When Buying a mobile phone, like anything else, there are many things you need to look at.

1. Price. There is no point spending over the odds on a phone. The price for a certain handset will probably vary between networks, depending on which network you buy the phone on. I would reccomend you simply buy the phone on the network where it is cheapest, and then change network later on, as many phones, such as nokias can easily be unlocked so another SIM card can be put in it. Also, many networks are more than willing to provide you with a PUK code, which you give to a new network to move to them, once the handset is bought.

2. Features. I recently downgraded my phone to increase on battery life, as i have found this to be the single most important feature when buying a phone. Fancy extras such as Cameras, MP3 players, and bluetooth often aren't used, and you will pay alot more for phones with such features. Before buying, you should simply think hard about which features you really will use, and whether it is worth paying the extra money.

3. The Battery. Many phones have good battery life of well over a week on a single charge, but often these batterys deplete very quickly, so after a year, your phone will only last for a few days without charging. I strongly suggest investing in a phone with over 14 days, or 340 hours of battery life at the beginning so  a year or so down the line you aren'r re-charging every couple of days.

4. Reliability. Many phones such as the motorola razor have been slated for their reliability, with features crashing soon after purchase. I would suggest researching your potential purchase on the internet, or by speaking to friends and store staff before buying to check all is in order.

5. Portability. Check the weight of your phone before buying, as some phones are bulky and harder to carry around. I reccomend phones weighing around 90g and less, as these are easier to carry.

6. Handy Features. On Motorolas, and samsung mobiles, certain applications can be locked to provide privacy from family and friends, which is very practical. Nokias provide simple navigation, and better quality games, as well as more features such as stop-watch and countdown timers. Also be aware if the messaging on your phone. If you already own say a nokia, and you buy a samsung, the messaging set-up will be different, so your first few weeks may be awkward to text with.

7. Networks. Don't just look at the big networks, as smaller networks, such as tesco, easymobile.com, which also offers 1p text, and 3p/minute to other easymobiles, and Fresh (carphone warehouse) all provide texts for 5p and calls for 15p/minute to all networks. Also look at variations in tariffs, such as t-mobiles tetxt option, where texts are 3p but calls are 40p/minutes. Virgin Mobile also offers free texts to other virgin mobiles, until september, so if all friends get on, then cheap texts for you! =)

Whatever you choose to buy, good luck with it, and happy shopping!