One of the great things about competition with technology is the way these two things work together to expedite the evolution of technological capability. Who would have thought 40, 30 or even 20 years ago that the phones some companies are developing now can be used as videophones? Who would have thought, during the dawn of the Internet in the 1970s, that there would be such a thing as wireless internet, and that we’d be able to access it with something that sits almost invisibly in our pockets?

Watching this new technology can be exciting, and it can titillate the ‘I Need To Have That’-center in our brains. The consumer who is easily wooed by new technologies will often shell out hundreds of dollars for a new technology that, in a year or two, will be worth more than 100 percent less. The goal for the conscientious consumer is patience, and he or she needs to pay enough attention to technological trends to know what technologies are worth purchasing, and what others are worth waiting for.

Cell phones and cell phone technology is where most of the consumer action and energy is these days, especially as cell phone units are becoming increasingly integrated. Not only do they handle calling functions, but they also work as devices for mobile Internet, video, entertainment, gaming and everything else. A new cell phone might be exciting, but that joy can be quickly stifled by a new cell phone plan (and that first cell phone bill).

Though new technologies are almost always exciting, if you’re looking to save money on your cell phone plan, it’s best not to jump on to the first ‘cool’ thing that comes along. Wait for the technology to become more available. That tolerance will be evidenced in your cell phone plan, and your bank account will thank you.