Wednesday, December 08, 2004

7 Points To Consider Before Agreeing To Any Cell Phone Contract

Choosing the right phone and right plan for you can be a little challenging. Picking the right cell phone depends on your personal preferences and your needs.

Handsets vary from the multi-featured and cool style to the strictly functional and unassuming. It is strictly a personal choice, and you'll want to choose a handset that is just right for you--one that you'll enjoy using and carrying around.

While there are many factors to consider, it all boils down to which handset will offer you the best blend of design, features, and performance you are looking for.

If you thought picking a design was hard, choosing your features isn't any easier. Cell phones range from simple and functional to complicated with lots of features. As a general rule, don't buy anything more than you will use.

If you want your phone to strictly make calls, stick with the basics. If you're going to use your mobile for e-mail or multi-tasking, go with a higher-range model. If you want to have fun with your phone consider one with a camera.

Think carefully about how much you'll actually be using your phone. Usage time is the basis of every calling plan. The more minutes in your plan the more money you will have to pay. Most plans from the major carriers vary from 300 minutes a month up to 5,000 minutes.

But there is more to it than that. You also have to think about when you'll be making most of your calls. Most carriers consider only those calls made during peak periods (typically, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.)as minutes that actually count toward your anytime minutes.

Calls made during the weekends, nights, and holidays, are usually free and unlimited. Calls made to other cell phones on a carrier's network can also be free.

Keep in mind that incoming and outgoing calls can also count toward anytime minutes, and don't forget checking your voicemail. Be sure you know how your plan works.

When trying to choose the best plan for you, you're better off overestimating the number of anytime minutes you'll need rather than paying extra, expensive airtime charges each month.

If you do find that you've overestimated or underestimated your usage, you can easily change your rate plan. Keep in mind that this may affect your contract date moving it out further, ask.

7 points to consider before agreeing to a cell phone contract:

1. Verify the anytime minutes you have and what kind of calls count toward them.

2. Be aware of all roaming, overtime, and extra charges.

3. If you travel a lot, or have lots of friends and relatives all over creation get a nationwide plan with free long distance.

4. Know where your local calling area begins and ends.

5. Many of the great deals require a two-year contract. Make sure you understand this commitment and how much it will cost to break it.

6. If you're in the middle of a contract or not on a contract and just want to buy a new phone you don't need to sign a new contract but you probably won't get any discounts that would come with a new contract.

7. Extended warranties and insurance can come in handy if your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged. Just be sure to find out the total cost.

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About the Author
Janie Redman's website 1 Stop Shopping Online.com offers a convenient and easy for you to search and compare an extensive selection of wireless phones, accessories and plans online so you will end up with the cell phone and plan that's perfect for you.