| By the first six months of 2006 approximately | | | | to accommodate you as well. |
| 220 million US cell phone subscribers had signed on | | | | The basic ground level plan has the ability to bring |
| the dotted line. That is a whole lot of people using | | | | the wireless behemoth right outside the door of |
| a whole lot of plans. As a matter of fact wireless | | | | the not so rich and famous. They conjure up |
| tentacles reached out and touched more than 72 | | | | plans that are attractive and affordable to the |
| percent of the U.S. population. | | | | masses. |
| If those facts do not set you back a few paces, | | | | Many of these service plans piggyback on free |
| try this on for size, it gives you a clearer picture | | | | phones. The cell phone is generally a one time |
| of the cellular wireless behemoth we have in our | | | | cost. Studies have shown that most people |
| front yard. For the first six months of 2006, the | | | | replace their mobile every 18 months. It is not |
| wireless money pocketed after bills were paid | | | | hidden under a bushel that the money is in the |
| was almost $7 billion. Hold on to your hat, here is | | | | service plan, any service plan. |
| the rub. For the first six months of 2005, the | | | | For instance, someone I know gets a real kick |
| wireless money pocketed after bills were paid | | | | out of ringtones. Everytime their phone rang it |
| was $4 billion. A staggering increase period over | | | | had a different call to arms. He recently |
| period. | | | | downloaded ringtones from an unfamiliar website. |
| Network service providers such as T Mobile, | | | | The very next month he received monthly |
| Cingular and Sprint just to name a few are putting | | | | charges for those ringtones. |
| some good offers on the table. The cell phone | | | | He did not uncheck the box indicating monthly |
| service plans are as different as the faces that | | | | payments. Neither did he read their website |
| struggle to explain them. | | | | terms. In his blind quest to have his favorite |
| The carriers are trying to include the needs of | | | | ringtones he didn't even see the check box let |
| everyone into their varied plans and packages. For | | | | alone think of the website terms. He will in the |
| instance, you may primarily be interested in | | | | future though. |
| maintaining contact with family and friends | | | | Some cell phone carriers cloak their contracts |
| because you travel so much. They have tried to | | | | with red herrings. Are you sufficiently confused |
| accommodate you. | | | | by that sentence? Maybe I should write carrier |
| Maybe you are younger and enjoy the wireless | | | | contracts! What I mean is this, what does the |
| games and the fun options associated with cell | | | | word data mean to you? You have to answer |
| phones. You do a lot of downloading of ringtones | | | | that, not me. |
| and screensavers. Or you may only need a text | | | | Your main concern is this. What does the word |
| messaging work horse. They have tried to | | | | data mean to your carrier? Believe me it means |
| accommodate you also. | | | | different things to different carriers. Some take |
| How about those who enjoy being way out there | | | | data to mean text messaging, email and music |
| on the cutting edge? Well known for having the | | | | only! Downloading family photos may fall outside |
| absolute latest gadgets. Love the words | | | | of your carrier definition of data. And you will |
| multimedia, smart phone and now you want to | | | | receive a hefty fine (bill) for transgressing their |
| ride the crest of the 3G wave. They have tried | | | | data law. |