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Shopping for Wireless Phone Service

When you get wireless service, remember you are shopping for two things: the phone and a wireless carrier. The idea is to pick the phone, the carrier and the pricing plan that fits how, when, where, and how often you'll use the phone. Consider the following suggestions while looking for service.

Plan Selection

Pre-Paid
Pre-Paid plans allow customers to purchase a pre-determined amount of minutes for a set price. These plans work exactly like calling cards; when you are out of minutes you have to purchase more in order to continue using the phone. Some prepaid plans include text messaging and other wireless data services.

Pre-Paid plans allow customers to purchase a pre-determined amount of minutes for a set price. These plans work exactly like calling cards; when you are out of minutes you have to purchase more in order to continue using the phone. Some prepaid plans include text messaging and other wireless data services.

Benefits

  • No contract to sign.
  • Perfect for kids and teens who might pose a risk to accumulating high monthly bills.
  • You will never exceed your monthly bill.

Disadvantages

  • You may pay more per minute than if you signed a contract.
  • You can not take your cell phone number with you if you choose to change carriers or get a new phone.
  • You may not be able to use a Smartphone with a pre-paid plan.
  • Your phone choices will not be as extensive and you may not be able to use the newest models.
  • If you don't use the phone for an extended period of time, you generally lose the money in your account.

Post-Paid
Post-paid plans are contract based plans, much like those you sign for a gym membership. By a customer agreeing to have the service for a specified period of time; usually a year to two, the carrier compensates you by providing the customer with a lower monthly charge. If you want to change carriers before the contract you signed expires, you will most likely have to pay an Early Termination Fee.

Post-paid plans also give customers the use of the newest technology, such as email, sending and receiving photos, video and music downloads. These plans break down into three categories: Individual plans, Family plans and Data plans. The information below is a representation of what each of these plans generally includes, but visit a carrier's site for specific information.

Individual Plans
Individual plans consist of only one phone line. Customers get to choose "buckets" of minutes for their monthly use. Other services may be available either for additional charges, or as part of the overall service package.

Family Plans
Family plans consist of more then one phone line. These plans share minutes between multiple phone lines, generally ranging from two to six, depending on your carrier. Customers also get to choose "buckets" of minutes they will use per month between all phone lines.

Data Plans Data plans are for wireless devices that are capable of such things as surfing the web, sending and receiving email, downloading games, music and or video--- basically everything else besides talking. These plans may be flat fee plans which allow you to text message or send and receive photos or email without paying per text message or MB (megabytes) used, or they may apply usage-sensitive charges based on your volume of messages. Data plans can break down into three categories depending on your device and/or need.

Data and Voice Bundle Plans For Smartphones or wireless PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants, such as BlackBerry or Treo devices) most carriers offer customers plans that allow them to combine their voice and data plans into one simple plan. These plans may offer unlimited data usage along with the choice of "buckets" of minutes to use for phone calls per month.

Wireless Broadband Plans Carriers now offer Wireless Broadband plans for customers that want the ability to use a high-speed wireless card to connect their laptop to the Internet wherever they are. Carriers offer this unlimited ability for a monthly fee. Check with your carrier for specifics.

Device Selection

Wireless devices also come in many varieties to accommodate your business and personal needs. Deciding what functionality you want from your wireless device is an important step in choosing the best one for you. See what helpful hints we have to share in selecting the device that is right for you.

The types of wireless devices offered in today's market are as varied as the world's population. While the selection process might seem overwhelming at first glance, it is very easy to find and choose the device that fits perfectly with your lifestyle. Knowing what you do and what you want to do with your wireless device is the key.

Cell Phones: A cell phone's primary function used to be to send and receive calls from any location. Nowadays cell phones allow you to communicate with others in a variety of other ways. It's now possible to text message, take, send and receive pictures and video, access the internet, download music and even play games.

Choosing which cell phone is right for you depends on what you want and will require from your wireless use. Carriers now offer you the ability to choose from devices that are well-suited to listen to music, play games, text, or take pictures and video. Just as the devices differ in their functions, there are also differences in the sizes of screens, memory, and keypads. Deciding the functionality that best fits the lifestyle and needs of the person who is going to use it will help you determine which device to purchase.

Smartphones: Smartphones and Wireless PDAs (Personal Digit Assistant),are aptly named for their PC-related applications that allow you to send and receive email, surf the Web, and use programs such as Microsoft Office; all without the inconvenience of carrying around a laptop. Of course Smartphones will and wireless-enabled PDAs may also allow you to receive and place calls to your friends, family and colleagues.

These devices generally have a built in keyboard that allows you to type with more ease then a regular phone keypad would allow. If you're interested in using such a device, you will want to consider a data plan. This will allow you to transmit and receive data, such as email or pictures. Plans are available for varying amounts of data. Depending on your usage, the most cost-efficient data plan may involve unlimited usage for a prescribed fee.

Examples of Smartphones and Wireless PDAs include a BlackBerry, Pocket PC or a Palm Treo. All come in various models to allow for the customers' varying needs in functionality. Check with a carrier to see what devices they have to offer, or that are compatible with their system.

Consumer Code

All of the country's major wireless carriers and most regional and local wireless service providers are committed to the voluntary Consumer Code. It's the industry's effort to provide consumers with information to help them make informed choices when selecting wireless service, to help ensure consumers understand their wireless service and rate plans, and to continue to provide wireless service that meets consumers' needs. [CTIA's Consumer Code on CTIA.org]

  • Do a personal calling inventory. Determine how many calls you're likely to make, the time of day you're likely to place the calls and what days you're likely to make the calls.
  • In addition to a monthly access fee, your bill is based on the number of calls, the length, the time of day, the day of the week, and sometimes your location. Rates are higher during peak periods, which may be from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and lower during off-peak hours -- early morning, later at night and on weekends.
  • Carriers provide a variety of pricing plans. Usually, there are plans designed to accommodate the light, regular and heavy volume customers. Carriers sometimes also offer other pricing incentives, such as free weekend calling, free minutes of usage or reduced off-peak rates. Choose a plan that best fits your calling patterns.
  • If you plan to use the phone only occasionally, select and economy plan. If you make frequent calls, it may be more economical to sign up for a plan that provides a certain amount of free minutes of usage. Heavy users should sign up for a service plan which provides a higher monthly fee, several free hours and the lowest rate of air time.
  • Compare local coverage areas. A roaming charge applies when you call from outside your home area. Some homed areas span several states, so any call made within that large area is a local call.

    There's usually a fee for activating service to your phone. These fees vary by carrier.
  • Check with current customers of the carrier you may know to see if they are satisfied with the service provided.