Best Cell Phone Service Plans - Choosing The Best Wireless Service Plans

Once upon a time, decisions about telephone service were easy ? you either wanted it or you didn't. Those fairy-tale days are gone for good since the advent of the cell phone. Now, we not only have to figure out what type of mobile phone we'd like to have, but also what features we need, whether or not we want a contract or simply prefer to purchase pre-paid minutes without such a commitment, what accessories we think we might like and what type of plan will best meet our individual or family needs.

By the time we've cut through the red tape and have gotten down to the business of choosing a specific cell phone service plan, we're often either too overwhelmed by the lengthy decision-making process, or we're just looking to get the whole thing over and done with, so that we can finally start using the not-always-so-convenient little device. As a result, many people overlook some of the finer points of selecting the best plan for their money. The best thing to do, then, is to take a deep breath and give yourself a bit of time to clear your head before jumping into such a major undertaking. Once ready, it's a matter of doing a good deal of research and narrowing down your options, until the right one presents itself.

Defining Your Needs Profile

In order to ensure that you'll be opting for the best plan that matches your needs, it's important to define what those needs are, point by point. Without the creation of such a profile, you're far more likely to overlook some critical considerations when it comes time to choose a specific cell phone service plan.

• Track Your Time ? Accurately determining the number of minutes that you'll need to comfortably use your cellular phone service without disruption is the most significant piece of the puzzle. A miscalculation could mean the difference between the ability to use your cell phone freely and losing service altogether. Before you go shopping for mobile phone service, then, keep track of the number of minutes that you use the phone each day ? and be realistic, or you'll end up cutting yourself short in the end. Once that's been determined over the span of at least a week, you should then be able to forecast your monthly usage. That, however, won't be your target number; you'll need to add about 20% extra time onto your figure in order to have a comfortable safety net so that you won't eat up your minutes too quickly and possibly lose service.
• Consider Long Distance Needs ? A good plan for long distance phone service is essential if you find that you're using a significant number of minutes outside of your calling area. Geographical distance isn't always the determining factor when pricing comes into play, so don't assume that you'll need less just because the calls that you make are within ten miles of home ? even though they're out of your calling range. With many plans, the charge will be the same whether you're calling someone ten miles away or 1,000 miles away. In addition, many cell phone companies levy fees against you for roaming, which completely destroys the goal of cheap long distance calls.
• Choose Your Service Type ? Although it seems realistic to expect that all wireless phone service will ? one day ? be digital, that isn't yet the case. When you factor that into the equation, you'll understand that it's important to make sure that your cell phone service plan includes both analog and digital service. If not, you're going to find that you'll be missing out on a fairly large cell phone coverage area.
• Be Careful About Rounding ? Some cell phone providers try to gouge the pricing of your phone service by rounding out the amount of time that you talk to the next minute. That means that, if you talk for 5 minutes and 4 seconds, you'll end up being charged for a 6 minute conversation. The better choice is to find a company that rounds to the nearest second so that ? when making the same 5 minute and 4 second call, you'll only pay for 5 minutes and 5 seconds. While these increments may not seem like much on an individual basis, they can eat up your time allotment very quickly.
• Analyze the Rate Schedule ? Many carriers offer a special rate for nights and weekends, which seems great if you look at it on the surface. If, however, you don't know exactly which hours these rates encompass, then you might think that you're making a free call when, in fact, you're chewing up your minutes at a high rate.
• Look for Discounted Plans ? If you're planning to provide phone service for several members of your family, be sure to find a provider that gives the best cell phone coverage options. For instance, many of them will have a discounted family plan and ? in some cases ? will even provide free phones to a limited number of family members. Don't automatically assume that you'll be placed under the family plan umbrella, though ? take the time to ask about such a plan and, if it matches your needs, make arrangements to have it put into place.
• Assess Your Internet Needs ? Since some companies also provide internet phone service, make a realistic assessment of your online usage to see if it's worth paying the extra amount that will be required for that feature. If you tend to use the internet even as much as an hour a day, however, you'll end up losing thousands of minutes each month as a result.

Once you've developed a specific needs profile, then you'll need to consider whether or not to go with a prepaid service or sign a contract for up to a year or more. Depending upon your circumstances, you may want to consider opting for a plan that doesn't lock you into a particular time-frame, since you'll be required to pay for the service even if it isn't being used.

About the Author

Samantha Goode is a freelance technology writer who loves to provide tips to consumers shopping for cell phone service, cell phone providers and cell phone coverage.

---

Mobile Phone Unlocking

In the world today, you will but a phone, and... Read More

Family Cell Phone Plans - Comparison Shopping To Help You Choose The Best Plan

With the myriad of cell phone plans that are available... Read More

Cellular Phone Company

Cellular phone company list.There are many large cellular phone companies... Read More

Best Cell Phone Service Plans - Choosing The Best Wireless Service Plans

Once upon a time, decisions about telephone service were easy... Read More

The Teen Cellular Phone Market is Growing in Leaps and Bounds

Everywhere you turn around, you see someone talking on a... Read More

Helping You Choose From Cell or Land Line

Most of us have two phones, our cell and our... Read More

Satellite Phones: Essential for the Marine Industry

With more offshore fishing boats taking customers further out into... Read More

Telephone Tips, Techniques and Etiquette

Whether using the telephone for business or personal use, using... Read More

How Successful Is 3G REALLY In The UK?

How successful is 3G REALLY in the UK? I'm getting... Read More

Mobile Commerce: An Expectation for the Mobile Users In Pakistan

Mobile commerce is electronic commerce over wireless devices. Mobile commerce... Read More

Internet Cell Phone Deals - How to Take Advantage of Them

The internet can be a great place to buy your... Read More

Prepaid Cell Phones ? Are They Right For You

In today's world of communication technology, there's a lot out... Read More

Will Your Cell Phone Work in an Emergency?

If you're one of the millions of cell phone users... Read More

What is SMS?

What is SMS?SMS, also known as short messaging service, is... Read More

Making Sense of Cellular Phone Minutes

Cellular phones are different from your land-line home phone in... Read More

How To Save Money On Long Distance Calling Cards And Cheap Phone Cards

In the old days (7-10 years ago) there were no... Read More

Frequency Pollution; Is it real?

Today we are finding since the beginning of radio and... Read More

Cell Phones Accessories - Get More...

Accessories can complete an outfit, dress up something like a... Read More

Camera Cell Phones - Say It With Pictures!

Camera cell phones are sweeping the nation! In fact, long... Read More

Teens And Cell Phones

Let the battle begin, should teens have cell phones? Well... Read More

The Cell Phone Store

Effectively everybody wants the hottest and best cheap cell phones... Read More

Review of Bluetooth Wireless Headsets

Bluetooth headsets make up one of the fastest wireless markets... Read More

Cell Phone Plans ? Choices Abound!

The Future Is FlexibleGone are the days when the only... Read More

Bill Payment & Cellular Services - The Wave Of The Future For Merchant Retailers!

Electronic DistributionHow Electronic Distribution WorksThe Problems of Distributing Prepaid Services... Read More

Cell Phone Dos and Donts For Teens!

There are certain things people just shouldn't do with cell... Read More

Call Russia Feeling Like a Royal Romanov

Get set to be greeted by the Russians, with a... Read More

Short Messaging Service (SMS) for Enterprise Messaging

SMS for Enterprise Messaging ? Value added servicesShort message service,... Read More

How Young is Too Young? Buying Cell Phones for Kids

Take a random tween, age 8-12, place them in front... Read More

Prevent Phone Monitoring with Digital Spread Spectrum

If you are using an analog cordless or cellular telephone,... Read More

3G Technology

A 'third generation' wireless communications technology having evolved from first... Read More

Some Tips For The Safe Use of Cell Phones And Batteries

1. Increase the life span of your cell phone and... Read More

Prepaid Phone Cards Will Save You Money On All Your Long Distance Calls

If you make a lot of long distance phone calls,... Read More

Analog vs. Digital Cellular Phones

Cellular phones are an amazing modern convenience, but it can... Read More