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Choosing the Right Mobile Service PlanJan 18 '01 (Updated Jan 22 '01) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Find carrier(s) that meet your coverage needs, then select a calling plan, then a phone. Doing it in this order will yield the best value for your dollar. Fundamentally, there are 3 interrelated things to consider: 1) Carrier Coverage 2) The Phone 3) The Service Plan Coverage is the most important, of course, because your plan won't do you much good if the phone won't work where you need. However, it is also very subjective. Best solution here is to ask friends/colleagues who use the carrier in areas where you are likely to use it. What's next--the phone or the service plan? I suggest that it is better to choose your plan first, then the phone. Why? Because choosing the wrong plan can cost you extra money each month, while the phone is a one-time decision. Additionally, from a practical perspective, most carrier offer a full range of phones for each service plan, from inexpensive to full-featured. Unless you have your heart set on a specific, hot new phone, go for the plan first. This brings us to selecting a service plan. There are many things to consider, but they all boil down to "How and Where will you use your phone each month?" The answer to that question will help determine if you should pick a local, regional or national coverage area and whether you should opt for special features such as an off-peak package, first incoming minute free, and/or free long distance. The easiest way to sort through this is to visit an unbiased website that will figure all of this out for you by taking your estimated calling patterns and comparing them against the plans then for sale in the market. Our website, MyRatePlan.com does just that--estimating your monthly bill to the penny for just about every plan available in your local market. However, if you are not comfortable estimating your usage, or just want general guidelines, here are a few: Calling Area: Most carriers now segment their plans into local, regional and national calling areas. Basically, the larger local coverage area you want (local coverage area being the area you can make/receive calls without incurring roaming charges), the higher rate you will pay per minute. Off-Peak Packages: This is a great way to save money, and as I write this (mid January, 2001), most of the carrier are offering some sort of FREE off-peak packages. They do this because there is less demand on their networks during the late night and weekends. However, you benefit because when you get free off-peak minutes, all the "Anytime" minutes in your package essentially become "Peak" minutes. What this means is that you can potentially purchase fewer minutes in your package because of the free off-peak minutes. Contract: Some people say you shouldn't sign a contract; but it is getting harder to avoid. Since you are likely paying $100 plus for your phone, you are in a sense making a commitment anyway, and thus the contract thing is not a big deal. Also, most of the carriers will let you switch plans during your contract if your needs change. First Incoming Minute Free: This is an interesting feature available on some plans; basically the first minute of calls placed to your phone are not charged. This sounds like a good feature, but considering how inexpensive minutes are these days, it really is far less significant than other "perks". How Many Minutes to Buy: If it is a close call, it is better to buy slightly more minutes than you need, rather than fewer. This is because the rate per minute declines, often dramatically, as you commit to more minutes each month.  |
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