How To Choose The Best Cell Phone Plan
By J. Lloyd
Shopping around for a cell phone plan can quickly become an exercise in tedium and confusion. Weighing the facts to figure out which plan is the best can feel like it requires a degree in rocket science.
Fortunately, there are a few key things anyone can look for to ensure the plan they get is one of the best out there to meet their needs. Some of the things to watch for include:
* Pricing structure. This is where things tend to get a little confusing. Pricing structures tend to be tiered. This means some plans offer a certain amount of free or included minutes, free calling times, peak time charge, off time charges and more. Start out with the basic monthly charges and check what’s included and what isn’t.
Sorting it all out can make one’s head spin. Some plans come with unlimited included minutes on days, nights and weekends. What fits personal needs the best needs to be determine on a one-on-one basis. It is important to fully understand the pricing structure and the financial penalties for going over. Not doing this can result in bills that are much higher than customers might anticipate.
* Long distance arrangements. Not everyone will be concerned about this feature, but some people need long distance included in their cell phone plan. Many companies provide for long distance to be included at no extra charge with the set minutes, but others charge extra. The area the long distance is covered should also be considered.
* International long distance. Most plans offer this to some extent. To get unlimited or at least discounted rates, it might be considered an add on or optional feature. If calls to other countries are a concern, it is worth asking about this. Some plans offer limited international long distance, which might work well for personal needs.
* Local calling area. Making sure the local calling area for a plan fits personal needs is very important. Some plans offer very limited calling areas, others go state to state or region to region.
* Roaming charges. Finding out the damage when traveling outside of local calling areas is always worth knowing. For some people this will be a big concern; other may barely find themselves roaming.
* Contract period. Since cell phone plan features change all the time from company to company, understanding the contract period is also wise. It is possible one contract will be signed and another company will come up with a better plan to fit personal needs six months down the road.
* Phone inclusion. Not all cell phone plan options come with free or discounted phones. Find this out. Not everyone can afford or even wants to pay out extra money for a cell phone when there are free options included with some plans.
Shopping around for a cell phone plan might not be much fun, but it can net some very good savings. Pay close attention to the features needed for personal use and read the fine print to ensure the best deal.
Best group, family, or business cell phone plan for 7 lines?
I need to find a cell phone plan that I can have 7 different lines for. Any suggestions of what companies or carriers have a big enough family/group/business plan for that?
No texting or data necessary. Just a basic, minimalistic voice plan. Free mobile to mobile would be nice.
I myself am a prepaid fan and if you want to go cheap then prepaid is the way to go. I know that prepaid cell phones haven’t been popular at all with anyone because they charge you by the minute and per text message weather sent or received. The thing is that the prepaid industry has changed enormously in the past 2 years. Many providers now offer unlimited features which is a money saver! I myself would recommend Alltel U prepaid, you can’t go wrong. While your at it though compare that and do the math against other mainstream providers such as T-Mobile To Go, Verizon Inpulse, At&t Go Phone.
Whats the best and cheapest cell phone plan?
I am looking for a good and cheap plan. Preferably something with free nights and weekends, and if there’s a text plan cool, if not, I can live without texting.
Also, where do I go to sign up for a plan? I’m kind of new to the cell phone business since this is going to be my first plan by myself and not sharing one with anyone else.
Thanks for the help and advice.
Alltel has a good family plan…long distance, add family members for 9.99 and you can pay for unlimited text messaging. You also get 10 names to put on the computer that all phones can call anytime anywhere any network for free. I have a total of 5 phones on my plan and my bill runs around 200 a month
What is the best family of four cell phone plan?
The kids need unlimited text at the least to keep me in touch/reach of me, my husband and I need to talk and receive business calls.My home phone is 55.a week unlimited long distance but some of my friends have traded in their home phone budget for cell phones.Is the cost anything close to the same,is there away to trade and not kill the budget?
Out of all the cell phone plans family plans are the cheapest. While choosing the cell phone plan, you have to make sure that you’re choosing the right cell phone plan for you. You can compare cell phone plans to know which suits you most according to your usage requirement.
Best and most affordable cell phone plans?? ?
What cell phone business are you with, and how much do you have to pay a month? How many minutes do you get, and is the connection good? I currently am with virgin mobile, and I pay $35 a month for 200 anytime minutes, 500 nights and weekends. With just this, I pay $25 but I add $10 for unlimited texting. Is there a better deal, and do you need to buy an expensive phone and have a contract to have that plan?
that’s a huge family plan, i recommend Verizon! Best Service provider!
What is the best [family] cell phone plan?
So, I’m trying to shop for cell phone plans. Granted, none of them have the features I want. (Unlimited text messaging, mobile to mobile, nights that start at 7 P.M., and free incoming calls) Low and behold, that’s the business world for you. But I would like your opinion on what’s the closest there is (for a good plan, of course). I’m looking at a family plan with three (3) phone lines.