PhoneTalk

In this installment of Questions and Answers, we give advice on cell phone plans for kids and screens that work best in direct sunlight. Got a question you want answered? Submit your question here. Got something to add to the answers below? Leave a comment.

How old do you have to be to get your own plan because I want my own cell phone, but my parents don’t want to pay the bill? So, I want my own plan. – Kristi

If you want to get your own cell phone plan you really will need to discuss this with your parents, since you typically need some form of credit to get a cell phone plan. That said, there is the option of pre-paid cell phones where you pay as you go or just refill cards. However, you’ll end up paying more per minute and probably for texts as well. The bottom line is you’re better off discussing this with your parents. If they are concerned about the bill or that you might use too many minutes, there are lots of plan options that carriers offer now for young adults, such as AT&T’s SmartLimits. This plan helps deter bill shock at the end of the month, since you won’t be able to use the phone to make calls or texts once you’ve hit the pre-allotted minutes. Plus you can always talk to them about you paying your portion of the bill. It’s a great way to show them how responsible you can be.

Which cell phone has an easy-to-view display in the daylight (outdoors on a sunny day)? -Thanks, Jo

In the past year, there have been advances in screen technology. Samsung for example has introduced a new technology that adjust the screen to the environmental surroundings. Simply put it is called Automatic Brightness Adjustment and you just need to look for that feature in the specs of a Samsung cell phone. The LG Dare also sports a similar feature to help keep the display bright. Typically what you want to look for is a cell phone that has a QVGA screen and a lot of colors, those screens tend to perform best in direct sunlight.

Topics: Verizon Wireless AT&T Wireless Cell phone plans Samsung LG Q&A