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:: HOME :: CREDIT CARDS :: LONG DISTANCE :: INTERNET SERVICE :: LOANS :: CELL PHONES · Main Page · Sort by Carrier · Cell Phone Specials · Plans for Business · Prepaid Specials · Sort by Phone · Tips & Advice - New! · Cellular Buying Guide · Cell Phone Reviews · Cellular FAQ · Cellular Glossary · Info & Resources :: INSURANCE :: ONLINE BANKING :: KNOWLEDGE :: MORE |
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Cell Phone Tips and Advice Center Topic: Comparing Carriers and Plans See the subtopics menu for tips and advice about comparing wireless carriers and plans. For additional information about cell phones, see the topic list directly below.
 Choosing a Cell Phone PlanHow do I choose the best cell phone plan? When choosing a cell phone service plan, there are several things that you need to consider in order to make the right choice. By answering a few basic questions, you can identify your cell phone needs and make a wise decision as to which cellular deals are right for you. How often will you be using the phone? If you will use the phone for emergencies only, your best option is probably a prepaid plan. With this type of plan you pay a rate per minute rather than a flat monthly fee. However, if you are going to use the cell phone more often, or as your primary phone, you should choose a plan that offers a certain amount of minutes for a flat monthly fee. If you are unsure how many minutes you will use, choose more minutes than you think you need. However, be sure to check with the carrier to make sure you will be able to downgrade the plan if necessary. What time of day will you be using the phone? If you will not be using your phone during business hours and will only use it at night and on the weekends, many cell phone carriers offer free night and weekend plans. If you are going to use the phone at all hours, look for a plan that has a set amount of free anytime minutes. Will you be using text messaging? Text messaging is extremely popular these days. If you are going to send and receive a lot of text messages, it may be important to find a plan with unlimited text messages. Some plans charge a five-or ten-cent fee per text message. As you can imagine, these numbers can really add up over the course of a month. Do you need use your phone to surf the Internet? If you are going to be using your phone to download music or photos, use the Internet, send email or play video games, you will need to find a cell phone plan that includes the ability to surf the Internet and use other media. If you plan on accessing the Internet often, you may want to search for an unlimted Internet usage plan. ^ Back to top Comparing Cell Phone ServicesHow can I choose the best cell phone service provider? Once you have decided what type of cellular phone service you need and also have compared rates among carriers, do a little research before making your final decision. Which carriers offer the best customer service and the least dropped calls and outages? After all, it doesn't matter how much you pay if your phone service doesn't work to your satisfaction. Ask Neighbors To find out which cell phone provider works best in your neighborhood, the best way to get information is ask your neighbors directly. Ask what cell phone carrier they use and if they are satisfied with the service. Find out how frequently they experience service outages, dropped calls and network problems. Read Consumer Reports You can find reports and reviews on several Web sites online or in consumer magazines. A good place to start is our carrier basics seciton, where you can get a quick synopsis of what each carrier offers. ^ Back to top Finding the Best Cellular DealsHow can I find the best cell phone deal? To find the best deal on cellular service, you need to plan ahead, assess your calling needs and compare the plans of various carriers. Consider the following factors before signing up for new cellular phone service. Free Phones Some cellular phone providers will offer a free cell phone when you sign up with their service, so take that into account when doing a cost comparison between different wireless carriers. Monthly Rate The first thing to compare between cell phone plans is your monthly rate. There can be many subtle differences between similarly-priced plans amongst different carriers. Free Services The next thing you should look for is what services are free. Find out if caller ID, voicemail, incoming calls and other types of services come at no charge. Bundled Packages Wireless carriers will often offer lower rates for bundling services such a messaging, downloads and surfing the Internet. You will also find that some carriers also give a discounted rate if you purchase other types of service from the company. For example, a carrier's cell phone service can be cheaper if you bundled it with their landline service or home Internet access. Where to Look Be sure to compare plans and package deals from multiple carriers. Once you have several rate sheets from different providers, you can compare them to each other and find the best wireless deal for your specific needs. ^ Back to top Comparing Text Messaging PlansDoes sending and/or receiving text messages always cost extra? Cell phones are not just for making phone calls anymore. With your cell phone you can send and receive text messages and photos, download ringtones, browse the Internet, play video games and much more. The most commonly used data feature of cellular phones is messaging. When comparing wireless deals, make sure to compare the messaging packages as well as the rate plans for voice calls. Several cell phone carriers charge a per message rate that can add up quickly. Below is an overview of the different types of messaging services available and how they may affect your cell phone bill. Text Messaging Text messaging allows you to use your phone to send short messages to other cell phones. Oftentimes there is a charge per message for both sending and receiving. Some carriers offer a bundled package that can include 100 or more messages for a specific flat rate per month. Look for cell phone plans that have the best text messaging rate for your needs. If you use messaging regularly, expect to pay $5 to $20 a month just for this feature. Picture and Video Messaging Picture messaging allows you to upload a photo or video taken with your camera cell phone and send it to a computer or another cell phone. Usually there is a monthly charge for sending photos and videos. However, some companies do bundle this service with text messaging, which can reduce your overall cost. Instant Messaging Several cell phone carriers offer compatibility with instant messaging programs such as Yahoo, AOL, MSN and others. You instantly message friends and family if you have this service available on your plan. Check with your cell phone provider to see if instant messages count toward your text messaging limit or if they are unlimited with your service. ^ Back to top Looking for a Cell Phone DealWhat should I look for in a cell phone deal? There are many things you should look for when you are trying to find a deal on a cell phone package. Month-to-Month Service First and foremost, you should try to find a cellular service that does not lock you into a long-term contract. If at all possible, choose a month-to-month plan. With this type of plan, you can stop using the cellular service at any time. If you are under contract with a carrier, you may have to pay a termination fee and penalty to end the contract. Keep in mind that many free cell phone deals necessitate agreeing to a one- or two-year contract. Free Options Next you should look for a cellular deal with free options and services. Almost every cell phone carrier includes free voicemail in their cell phone plans, however some cell phone companies include other free options as well:
If you are in need of more than one phone line, you can often get discounts for multiple lines or shared minute plans. These type of plans are particularly helpful if you are buying cell phones for your entire family. Find out if any multi-line discounts are available before signing up with a carrier. Calling Circles Several wireless carriers offer "calling circles." As part of your monthly service plan, you can designate certain phone numbers as part of your personal calling circle. Any calls to and from these numbers will be of no charge. This type of feature can be very beneficial for people who call a handful of people the majority of the time. ^ Back to top Prepaid Cellular Phone ServiceWhat is prepaid cell phone service? Several cellular phone carriers offer prepaid calling plans, which differ from standard monthly plans. The advantages of these types of pay-as-you-go plans are that approval is not tied to your credit and you also do not need to sign a long-term contract. The main disadvantage is that the rates can be higher than standard monthly plans. There are normally two types of prepaid cell phone plans. In the first kind of plan, you pay by the minute. You are charged an initial fee to start the service and then you are charged an additional amount per minute thereafter. With these types of plans, you normally need a credit card or bank account so that the cellular phone provider can charge you for the service. In the second type of prepaid plan, you pay a set amount for a certain number of minutes. For example, you might be charged $40 for 400 minutes. Then when those minutes run out, you have to "reload" the phone with more minutes. Several cell phone carriers offer prepaid plans, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Tracfone, MetroPCS and others. ^ Back to top About Calling CirclesWhat are calling circles? Some wireless calling plans offer the use of personal networks or calling circles. The idea of a calling circle is that you can designate a certain amount of phone numbers as part of your personal calling circle and any calls to and from these numbers will be of no charge to you. You choose which telephone numbers are in your calling circle and change them as often as once a month. Sometimes, you are not even limited to mobile numbers or cell phone numbers within your network. In these cases, the numbers can be to any phone - landline or cellular. As of November 2007, one of the most commonly known calling circle program is T-Mobile's "MyFaves." You can designated five phone numbers as "MyFaves" and calls to and from these numbers are free. One thing to keep in mind is that cellular phone plans that include calling circles can be more expensive per month than standard plans. Be sure to research to make sure that the additional monthly cost of the plan is worth the money you'd save by calling the people in your circle without the plan. ^ Back to top
:: Compare the Latest Cell Phone Deals Now
:: Search Deals by Carrier: Alltel | AT&T | Nextel | Sprint PCS | T-Mobile | Verizon Wireless | More
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