| Family cell phone plans can be as diverse as the | | | | phone provider. Some cell phone companies |
| different members in a family. There are so | | | | consider their regional calling areas to be "national" |
| many benefits to choosing a family cell phone plan | | | | calling areas. If this is the case, it's possible that |
| including -and maybe most importantly- diminished | | | | phone calls you make, which you believe to be a |
| overall cost. To be considered a family plan at | | | | part of your coverage area, are actually outside |
| least two phone lines are required, with the option | | | | the region of the coverage plan for your cell |
| of adding more phones, starting at $9.99/per | | | | phone provider. If this is the case, the phone calls |
| phone added. One popular cell phone provider for | | | | made outside the coverage area are eligible for |
| example, will allow up to 5 phones per plan with | | | | roaming charges, which can add considerable cost |
| each additional line added costing $9.99. | | | | to your cell phone bill. |
| The price for a family cell phone plan can be as | | | | Roaming is a term used in the communications |
| varied as the plethora of companies offering | | | | industry to describe what happens when cell |
| them. It's important to look at all the details of | | | | phone coverage areas overlap. If a call is placed |
| the plan and each company closely before signing | | | | from your cell phone outside your providers' |
| a contract. It is possible to find one that best suits | | | | coverage area it's probable you will still be able to |
| you and your needs, so don't settle for the first | | | | place the call, but it will likely be made through the |
| one you find. Look for the details of each cell | | | | network of a different provider. Cell phone |
| phone and provider that are tailor made for you. | | | | companies contract with one another to ensure |
| If there will only be two of you using the plan, it | | | | there are limited holes or dead spots in network |
| makes more sense to get a plan with minimal | | | | availability. However, even though dropped calls, |
| minutes. This is especially true if most of the calls | | | | and a loss of a cell phone signal are a somewhat |
| will be made between the two phones, and you | | | | distant memory, roaming charges are not |
| are confident no extra minutes will be accrued | | | | necessarily so. Although most cell phone providers |
| outside the allotment for your plan. Find a | | | | offer "free", or no roaming charges, as a part of |
| company that won't try to sell extraneous | | | | national cell phone contracts, it's still critical to |
| features to you. Phone plans can be as basic or | | | | determine the exact details of the coverage area |
| as elaborate as you need them to be. There is no | | | | before committing to an extended contract. This |
| reason to spend extra money on features that | | | | way there will be no surprises when the monthly |
| will never be used. | | | | cell phone bill arrives, and you have accrued |
| Most cell phone providers offer free | | | | charges by placing calls outside your network. |
| mobile-to-mobile minutes, (or calls made within the | | | | The vast array of options when choosing a cell |
| network) so even if you choose a plan with | | | | phone can be a little overwhelming. The most |
| minimal minutes, it won't necessarily be cost | | | | important place to start is by determining your |
| prohibitive if most calls are made in network. For | | | | individual cell phone needs. The cell phone model |
| example, if a family has a plan with 5 phones and | | | | you choose can be as simple as a phone with no |
| most of the minutes of the plan are used making | | | | additional features, or as intricate and |
| calls between family members, find a plan that | | | | high-powered as you are. For example, if one of |
| has free mobile-to-mobile minutes. This way | | | | the cell phones in your family plan will be used |
| every phone call made within the family network | | | | primarily for business and travel, take into account |
| is essentially free, as no minutes will be deducted | | | | the variety of options available to you such as: |
| from the overall minutes of the plan. | | | | broadband Internet access, Bluetooth, text |
| The service provider ads overage fees onto your | | | | messaging, picture messaging, Email, GPS, |
| monthly bill if you or anyone in your family adds | | | | speakerphone, and data packages. This array of |
| up enough talk time minutes to go over the | | | | features is optimized through a phone such as |
| maximum allotment of minutes for your plan. If a | | | | The BlackBerry phone, which is essentially a laptop |
| cell phone customer has a plan allowing 700 | | | | that fits in your pocket. If the feature potentially |
| minutes/per month, and the customer uses 750 | | | | used by you the most is email, choose a phone |
| minutes, the additional 50 minutes are considered | | | | with a built-in keyboard to facilitate easier typing. |
| overage minutes. The charge for overage | | | | The BlackBerry has the capability to use any of |
| minutes varies from one cell phone provider to | | | | its numerous features anywhere you go. The |
| another. For example, the five providers below | | | | phone can be purchased from an individual cell |
| vary between $.40/minute to $.45/minute per | | | | phone provider, or through a third party such as |
| additional minutes. | | | | an online retailer of electronics, or almost all local |
| It's important to get the right number of minutes | | | | electronics stores. Then the phone will be |
| for your family's needs, as overage fees for a | | | | activated through the cell phone provider you |
| customer talking on the phone for an additional 50 | | | | have chosen. If there will be teenagers or other |
| minutes can cost up to an extra $22.50 per | | | | children on your family phone plan, determine |
| monthly bill. If you consider that a few teenagers | | | | carefully which phones might work best for each |
| could each very easily tack on several hours of | | | | individuals' needs. A teenager doesn't necessarily |
| overage minutes, it's easy to see why it's critical | | | | need a Blackberry, but you might want them to |
| to find a plan with the right amount of minutes | | | | have some extra features available in order for |
| for your family. It's a good idea to go into a cell | | | | you to stay in better contact with them. |
| phone contract knowing how many minutes you | | | | A feature, which has become almost universal on |
| think you might use before you get locked in for | | | | cell phones, is a built-in digital camera. This is an |
| the long term. If you aren't sure how many | | | | extremely convenient feature as it ensures that |
| minutes you think you'll need, ask a | | | | anywhere you go with your cell phone, you have |
| representative from the cell phone company you | | | | a digital camera at your access. The quality of the |
| are considering to help you. Someone who has | | | | camera will vary depending on the model of the |
| helped a multitude of people find cell phone plans | | | | phone, as well as details such as number of |
| will likely be helpful in giving you a decent estimate | | | | megapixels and quality of resolution. If this is a |
| on how many minutes you will need. | | | | feature that is important to you, do your |
| Every cell phone provider features several plans, | | | | homework and find a phone whose camera has a |
| some without extra features like text messaging | | | | reputation for producing quality photos. Some |
| and data packages and others where the monthly | | | | newer phones also have the capability of |
| cell phone fee is all-inclusive. Data and text | | | | recording digital movies as an extended option of |
| messaging fees very greatly, even within individual | | | | the digital camera. |
| providers. With one popular cell phone provider | | | | One important aspect to keep in mind when |
| data plans, or Internet access through your cell | | | | choosing a cell phone is that it's almost always |
| phone, starts at about $39.99/per month for a | | | | possible to get a phone for a discount under a |
| basic package and can go up to $89.99/per | | | | rebate or promotional offer. It is rarely necessary |
| month. Text messaging with another provider | | | | to pay full retail price for a cell phone that meets |
| ranges from $4.99/per month for 400 messages | | | | your needs. Ask the cell phone provider you |
| to $14.99/per month for unlimited messaging. If | | | | choose what cell phones they have available with |
| you don't want to sign up for a text-messaging | | | | a discount or rebate. If they don't have a phone |
| plan but think you might want to text occasionally, | | | | that meets your needs, choose an online retailer. |
| it's possible to pay per text message. Texts can | | | | They sell new and refurbished phones without |
| range from $.15/per message to $.25/per text | | | | contracts, and these phones can be activated |
| for text only messages to $.25/per message for | | | | under the chosen cell phone provider. As always, |
| pictures and video messages. | | | | if the phone doesn't meet your needs, upgrading |
| If there is a possibility of a lot of text messaging | | | | to a newer cell phone is always an option. |
| in your future, or the future of anyone in your | | | | The final, and perhaps one of the most critical |
| family plan, a package with unlimited messaging | | | | details to choosing a family cell phone plan is the |
| for a flat fee is probably your best option. Text | | | | contract. Contracts vary greatly depending upon |
| messaging at up to $.25/per message can add up | | | | several variables including: number of lines per |
| really fast and add a lot to your monthly cell | | | | family plan, number of minutes, extra features |
| phone bill. | | | | like data plans, etc. Choose a contract length you |
| Another very important aspect to buying a cell | | | | are comfortable with as terminating your contract |
| phone plan is determining the coverage area | | | | can cost anywhere upward of $175. Some |
| available with each cell phone provider. Some cell | | | | contracts are 1-year in length, others are 2-years. |
| phone companies are more prevalent in specific | | | | Often choosing a longer-term contract will |
| regions of the country, and will provide better | | | | decrease the monthly payment. However having |
| coverage for you if you stay within its outlined | | | | a higher monthly bill with a shorter contract length |
| geographic region. If your primary cell phone will | | | | might be a more attractive choice for your |
| be used mostly for business and travel outside | | | | individual family plan. For example, if a family |
| your home state, ensure the coverage area for | | | | move is a possibility in the future, a shorter-term |
| your provider before the cell phone is used | | | | contract might be the best option, if you move |
| outside the area and roaming charges are applied. | | | | out of the coverage area of your current cell |
| This is true for any of the cell phones under the | | | | phone provider. |
| same family plan. | | | | The real key to choosing a phone, cell phone |
| Be sure to carefully study the available coverage | | | | provider, plan, or contract length, is an upfront |
| maps before choosing a specific cell phone plan. It | | | | approach with all of your questions before you |
| is your job as the consumer to be as well | | | | sign a contract. Get all of your concerns taken |
| informed about your plan as possible; read the | | | | care of in detail, from all potential providers, |
| fine print concerning the coverage area and if any | | | | before your decide and read the small print in |
| roaming charges will apply outside of said area. | | | | every contract. This will ensure a happy |
| Most cell phone companies have a national | | | | relationship between you and your provider, and |
| network, with wide coverage, ensuring that your | | | | you and your family will be thankful for it. |
| cell phone will work when you need it. However, | | | | *not responsible for prices quoted as they |
| what constitutes "national" coverage to you may | | | | constantly change over time. |
| not actually be national in the eyes of your cell | | | | |