Maximize Your Cell Phone Service
As popularity of cell phones increases so are the choices available for service. Here are some tips on choosing a mobile phone plan that will save you money from The Saturday Early Show's personal finance adviser Ray Martin, who notes one recent survey found costs are rising.
A calling plan is simply an agreement you make with a mobile phone company to use your phone a certain amount of time each month. There are thousands of calling plans in the United States, and they can be extremely confusing. A good calling plan provides enough minutes for you to communicate freely yet won't hammer you with unexpected charges. To make the best decision be aware of factors that can make or break your bill, like minutes, technology, service area, roaming and options.
Minutes
There is no such things as free minutes. You pay for them in the monthly charge you agree to pay. Figure out how you plan to use the service. Do you only want the phone for emergencies? Do you make more local or long distance calls? Do you travel a lot and need an international carrier? Do you plan to use your phone more during peak or off-peak hours?
Service Area
Whether you opt for local, regional, national or even international service, you'll want to choose a calling plan that stretches the full geographic range of your calling needs. Local and regional plans provide the best calling value but only if you'll physically be within the calling area.
Local and regional plans generally reward wireless callers for sticking with the program, but using your cell phone on an occasional trip may add extra roaming or long-distance fees to your bill.
National plans, though more expensive than local or regional plans, will give you the freedom to call regardless of geographical location, making them a good bargain for people often on the road.
Roaming Charges
Roaming means using your cell phone to make or receive calls while you're physically outside your home calling area; this arrangement is made possible by reciprocal agreements between carriers.
If you plan to do a lot of traveling, invest in a national or international calling plan that includes roaming and long-distance service in your standard monthly fee and monthly minute totals.
Calling Plan Options
Calling plan providers are offering some convenient features: Caller ID, three-way calling, voice mail, numeric paging, call forwarding and Internet access are just some of them. Consider which ones you really need and their charges. Some services offer package deals when ordering more than one.
Ways to Save
- You'll save money if you are charged only from the moment your call is actually connected - instead of from when you hit "send" - until you hang up.
- Limit incoming calls. On some plans, you are charged when someone calls you. Don't give out your number to all of your friends, and turn your phone off when ou are not using it or are expecting a call.
- Test your phone's lag time. If you think you're saving money by hanging up before an answering machine picks up, check your bill. You may find one-minute charges because the wireless phone keeps ringing one or two times after you hit end: Then when the answering machine picks up you get charged for the call.
Hang up a ring or two before the answering machine picks up to save on those calls. Also, be aware that some providers will charge you for letting a phone ring for more than 30 seconds.
- Arrange for credit for calls to disconnected numbers. Contact your provider by dialing the universal 6-1-1 sequence and ask for a credit to your account.
- Seek group discounts. Some consumers may qualify for a lower-cost calling plan if they are members of an organization or association such as a chamber of commerce, the American Association of Retired Persons or a bar association. Ask carriers about these plans.
Not only can you buy cell phones and services on the Internet, the following Web sites offer advice, including consumer feedback on plans, phones and accessories.