Data model

This page describes the XML output generated by a response from a call to PWS. It is assumed that you are familiar with the basics of XML and understand the terminology of child/parent elements.

The PhoneDogResponse root element and its children

PhoneDogResponse/    
  Request/ Header that returns the input parameter name and values that were used to generate the response to this request.
  Errors/ Returns possible error messages if the request was malformed and/or unsuccessful
  CellularItems/ If you're using either the CellularItemLookup, CellularItemSearch CellularItemAvailability operation, this element will contain all the CellularItem elements.
  CellularItemExpertReviews If you're using the CelularItemExpertReviewsLookup operation, this element will contain all the CellularItemExpertReview elements.
  CellularPlans/ If you're using either the CellularPlanLookup or CellularPlanSearch operation, this element will contain all the CellularPlan elements.

CellularItems element

CellularItem/    
  ModelName Model name of the cell phone excluding the manufacturer name
  ModelBaseName The base model name (the same as the model name but excluding possible color or other variation)
  DisplayName The name of the manufacturer and model name together
  UrlDetails Url for full details of this item on phonedog.com
  UrlManual Url to download the user manual in PDF format (if available)
  HasExpertReviews This element will be available with the value "Yes" if there are in-depth expert reviews available for this phone. If this element is available you may use the CellularItemExpertReviewsLookup operation to retreive related expert reviews
  Technology The primary technology supported by this phone (e.g. CDMA, GSM, etc.)
  Frequencies/ Frequencies element that contains all the bands this phone supports (e.g. 800, 850, 1800, 1900, 2100, etc.)
  UserRating User rating  as a value from 0 to 5, 0=not rated, 1=worst, 5=best
  Manufacturer/ Manufacturer element that includes the Name child element
  Description Short product marketing description
  ImageThumb URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a thumb image of the item
  ImageSmall URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a small image of the item
  ImageMedium URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a medium image of the item
  ImageLarge URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a large image of the item
  ImageGallery/ Contains image elements of all available images for this item
  BuyingChoices/ Provides buying choices from many different vendors and merchants that currently offer this cell phone for sale either with new service, pre-paid service or as a stand-alone phone-only. BuyingChoices allows you to offer your visitors comparative shopping information with the lowest and most up-to-date pricing available.
  Specifications/ Contains grouped attribute elements that describe the items characteristics and features.
  UserReviews/ Contains user opinions and reviews for the current item.

BuyingChoices element

BuyingChoice   Note: Each buying choice element contains a  "type" attribute that differentiates how this item is being sold (e.g "phoneandplan", "phoneonly", "prepaid"). Use this attribute to seperate these service types into seperate categories on your layout.
  Merchant/ Contains the name of the merchant offering this phone as well as their current user rating (0=not rated, 1=worst, 5=best). May also contain three logo images (small, medium, large) depending on what response groups are requested.
  Provider/ For "phoneandplan" and "prepaid" buying choice types, this element contains the name of the provider (carrier) that this phone would be activated with, as well as the current user rating and possible logo images.
  BasePrice The base price of the item
  MsrpPrice The suggested retail price of the item
  RebatePrice Rebate price (if available)
  FinalPrice The final price (after all rebates)
  RebateDescription A possible rebate description
  UrlPurchase URL to purchase this item from the current merchant
  UrlPurchaseWithFamilyPlan For "phoneandplan" buying choices, this url will allow the user to purchase this item with a family (shared) plan.

 

Specifications element

Group   Specifications are grouped into categories (e.g. Data & Messaging, General Features, etc.)
  Attribute Contains the name and value of the attribute.

 

UserReviews element

UserReview    
  Date The date the review was submitted by the user
  TotalVotes Visitors have the option to vote a review as either being helpful or not helpful. This is the total number of votes that this review has received so far.
  HelpfulVotes Total number of users that voted this review to be helpful to them after reading it.
  Rating 1=worst, 5=best
  Experience The amount of experience (ownership length) that the reviewer has had with this item before submitting his/her review. e.g. 1 day to 10+ years
  Title The title of the review
  Content/Pros Although not required, all users have the option to enter positive and negative information about this item.
  Content/Cons Although not required, all users have the option to enter positive and negative information about this item.
  Content/Summary All users must complete a summary of their review.

CellularExpertReviews element

CellularExpertReview    
  PublishDate The date the review was originally published on phonedog.com
  Author/ Author element containing information about the author of the review (e.g. name)
  ModelName The model name (excluding the manufacturer) of the phone
  DisplayName Full display name of the phone including the manufacturer
  ImageThumb URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a thumb image of the item
  ImageSmall URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a small image of the item
  ImageMedium URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a medium image of the item
  ImageLarge URL and dimensions (in pixels) of a large image of the item
  Ratings/ Ratings element containing attribute elements with the name and rating of each individual feature
  Chapter/ Collection of chapter elements containing the name and content of each chapter

CellularPlans element

CellularPlan/    
  Name Name of the wireless rate plan
  UrlDetails Url for full details of this plan on phonedog.com
  Provider/ Provider element that includes the Name and Image (logos) child elements
  PlanType Possible values are: Individual or Family
  CoverageArea Possible values are: Regional or National
  ContractTerm Required contract length (e.g. 2 years, 1-2 years, 18 months, mont-to-month, etc.)
  Rate Depending on whether this is a prepaid or postpaid rate plan this value indicates the recurring monthly or upfront cost.
  MinutesIncluded Number of minutes included with this rate plan
  AdditionalMinutes Cost per additional minute when using more than the included minutes that are part of each billing cycle
  MinutesMobileToMobile Number of minutes available for calling mobile-to-mobile (if applicable)
  MinutesWalkieTalkie Number of walkie-talkie minutes included (if applicable)
  MinutesNightWeekend Number of minutes included for calling on nights & weekends
  NightWeekendPeriod Timespan that is considered night and/or weekend
  OffNetworkRoaming Cost per minute when calling while roaming
  ActivationFee Cost to activate a phone with this service plan
  TerminationFee For postpaid plans this is the cost to terminate the contract ahead of its expiration
  DirectoryFee Per-call charge for getting directory assistance
  CallTraceFee Per-call charge for tracing a call
  Deposit Information on credit/deposit requirements to be eligable for this plan
  Features/ Contains grouped attribute elements that describe the plans included and optional calling features.