TOO MANY CHOICES
BY SHARON PORTA Times Correspondent
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The December run on cell phones and service has subsided, but consumers
are still being bombarded with newspaper and television ads touting the
latest bundle of minutes.
Plans are numerous and consumers often find themselves overwhelmed by
choices. But here's a guide to making the right connection.
First, according to Allan Keiter, president of MyRatePlan.com, only buy
the calling area needed. Most carriers have segmented their offerings
between local, regional, national and network pricing, which lets people
buy a plan based on where they use the phone. Keiter's MyRatePlan.com
allows consumers to compare prices for various wireless services. In
their wireless calculator, an effort is made to show every carrier and
plan in a market.
"However, as the coverage area gets wider, the cost per minute built into
the plan goes up," Keiter said. "Some people like to buy the national
plans because they are simpler, no roaming to worry about. But that comes
at a cost, since it is built into the price per minute in the plan."
Keiter also advises buying a plan with more minutes than is anticipated.
"This is becoming more important as the price per minute for 'overage',
the charge for additional minutes after package minutes are exhausted,
has been increased by almost every carrier in recent months," he said.
"This means that the 'cost' of guessing wrong is more expensive."
The same is true of roaming charges, which have been raised to 69 or 79
cents per minute by carriers.
"It's the hidden stuff that's getting more expensive," Keiter said.
Most advise only signing a one year contract.
"That gives you leverage," said Matt Handal, production director of
LowerMyBills.com. "If your contract expires after a year, you can go in
and change to a better plan, or see if they will match what you had."
The $20 per month plans, which used to be so popular, have been
replaced by more minutes with plans costing from $39 to $99
per month.
"If you are just using the phone for emergencies, consider a prepaid
option," Handal said. "You have to consider your calling pattern."
To do so, look at past bills.
"There is a real perception about what you think you use, and what you
actually use," said Eddie Guadina of Indiana Wireless in Highland. "When
you look at the bill, that's the reality. See if you are always calling
one person in the family, and would benefit from a mobile-to-mobile
plan."
Guadina advises teenagers in particular to buy the plan and not the
phone.
"A teenager might want the cute phone, but it might not be on the network
that would be best for them," he said. "Also, $20 plans don't exist
any more, all the plans are giving you more and more minutes. But there
are many plans that are good enough. For example, people want free
roaming. If you travel once a month or more, that could be a good
option. But do you really need all that coverage if you only go on
vacation once a year?"
All advise to look for plans that include features that make sense for
particular needs, such as night and weekend bonus minutes, or free long
distance which can be used as a way to replace long distance calls from
home.
"A big trend is that people are giving up their home phones," Guadina
said. "If you are spending $40 per month on a wireless phone, and
$80 on the home phone, do the math. Get an AT&T plan with unlimited
minutes for $99."
Family plans can save money if there are two or more users needing cell
service and can share minutes. Other plans, like Nextel, offer push to
talk service, which are not subtracted from the monthly minutes.
But perhaps the most important factor to consider is coverage. Since a
phone that doesn't work where it is needed is not very helpful, it often
pays to ask others about their experience with a carrier.
"There are always coverage maps, but those are so generic," said Carolyn
Scofield, district manger for Noble Communications in Hammond, Munster
and Merrillville. "You have to be sure the dealership you are going to
gets you into a service area that works for you. When we get someone from
Crown Point, Cedar Lake, Lowell, I know what service won't work."
Some carriers allow for the phone to be returned within a week or two
after purchase if the coverage is found to be unacceptable, without the
contract breaking penalties.
"Some of the companies are working on their own towers, but it really
helps to go to someone you trust rather than a storefront beeper
company," Scofield said. "As the competition increases, people are
getting unlimited nights and weekends, unlimited long distance. But
before anyone signs a contract, they really need to think about how
they use their phone."
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