Smartphones are expensive. Everyone who owns one knows that. For instance, theiPhone 6s could run you $549, or quite a bit more if you want more storage or the iPhone6 Plus. While Android smartphone prices have been dropping a little, the average cost is still a couple hundred dollars. And, of course, theres the hefty monthly fee for using the phone.But its often when you upgrade or switch to a completely new cellphone that you suddenly becomeaware that yourespending even more moneythan you bargained for.There is a lot to consider, including whether you want a phone thats unlocked (that is, without a contract) or one with restrictions but likely a lower monthly fee. And so if youve been thinking about making an upgrade or switch, before you do, these are just some of the many decisions youll want to mull over before you call upon the phone store.Changing platforms? Are you OK with losing your apps?Many of the apps you put on your phone probably werent free."One mistake Ive seen a lot of people make when upgrading to a new phone is forgetting that changing platforms often requires repurchasing apps," says Anjuan Simmons, an IT executive in The Woodlands, Texas, who is also a freelance writer and public speaker specializing in all things technology.By platforms, Simmons is referring to your phones operating system. Is it an iPhone or an Android?So if you switch, for instance, from an iPhone to an Android, "any paid apps youve purchased from the Apple App Store will probably need to be purchased again from Google Play," he says, adding: "I call this the smartphone platform switch tax."Have you done enough homework onyour carrier? It isnt only whetheryour phone is a good one; you need to think about the company providing the phone service. Mellissa Dahl, a marketing executive in Hudson, Wisconsin, admits she made that mistake. She switched from one carrier to another, falling for a splashy promotion."My bills are more than they were … and Im stuck with poor coverage," she says.Of course, Dahl may be able to get out of her contract. Phone companies are making it easier to dothat these days, says Erik Slaven, an executive who works for an infrastructure consulting firm in Los Angeles and a guy who freely admitsto having a "phone obsession.""I recently switched from Verizon to T-Mobile, and they paid off my $330 early termination fee and gave me a new Samsung Galaxy S6 edge for no money down and around $20 a month, with the option to upgrade forfree up to three times in 18 months," Slaven says. "That kind of flexibility was unheard of only a couple of years ago."If you research phones and get to know a lot about them before you make the switch, you dont have to go broke, according to Slaven."I rarely keep a smartphone for more than a few months and am always looking to buy the latest and greatest," he says.Think about your storage needs.If youbuy a phonewith too little storage, you may come to realize that youre constantly dumping photos and apps, which means your phone isnt going to be as fully functional as you would like.And, of course, if you buy far too much storage and dont use the phone for much more than calls and Internet searches, you could feel like a chump every time you pay your bill.Consider going for at least a happy medium, according to Brian Rozycki, manager of the AT&T wireless department and buyer of small electronics at Abt Electronics.
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