| Before you run right out and buy the first cell | | | | appear designed to cause you to make a mistake |
| phone you see .... get yourself an education first. | | | | and not be able to redeem them, so be warned. |
| Make sure you ARE getting the best deal. | | | | You may consider looking at other carriers |
| For sake of discussion ... let's say you're getting a | | | | too....other than Verizon. So if you look at other |
| new cell phone, and have already decided to get | | | | options, and still like Verizon, nothing wrong with |
| Verizon. You've settled on getting a BlackBerry, | | | | that. However, if you haven't, then you should |
| probably the Curve, so you will be needing a data | | | | consider all your options. For example, AT&T |
| package, etc. | | | | offers about the same coverage as Verizon in |
| The question is .... what is the best way to get a | | | | many areas, but their 3G footprint is much |
| plan and phone? Online? The Store? Costco? | | | | smaller right now. However, they use GSM. So |
| A better question is ... what's right for YOU. | | | | their devices work much better overseas, since |
| If you are looking for the best price on the | | | | GSM is the dominant wireless standard around the |
| device, then online is the way to go. You can | | | | world. Verizon, Sprint, Alltel, and some local and |
| certainly buy from the Verizon site, but also have | | | | regional carriers use CDMA, which works well in |
| a look at Wirefly, as these places offer about the | | | | the U.S. and Canada but not so well (or not at all) |
| lowest equipment prices I've seen. Most of the | | | | in other countries. There are some CDMA devices |
| time the phone and even some accessories are | | | | that also have GSM for international roaming, but |
| free. | | | | they are limited. If international usage is an issue |
| One word of caution, though. When you shop | | | | I'd suggest looking into OneSim. |
| from an agent (any company besides the carrier), | | | | As for Sprint and T-Mobile, my friend had Sprint |
| read the terms carefully. There are sometimes | | | | back in 2001 and 2002 and found their network |
| restrictions on lowering your plan within the first | | | | to be quite weak. Especially inside buildings, with |
| six months, with significant penalties if you do. | | | | enough dropped calls to almost drive him insane. |
| However, the easy way around this is, when you | | | | That may have changed .... but they aren't hitting |
| initially sign up, get the cheapest plan you can, | | | | any high marks in customer service right now, |
| within reason. Then, if that doesn't meet your | | | | and my understanding is that they're bleeding |
| needs within the first few weeks to a month, | | | | customers. There's virtually no chance they'll |
| move up to the next one. You'll incur no penalty | | | | cease operations, but they seem to be in a state |
| this way. Also, read the terms related to canceling | | | | of disarray. So, unless you need a really cheap |
| your service before your contract ends. You will | | | | data plan, then I see no reason to choose them. |
| owe the carrier an Early Termination Fee (ETF), | | | | T-Mobile seems to be a good carrier overall, but |
| but you may also owe one to the dealer you | | | | they don't have much in the way of 3G service. |
| purchased the phone from. This isn't always the | | | | And because of the frequency that their 3G |
| case, but just be aware of it. The items I've | | | | network uses, only a few devices can access it. |
| mentioned in this paragraph can apply anywhere | | | | However, like AT&T, they use GSM, so your |
| other than the carrier's Web site, stores, or | | | | device will work well overseas. |
| telesales. You can encounter this at any | | | | One last thing. I've mentioned 3G a lot. Having it is |
| third-party agent, so if you have any doubts, ask | | | | very useful if you are going to be using lots of |
| questions and read everything you're given. | | | | data, such as getting maps and transferring lots |
| And I have to mention rebates. You're going to | | | | of files, but it really isn't as critical if you only plan |
| encounter them all over the place. If you plan on | | | | to check the occasional e-mail. |
| making that a big part of your buying decision, | | | | With everything I've just said .... I suggest finding a |
| you need to understand how tricky they can be. | | | | cell phone online. To make this as easy as possible |
| I've seen terms that state that you have to wait | | | | use the resources for cell phone comparison and |
| six months before you can file the paperwork, | | | | cheap cell phone deals available through Broadband |
| and you only have a one-month window to do it, | | | | Nation. |
| or the rebate is void. These things sometimes | | | | |