Picking a cell phone for college
By Jerry Lynott
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Which way to go depends on several key factors, including how student will be using the phone, expert says.
As parents get ready to send their children off to college with a cell phone, which plan to use will require some study on their part.
What carrier should you sign up with? Who is paying for the phone? What is the coverage area?
They're all good questions, said Allan Keiter of MyRatePlan.com, an Atlanta-based online resource for consumer services in the areas of credit cards, travel, insurance and long distance.
But topping the list, he said, should be, "What's it primarily going to be used for?"
If the phone is mainly for long-distance calls home, tailor the plan for that, said Keiter. If the student travels frequently, consider a plan with a regional or national coverage area. Another plan might be best for a student whose calls are mainly for around the school.
"A lot of plans have free long distance," said Keiter. It makes sense then for a student who is going to be away most of the year to get listed in the market where the school is located so they can make local calls and take advantage of the freebie.
A student might have to deal with roaming charges for calls outside their coverage area when they return home for holidays or breaks, however, said Keiter. If the trips home are frequent, consider going with a regional or national plan.
If parents are paying for the phone, they might want to look at prepaid minutes, Keiter added. "It's good for budgeting purposes." The airtime is programmed into the phone and operates on the same principle as buying a phone card with a designated block of time.
Students who buy their own phones and pay their own bills will be required to undergo a credit check by the service provider. You must be 18 to qualify to buy a phone in the first place, said Keiter.
With the right plan, having a cell phone at school "could actually be an opportunity for the family to save money" and forgo the expense of having a school-supplied phone in the dorm, added Keiter.
Face it, cell phones are becoming ubiquitous. There are approximately 140 million users nationwide, said Keiter. The convenience of dialing up anyone at anytime in anyplace makes them a must-have item for business, pleasure or emergency.
A cell phone is "a good thing for the younger person with a mobile lifestyle," Keiter said.
He suggested visiting his Web site or another, SimplyWireless.com, or providers like Verizon, Sprint, Nextel, VoiceStream and AT&T to see what plans are available and how they compare in cost, coverage, fees, extras and phones. In the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area there are more than 70 plans to choose from.
Plans may be purchased from the site or at a retailer or carrier's store. Some people like to see and handle the phone they'll be using and prefer to do their shopping in person, Keiter said.
Whatever the method, his advice is to shop for the plan that suits your need. "There's no magic solution," he said.
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