can come in handy if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged. Just be sure to find out the total cost.

Before you sign any cellular phone contract just be sure you know how everything works so there are no surprises.