Read This Before Getting A NEW Cellular Phone
It seems like these days, there are a million and one different cellular phones and service plans on the market all claiming to be the BEST. How in world do you decide on which one to signup with?
Many people sign up for a $60 a month service plan, but only end up using about 20% of the allocated minutes! Others, sign up for "across the country" plans costing $150 a month, but rarely travel outside their own state!!
Today, you can typically find quite a number of local providers offering a wide variety of services to both individuals and businesses alike. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your cellular phone experience.
*MOST IMPORTANT: Talk To Your Friends & Neighbors
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The most valuable advice that mostly everyone forgets to take into consideration is the "friend factor".
More than likely, you have a few friends, family members, neighbors who have cellular phones. The best way to learn about their particular phone and service provider is to simply ask them. Within minutes, you can find out how well they like their phone, service provider, and most importantly - the reception and clarity of calls.
Reception is THE MOST IMPORTANT factor to consider. For those of you familiar with cell phone static, garbled noise, echoing voices, and dropped calls, I think you'll agree these annoyances will make your cell phone experience miserable.
EVEN IF you have the BEST phone, with the MOST minutes, for the CHEAPEST price, if you are NOT with a company that provides a solid clear reception for both incoming and outgoing calls, you will be VERY disappointed and angry since you probably signed a 1-2 year contract.
Take my word for it. I have been with four different service providers over the past five years and the ONLY reason I kept switching was due to my unsatisfaction with the reception. It wasn't due to a lack of phone features, or even minutes provided, that can always be adjusted later or solved with the purchase of a higher end, more expensive phone. It ALL came down to the clarity of my cell phone calls, both incoming and outgoing.
Trust me, the first time you can't understand, or unexpectantly lose an important phone call, you'll remember this article and say "That guy from SavingSecrets.com told me about this!"
What can you do to educate yourself about cellular service? Talk to anyone you know who owns a cell phone. This is my best advice. Simply approach this topic by saying:
"Hey, I'm planning on getting a cell phone soon, but I'm a little unsure of which service provider to sign up with. There are so many options out there, I want to make sure I do my research before signing a lengthy contract. Could you tell me a little about your phone and service provider, and please be brutally honest."
Then, just make sure you ask these type of questions:
-How do you like your particular phone?
-What are the costs/plan/minutes provided?
-Who is your service provider?
-Do you have clarity issues ie: alot of static, echoing noise, call drops?
-What are the pros and cons, in your opinion?
Personally, I recommend speaking to at least ten different people so you not only hear different opinions, but you can compare notes and see if you can find any consistencies amongst phones/providers.
CHOOSING SERVICE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before you decide on a company/policy that best suits your needs, you MUST determine what type of cell phone 'user' you'll be. This will save you money month after month.
Take a moment to reflect on when you will be using your phone the most. Is your cell phone for business purposes? For personal use? Just on the weekends? What time of the day will you use the phone most?
Know the answers to these questions before signing any type of cellular phone service agreement. It will help guarantee you get the best deal for your money.
Other important information to know:
- Monthly Service Charge
- Number of Minutes Included in Plan
- Type of "FREE" minutes- weekend or anytime
- Per Minute Charge: Peek, Off Peak, Weekend
- Local Coverage Area
- Long Distance Charges
- Roaming Charges (when out of your designated calling area)
WHAT PHONE TO GET?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This question can only be answered by you. Do you really NEED a cell phone that can play games, store thousands of names and numbers, and get the latest sports scores?
If you just want a cell phone to make occasional phone calls, you can probably settle for a $30-50 phone. Better yet, most carriers offer FREE phones with the signing of a service agreement (generally 1-2 years).
IMPORTANT - Make sure you try out the phone before you buy it. This is your chance to test the product. Is it too small? Are the buttons a good size for you fingers? How's the clarity? etc. . .
Every service provider will let you make a call on the phone you're interested in buying. Try, before you buy! And don't just stand in the storeroom. *Make sure you ask first*, but walk around outside, go into a neighboring store, get in your car. Did the signal stay strong?
Also, have a friend call you on the phone so you can check how an incoming call sounds. If possible, have a friend call you from a cell phone to check what a cell-to-cell call sounds like.
ALREADY HAVE A CELL PHONE?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Analyze the bill over the past two or three months. Do you see a calling pattern? When do you call more during the week or on weekends?
Write down an estimate of the hours you spend during peek (7am-7pm), off peak (7pm-7am) and weekend hours (Fri 12am-Sun 12am). Once you have an idea of when you spend your time on the phone, you can then speak with a service representative about changing to a plan that might better fit your needs.
If you did happen to sign a 1-2 year contract, ask what type of switching/changing options you have. Remember to be courteous and nice. It will not help to start shouting and screaming because then the representatives will not be inclined to help you. They'll simply say "You signed the contract."
Just politely state: "I am happy with your service and would like to remain your faithful customer, but I need have something adjusted that will better suit my calling habits...."
CONCLUSION
~~~~~~~~~~~
The best advice to give to cell phone users is to educate yourself as much as possible. Find out what services are offered in your area. TALK TO people you know who have cell phones and ASK them what they think of their service. You'll be able to tell right away if they are 'happy' or 'frustrated' with their cellular service.
*NOTE* Just BE SURE you do NOT sign any contract until you have carefully thought and read through everything.
Gregory Thomas, editor of http://www.SavingSecrets.com - has written hundreds of effective money-saving tips, strategies, and articles over the past 6 years. Visit their website and you'll find FREE money-saving articles, a monthly newsletter, and even a FREE Ebook download just for stopping by!
 Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:06:59 GMT Ready, set, go! Real race gets underway - Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis Star Tribune - By NEWS SERVICES, Washington Post McCain has turned this election into a soap opera about Sarah Palin and her family. Is this what we need to be talking about during these … read more critical times when people are losing their jobs, their homes, ... Palin intrigues Chinese public Annette John-Hall: Pit bull of a hockey mom leading war on diversity Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:17:06 GMT Federal Highway Fund About to Run Out of Money - New York Times
New York Times - By DAVID STOUT WASHINGTON - An important account in the federal Highway Trust Fund will run out of money this month, which could hamper completion of road and bridge construction projects across the country, Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters said ... Highway Trust Fund Is Nearly Out of Gas Bush reverses course, backs road fund bailout Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:04:00 GMT Machinists Go on Strike Against Boeing - New York Times
New York Times - By MICHELINE MAYNARD The union that represents machinists struck the Boeing Company early Saturday, crippling its aircraft production in the United States and potentially delaying the development of an important new plane, the Dreamliner. Contract talks fail; machinists strike Boeing Co. Boeing machinists walk off the job as talks fail Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:28:42 GMT Seinfeld ads only part of Microsoft push - United Press International
United Press International - REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) says it's banking on a new US marketing campaign to fix the image problems of its Vista Windows operating system and connect with customers. Windows Vista: The OS About Nothing Microsoft Works to Perfect Windows Vista Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:01:13 GMT 'True Blood': Undead On Arrival - Washington Post
Washington Post - By Tom Shales You need a very good excuse to dig up the subject of vampires yet again, and filmmaker Alan Ball seems to have one. His "True Blood" is an audacious, outrageous, playfully grisly comic drama (or dramatic comedy) in which vampirism is ... Vampire tale deserves chance to suck us in 'Blood' lacks that dramatic HBO bite Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 03:49:55 GMT SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest - BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek - by Arik Hesseldahl Battered by a year of flagging prices for flash-memory chips and by an inability to get traction in sales of digital media devices, SanDisk (SNDK) may soon get scooped up by South Korean electronics giant Samsung Group. Samsung Weighs Buying SanDisk SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:28:25 GMT Electronic Arts spawns Spore -- which may be a benevolent god - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - Spore is one of the most-talked-about video games in years, and it was masterminded by Will Wright, the same game developer who was behind the blockbuster Sims franchise. Spore reviewed EA's 'Spore' Set For Earthwide Launch Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:01:47 GMT Easy Work At Home Opportunity |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Most Americans have cell phone plans with contracts that call... Read More Are you planning on buying a new phone in the... Read More Cordless phone systems offer many features and are ideal for... Read More Bought the latest in mobile phones? Can't wait to show... Read More I was shopping in the large superstore with my five-year-old... Read More More Than Just a PhoneSelecting a cell phone is no... Read More You probably don't even think about it but do you... Read More Voice Mail put simply In its simplest form a voice... Read More Best camera cell phone - description.Best camera cell phone is... Read More Cell phones have become a necessity for many people throughout... Read More The cellphone is truly a marvelous invention. It has had... Read More The titanic developments in new technology have radically changed the... Read More Whether using the telephone for business or personal use, using... Read More The new "smartphones" have a lot of really cool features.... Read More Cellular phones are in schools, banks, malls, and homes across... Read More Please read the article and leave a comment with your... Read More Free camera with cell phone - excellent deal.Getting a free... Read More The recent rollout of 3G-ready mobile devices has caused a... Read More You're never too old to have some fun. With the... Read More In today's world of communication technology, there's a lot out... Read More When the first cell phone arrived onto the market it... Read More Choosing a cellular phone contract and choosing a cell phone... Read More We hear from friends or just general chat by people... Read More Phone and voice mail systems can be pretty costly, even... Read More Downloadable Ring tones - The Latest TrendWhat can you say... Read More
Adsense
websites
Prepaid Cell Phone Plans ? Are They For You?
Getting the Most of Your Cell Phone Batteries
Cordless Phone Systems
Here Are Some Tips For Safe and Appropriate Use of Your Mobile Phones
Camera Cell Phones -- More Uses Than You Could Have Imagined
Selecting a Cell Phone
Take Care of Your Cell Phone Battery. Your Life May Depend on It
Choosing a Voice Mail System
Best Camera Cell Phone
The Importance Of Cell Phones In Modern Society
Cell Phones Revealed
Spider-man 3 on Your Cellphone Anyone?
Telephone Tips, Techniques and Etiquette
Knowing All the Features of New ?Smartphones?
Recognizing Common Cellular Phone Problems
Don?t Get Caught Out by the Mobile Phone Matrix Scams
Free Camera With Cell Phone
What SMS Users Are Telling Telcos
Have Some Fun With Cell Phone Games
Prepaid Cell Phones ? Are They Right For You
Cell Phone - Helping You Choose
Cellular Phone Contract Tips
Cell Phone - Why Should I Upgrade
Choosing The Right Phone and Voice Mail System
Ringtones Explained - Monophonic, Polyphonic, or Whatever Phonic Rings Your Bell
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Finding Long Distance
When a person moves, they need to hook up utilities.... Read More
Mobile Commerce: An Expectation for the Mobile Users In Pakistan
Mobile commerce is electronic commerce over wireless devices. Mobile commerce... Read More
Frequency Pollution; Is it real?
Today we are finding since the beginning of radio and... Read More
Free Cell Phones All Around - Cashing in on Consumerism
There's no greater way to win the hearts of consumers... Read More
How to Find the Best Cellular Phone Service Deal
Finding the best cellular phone service deal can seem as... Read More
Camera Cell Phone
Camera cell phone ? benefits.Camera cell phone is a great... Read More
How Successful Is 3G REALLY In The UK?
How successful is 3G REALLY in the UK? I'm getting... Read More
Prepaid Cellular Phone
Reasons why someone would purchase a prepaid cellular phone.Prepaid cellular... Read More
Wireless... Are You Connected?
If you look around at any given time in public,... Read More
Cell Phone Safety
Cell phone safety is a topic widely debated around the... Read More
Cell Phone Batteries, Money Saving Tips
It's hard to imagine what the world did before the... Read More
Cellular Phone Service
Cellular phone service ? pick the one you like.You can... Read More
Grammy Award Winners Expected to be Heard on Cell Phones Soon
Trends in music come and go, but the crown jewel... Read More
International Calling Made Simpler And Cheaper
When people make international calls from their cell phones or... Read More
Contemplating Selling Your Cell Tower Lease For A Lump Sum?
Many landowners who have leased land for a cell tower... Read More
Cellular Phone Company
Cellular phone company list.There are many large cellular phone companies... Read More
Small Business Phone Systems ? A Brief Explanation
How a business presents itself to its customers has to... Read More
The Cell Phone Store
Effectively everybody wants the hottest and best cheap cell phones... Read More
Makes Cell Phones Ring at Airports
International Terrorist and insurgents to detonate bombs to kill innocent... Read More
Protect Yourself From Cell Phone Radiation
With cell phones quickly becoming an important part of our... Read More
Prepaid Cell Phones ? Are They Right For You
In today's world of communication technology, there's a lot out... Read More
Donate Your Old Cellular Phone To Support A Worthy Cause
With new features being added to cellular phones at an... Read More
The Pros and Cons of Camera Cell Phones
All the major phone manufacturers are cashing in on the... Read More
Camera Phones - Are They The Real Deal?
It's no surprise If you've become interested in the new... Read More
Will Your Cell Phone Work in an Emergency?
If you're one of the millions of cell phone users... Read More
Mobile & Cell Phone |