|
|
Learn to piece together cell phone conundrum |
|
|
| |
Verizon Wireless iPhone
Image courtesy of Verizon Wireless
|
March 7, 2011
By Katelyn Gendron
Assistant Managing Editor
Editor's Note: This is the first part of a two-part series on how to navigate the complicated world of cellular service providers, pricing plans and mobile devices.
When choosing a cellular provider, consumers today have myriad options. They can "Rule the Air" with Verizon Wireless, become part of "The Now Network" with Sprint, join "America's largest 4G network" with T-Mobile or "Rethink Possible" with AT&T.
The decision, however, is far more complicated than simply choosing which network has the snappiest catch phrase or carries the trendiest smartphone. There's anytime, as well as night and weekend minutes to consider, text messaging, data usage, pre- and post-paid plans, and so much more. The beauty of having such a plethora of options in the marketplace, according to cellular providers, is that customers can tailor their needs to a certain type of phone and user plan, but others may feel overwhelmed by the possibilities.
The network
Deciding on a network first can narrow the playing field; giving consumers time later to focus on specific cellular phones and user plans that work best for them.
According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, "Verizon Wireless is tops overall," thanks to its dependable and extensive 3G coverage areas.
"Our ongoing investments in New England, and throughout the United States, have kept us ahead of wireless demand and enabled our customers to get the coverage they want and need on the nation's most reliable wireless network," Mike Murphy, spokesperson for Verizon Wireless, said. "Today people across Massachusetts are increasingly relying on tablets; smartphones and apps to stay organized and connected. Our investment in Hampden County has kept us ahead of these consumer trends and underscored our belief that any mobile device is only as reliable as the network it runs on."
The company spent more than $242 million to "increase coverage capacity" in 2010 and garnered recognition as year's J.D. Power and Associates' "Highest Call Quality in New England," Murphy added.
T-Mobile touts the speed and expanse of its network as its strongest asset. Consumers that require swift Internet connection for their smartphones could certainly benefit from T-Mobile's coverage.
"T-Mobile is 'America's Largest 4G Network,' offering customers a 4G experience in more than 100 metropolitan areas, reaching more than 200 million people from coast to coast. This year, we plan to expand our HSPA+ network and will reach more than 140 million Americans in 25 metro areas. The footprint of our 4G service is not something that competitors are going to match anytime soon," according to information provided by T-Mobile.
The cellular provider has also garnered J.D. Power and Associates' Customer Satisfaction Award for the past several years.
Those who travel extensively overseas can benefit from the coverage provided by AT&T, which according to Peter Nixon, director of New England sales, "provides the best global coverage."
"With GSM, AT&T provides access to voice service in more than 220 countries and data service in more than 200 countries. You also have access to 135,000 international hotspots in 87 countries," Nixon added.
Sprint markets its 4G network, simple billing and unlimited data plans as being the best opportunity for consumers in the marketplace.
"We were the first in the country to offer a 4G network, which is really important because so many customers are using phones designed for data such as streaming video or being on the Internet," Mark Elliott, communications manager for wireless devices, Sprint New England, said. "You're going to see a lot of new [cellular] devices getting 4G network capabilities [in 2011], which will offer more robust applications."
The Plan
Consumers can choose from various cellular providers, opting for either pre- or post-paid plans, individual or family-share or international plans.
Elliott called Sprint's billing system one of simplicity, value and savings. Customers can enroll in the "Simply Everything" plan, which allows for unlimited voice nationwide and unlimited messaging and data for $99; the "Family Everything" plan totals $189 per month for the first two lines with the third, fourth and fifth lines costing $89.99 per month.
Sprint also offers an "Unlimited Data" package for $69.99 per month, which includes 450 minutes for any network and unlimited data and messaging, plus an additional $10 for smartphones. "That's a savings of $39.99 per month compared to other carriers over the course of your two-year contract," Elliott said.
Sprint's pre-paid options fall under the umbrella of its Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA divisions. Pre-paid users have the benefits of terminating usage or upgrading their cellular device at anytime, however, they're also paying the retail cost for their cellular phone, versus the subsidized cost of a two-year post-paid contract.
Boost Mobile offers rates as low as $35 per month or $60 per month for BlackBerry with unlimited talk, text and Web usage.
Virgin Mobile allows customers to choose from a $60 per month plan with unlimited anytime minutes, text, e-mail, data and Web. They can also opt for a cheaper plan for 300 minutes each month and unlimited text, e-mail, data and Web at a monthly cost of $25.
U.S. Cellular's most popular plan, the Primary Plus Plan, carries a price tag of $69.99 per month and, according to their spokeswoman, is "the best value in wireless."
"This smartphone-friendly plan comes with 5GB of data, unlimited text, picture and video messaging and free GPS navigation," she explained. "This plan works well for turbo-texting data-lovers and also includes free unlimited incoming calls from any phone, nights and weekends, and mobile-to-mobile calls."
T-Mobile has several individual and family plans to choose from, ranging in 500 minutes to unlimited monthly talk time. For a price of $99.99 each month, T-Mobile customers receive unlimited minutes, text and data. Those seeking fewer minutes of talk time can pay $89.99 each month and also receive unlimited text messaging and data. The company's cheapest plan totals $39 for 500 voice minutes only.
User plans with AT&T are divided into four separate categories: 10 individual plans, 11 family plans, four prepaid plans and two data plans. Individual plans range from $39.99 domestically to $219.99 per month for an international line. Individuals can pay $39.99 per month for the bare essentials and receive 450 minutes (with rollover), 5,000 night and weekend minutes and unlimited mobile to mobile; or customers can bump up to 900 or unlimited minutes at a cost of $59.99 and $69.99, respectively.
Family plans with AT&T can cost anywhere from $59.99 per month plus $9.99 per additional line to $319.99 per month for an international calling plan, which also charges $9.99 for each added line.
Verizon Wireless offers customers individual, family and pre-paid plans. Individual plans range from $39.99 per month for 450 anytime minutes to $69.99 for unlimited minutes, with an additional 20 per text message and a separate fee per megabyte download during data usage. Talk and text packages total $59.99 for 450 monthly minutes to $89.99 unlimited minutes plus additional fees for data usage. For those customers who have a smartphone, a data package of $10 to $30 per month may be required.
Verizon Wireless family plans max out at $119.99 per month, plus additional lines. The provider's pre-paid plans range from $49.99 per month to $74.99 per month, which includes unlimited in network mobile to mobile, unlimited night and weekend minutes or unlimited talk and text plans.
Join The Reminder next week for the final part of this series, which will break down the complicated world of cell phone and tablet selection from feature phones to smartphones to Black-Berry, Android, iPhones and iPads. Readers will also be privy to a preview of the new innovations cellular customers can expect from their service providers this year.
|
Comments From Our Readers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
