Most cell phones come with a built-in memory card slot.  These memory card slots are used to hold a memory card for that particular phone.  Depending on the cell phone, a particular memory card may be better or worse in use.  The microSD card is the standard type of memory card for cell phones on the market today.  Many cell phone packages come bundled with a memory card that works with it.

When purchasing a microSD card, you get two pieces. You get the microSD card itself along with a microSD card reader. The card reader allows you to plug the microSD card into it then into either an external card reader or computer. From there, you can transfer files to and from the cell phone, card and computer. The microSD card is smaller than a dime and fits in a slot just as small on your cell phone.

There are two steps to buying a microSD card for a cell phone. First, refer to the cell phone manual to determine which microSD card is compatible. There are two types of microSD cards: The standard microSD card and the microHCSD card. The latter is a high-capacity SD card which allows for faster transfer speeds and large storage capabilities. Many phones are not built to work with the microHCSD card, yet. A cell phone manual will point out exactly which type of card works along with the maximum amount of memory that can be used by the cell phone's external memory slot.

Once you know which microSD card works with your phone, you can begin to shop around for the best deal.  Memory cards go on sale every week at various retailers, if you do not need the card right away, take your time to wait for the best deal.  As larger memory cards evolve, the cheaper the smaller ones become.