Cell Phone Carriers Can Be Confusing - So Look Hard and Listen-Up

Keep in mind that prices, contact specifications, even special offers and on service and the many extras are constantly changing. Because the cell phone carrier business has become increasingly competitive, it pays to shop around. There are also a few things you should remember when trying to determine which cell phone and cell phone carrier are the best for you.

For instance, if you’re traveling outside of the cell phone carrier’s network system, you’re at the mercy of those pesky roaming agreements. If your cell phone company has an agreement with a cellular tower within range, you can make a call. If not, you’re simply just out of luck!

Also, dropped calls are an issue with all cellular providers, although this is getting better as technology continues to evolve and advance.

And, upon first glance, retrieving your voice mail messages may not seem costly, but the minutes used to do this add up. For instance, retrieving a Nextel voice message is as easy as two clicks of a button and your password. The Nextel system also allows you to erase messages without hearing them play all the way out (saving your minutes even more), as do both Cingular and Verizon Wireless. However, getting through to your messages if you’re a Verizon user takes five clicks, the pound sign and your password. Depending on how you dial, Cingular message retrieval may require you to enter your own cell phone number twice (much like ALLTEL), along with your password and the pound sign.

Sprint PCS Wireless’ voice mail system gets high marks for simplicity, reliability and overall functionality. It boasts a great one-click option of sending a message and notification of new messages is instant. Sprint PCS Wireless’ voicemail is accessible with a single click (and does not require a password if calling from your own wireless phone). You can even return a voicemail call to the number picked up by your caller ID with a single touch (ALLTEL service allows for this, as well).

AT&T Wireless’ voicemail service is reliable, but takes more clicks and notification of a new message is often delayed (this is experienced by ALLTEL and Verizon Wireless users, as well). In fact, you may not receive a notification at all if you are traveling outside your digital calling area (which is also the case with ALLTEL).

More importantly, do not forget to consider your own needs and to consider these when reviewing cell phone plans. Most companies offer peak and non-peak minutes (daytime and night-and-weekend minutes). This may not be easily determined, so review plans closely before signing on the dotted line. For instance, a plan that has 2,000 may sound like it is exactly what you need, but if 1,500 of these minutes must be used say between Midnight and 6 a.m., it ends up being anything but a good deal.

Beware of monthly basic monthly fees, which are charged by all the cell phone carriers, and can range anywhere from $30 per month (for regional calling plans offering only a couple hundred minutes of calling time), all the way to a whopping $200 a month (for a nationwide plan for unlimited calling).

Lastly, be mindful of the fact that the services you get from your cell phone provider depend on the plan you order and the wireless phone you buy. Most companies offer Web access via the wireless phones, email, two-way paging (think walkie-talkies) text paging, text messaging, voice mail and more, but at a price. As with anything else in life, the more you add to your wireless phone and your wireless service, the price goes up. So, pay attention and don’t forget to read all the small print!

About the Author

Kellie Fowler is an award-winning freelance writer who spends her winters in the U.S. and her summers in Canada, where she enjoys her 6 rescue pets, kayaking, fly-fishing, reading and writing. She is the owner of Write Solutions, a full-service writing company. Kellie currently freelances for several international groups and Fortune 500 companies, as well as well-known national magazines and newspapers.