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The following features, when included for free in your rate plan, can significantly reduce the number of anytime minutes you'll need each month. Consider them in conjunction with your own calling patterns to determine how advantageous each one would be for you. Where not included in the rate plan, airtime otherwise associated with these benefits will count against your anytime minutes.
It is worth noting that a more expensive phone doesn't necessarily mean better reception. Higher-priced phones are often more feature-rich, and may have slightly better microphones, yielding better voice clarity. However, all phones sold for a given carrier's service are built to the specifications of that carrier, so they should all have roughly the same signal strength in a given location.
Most cell phone plans now include free long distance from the home calling area to the rest of the United States. As a result, more people than ever are exclusively using their cell phones to make long distance calls.
What if doing that was actually wasting money?
Okay, now you probably think we're crazy: How can free long distance be more expensive than paying for long distance? Believe it or not, this can occur in two scenarios:
While most wireless subscribers have a standard, single-line plan, family plans have been gaining in popularity over the past couple of years, and prepaid plans represent the fastest growing segment of the industry.
Does your eight-year-old need a cell phone? The cell phone industry, running out of untapped markets, would like you to think so. There are now phones specifically designed for the preteen years, as well as a new generation of cell phones with parental controls.
Messaging is the most popular data feature associated with cell phones. Several carriers recently raised the per message charge from 10 to 15 cents. That, combined with a rapid increase in smartphones (with full keyboards) targeted to consumers, may lead to unexpectedly high bills for many consumers.
Buy a plan with slightly more minutes than you think you will need; this will minimize the need to use additional minutes — which are often very expensive.
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