| In today's busy routine, all of us need a cell phone | | | | service for free, or at a very low cost. The |
| to keep in touch with others. Most cell phone | | | | rollover cell phone plan lets them carry over |
| companies offer multiple cell phone plans. When | | | | 'leftover' minutes from month to month. Not all |
| choosing a plan, basic factors such as pre-paid or | | | | plans offer these choices, so the specifics should |
| post-paid plans, the number of minutes needed, | | | | be verified with the salespeople at specific |
| the peak time it is used, long distance versus | | | | companies. |
| roaming, contracts and local versus nationwide | | | | Generally, most providers include free long |
| coverage are significant. The points discussed | | | | distance call and roaming services. Therefore, |
| effectively constitute a guide to cell phone plans. | | | | many customers prefer using mobile phones to |
| Judging the number of minutes you need is the | | | | make these calls, instead of their landlines. But a |
| primary step towards deciding on a cell phone | | | | few plans charge for these services, so it is wiser |
| plan. In a pre-paid plan, customers pay in advance | | | | to be aware of the price per minute on different |
| for a specific number of minutes. Once the | | | | plans. Choosing a family or shared plan charges |
| allowed minutes expire, the plan can be renewed. | | | | less per person. In most cases, this plan has the |
| A pre-paid plan generally does not involve a | | | | additional benefit of a free cell phone. |
| contract. In post-paid (bill-like) schemes, customers | | | | Each cell phone plan features a particular network |
| pay after they have used the minutes. Many such | | | | or coverage area. Nationwide coverage lets you |
| connections offer infinite minutes, either all the | | | | call anywhere in the country. But local networks |
| time or on nights and weekends. | | | | cover your area only. Since different cell phone |
| Certain plans provide a set amount of peak talk | | | | providers have diverse coverage areas, it is |
| time and a relatively high quantity of off-peak talk | | | | advisable to look at their maps to analyze the |
| time. Cell-to-cell call minute plans usually permit | | | | coverage area. |
| customers to talk to people using the same cell | | | | |