How has cell phone coverage evolved?

Evolution of cell phone coverage

When cell phones first became popular in the mid 1980s and early 1990s, cell phone coverage was limited to your calling area. If you traveled outside your calling area, your phone would need to "roam" in search of a cell phone tower in the area in which you were traveling.

Cell phone carriers charged a considerable amount for roaming charges and some cellular phone users even found themselves with monthly bills of a thousand dollars or more.

But as cellular technology has developed over the years, most of the major cell phone carriers in the U.S. have eliminated roaming charges. Though you may be charged for long distance calls made on your cell phone, rarely do roaming charges apply anymore.

In fact, most carriers will give you the option of a cell phone plan with free long distance. Though normally slightly more pricey than a standard plan, free long distance plans are worth it if you make more than a couple long distance telephone calls per month.