| iv id="body"> | | | | charge will be the same whether you're calling |
| Once upon a time, decisions about telephone | | | | someone ten miles away or 1,000 miles away. In |
| service were easy - you either wanted it or you | | | | addition, many cell phone companies levy fees |
| didn't. Those fairy-tale days are gone for good | | | | against you for roaming, which completely |
| since the advent of the cell phone. Now, we not | | | | destroys the goal of cheap long distance calls. |
| only have to figure out what type of mobile | | | | - Choose Your Service Type - Although it seems |
| phone we'd like to have, but also what features | | | | realistic to expect that all wireless phone service |
| we need, whether or not we want a contract or | | | | will - one day - be digital, that isn't yet the case. |
| simply prefer to purchase pre-paid minutes | | | | When you factor that into the equation, you'll |
| without such a commitment, what accessories | | | | understand that it's important to make sure that |
| we think we might like and what type of plan will | | | | your cell phone service plan includes both analog |
| best meet our individual or family needs. | | | | and digital service. If not, you're going to find that |
| By the time we've cut through the red tape and | | | | you'll be missing out on a fairly large cell phone |
| have gotten down to the business of choosing a | | | | coverage area. |
| specific cell phone service plan, we're often either | | | | - Be Careful About Rounding - Some cell phone |
| too overwhelmed by the lengthy decision-making | | | | providers try to gouge the pricing of your phone |
| process, or we're just looking to get the whole | | | | service by rounding out the amount of time that |
| thing over and done with, so that we can finally | | | | you talk to the next minute. That means that, if |
| start using the not-always-so-convenient little | | | | you talk for 5 minutes and 4 seconds, you'll end |
| device. As a result, many people overlook some | | | | up being charged for a 6 minute conversation. |
| of the finer points of selecting the best plan for | | | | The better choice is to find a company that |
| their money. The best thing to do, then, is to | | | | rounds to the nearest second so that - when |
| take a deep breath and give yourself a bit of | | | | making the same 5 minute and 4 second call, you'll |
| time to clear your head before jumping into such | | | | only pay for 5 minutes and 5 seconds. While |
| a major undertaking. Once ready, it's a matter of | | | | these increments may not seem like much on an |
| doing a good deal of research and narrowing | | | | individual basis, they can eat up your time |
| down your options, until the right one presents | | | | allotment very quickly. |
| itself. | | | | - Analyze the Rate Schedule - Many carriers offer |
| Defining Your Needs Profile | | | | a special rate for nights and weekends, which |
| In order to ensure that you'll be opting for the | | | | seems great if you look at it on the surface. If, |
| best plan that matches your needs, it's important | | | | however, you don't know exactly which hours |
| to define what those needs are, point by point. | | | | these rates encompass, then you might think that |
| Without the creation of such a profile, you're far | | | | you're making a free call when, in fact, you're |
| more likely to overlook some critical | | | | chewing up your minutes at a high rate. |
| considerations when it comes time to choose a | | | | - Look for Discounted Plans - If you're planning to |
| specific cell phone service plan. | | | | provide phone service for several members of |
| - Track Your Time - Accurately determining the | | | | your family, be sure to find a provider that gives |
| number of minutes that you'll need to | | | | the best cell phone coverage options. For instance, |
| comfortably use your cellular phone service | | | | many of them will have a discounted family plan |
| without disruption is the most significant piece of | | | | and - in some cases - will even provide free |
| the puzzle. A miscalculation could mean the | | | | phones to a limited number of family members. |
| difference between the ability to use your cell | | | | Don't automatically assume that you'll be placed |
| phone freely and losing service altogether. Before | | | | under the family plan umbrella, though - take the |
| you go shopping for mobile phone service, then, | | | | time to ask about such a plan and, if it matches |
| keep track of the number of minutes that you | | | | your needs, make arrangements to have it put |
| use the phone each day - and be realistic, or you'll | | | | into place. |
| end up cutting yourself short in the end. Once | | | | - Assess Your Internet Needs - Since some |
| that's been determined over the span of at least | | | | companies also provide internet phone service, |
| a week, you should then be able to forecast your | | | | make a realistic assessment of your online usage |
| monthly usage. That, however, won't be your | | | | to see if it's worth paying the extra amount that |
| target number; you'll need to add about 20% | | | | will be required for that feature. If you tend to |
| extra time onto your figure in order to have a | | | | use the internet even as much as an hour a day, |
| comfortable safety net so that you won't eat up | | | | however, you'll end up losing thousands of minutes |
| your minutes too quickly and possibly lose service. | | | | each month as a result. |
| - Consider Long Distance Needs - A good plan for | | | | Once you've developed a specific needs profile, |
| long distance phone service is essential if you find | | | | then you'll need to consider whether or not to go |
| that you're using a significant number of minutes | | | | with a prepaid service or sign a contract for up to |
| outside of your calling area. Geographical distance | | | | a year or more. Depending upon your |
| isn't always the determining factor when pricing | | | | circumstances, you may want to consider opting |
| comes into play, so don't assume that you'll need | | | | for a plan that doesn't lock you into a particular |
| less just because the calls that you make are | | | | time-frame, since you'll be required to pay for the |
| within ten miles of home - even though they're | | | | service even if it isn't being used. |
| out of your calling range. With many plans, the | | | | |