Choosing a Cellular Phone
Five tips to help choose a plan that is right for you and your budget.
| It's almost impossible to go anywhere in public these days without hearing the ring of a cell phone.
Think about it - how often does a cellular phone ring in public, prompting all the people around you to reach into their pocket,
answer their phone, only to find that it's not theirs? Getting the most out of your cell phone is of key importance, especially with people replacing their home phone lines with cellular ones. Maximize your cellular cellular experience by understanding our tips: |
| 1. Estimate what time during the day you plan to make most of your calls. |
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The major price differences for most cellular phone plans is how may 'anytime' minutes come with a plan. For example,
a plan with 1000 anytime minutes will be more expensive then a plan with 500 anytime minutes. Anytime minutes are cellular phone talk time
minutes that can be used during the day or night. Today, most cell phone plans come with unlimited nights after 9:00 p.m. and/or unlimited weekend minutes. If you do not need to use your cell phone during the day, choose a plan with low anytime minutes. It will be the cheapest. Important note: do not shortchange your anytime minutes. Make sure you pick a range of anytime minutes that you know for sure you will not exceed or you will pay higher per minute charges. Since plans can be adjusted at anytime for any cellular carrier, you can always choose lower you anytime minutes if you do not use them. |
| 2. Know your home calling area - do you need free roaming? |
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Every cell phone plan has a home calling area where every call you make is free. Also, as long as you can access your cellular providers
network at anytime, no matter where you travel, those calls are also free. Be warned that each carrier has different calling areas depending on their network. If you travel alot, you may want to choose a cellular plan that has a high coverage area. The cellular network and coverage area of most major carriers is very large covering most of the united states. To protect yourself against areas that may not be covered, make sure you have free roaming. |
| 3. Remember that you pay for calls you make as well as calls you receive |
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Unlike a home landline telephone, where you plug a phone cord into a phone jack, a cellular user pays for BOTH calls he makes
AND calls he receives. To make sure you are getting the most out of your minutes, make sure you only give out your cellular telephone
number to those you can trust. This will prevent prank cellular calls, unwanted solicitors and the like. |
| 4. Know the cellular accessories that you may need. |
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Since some cellular phone plans come with free accessories, it's important to plan ahead. Some states do not allow cell phone usage
while driving, so a hands free kit is a must. Instead of paying for a hands free kit that could cost up to $120 for certain models,
find a provider that is willing to give a free kit with service. There are also many other free accessories that come with a plan such as a car charger and/or a belt clip. Take advantage of these free accessories. |
| 5. Understand that you are entering into a contact. |
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Every cellular provider or plan you choose will be in the form of a contract. These contracts can be broken, but usually for a
high cancellation fee of $200-$400 depending on the plan. Make sure when you buy your phone, that you can make the commitment. |
