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Playing cell phone tag? Learn how to save on your phone and calling plan Date published: 8/21/2004 By PORTSIA SMITH CELLPHONES were designed to make life easier, but trying to decide which carrier or plan to choose can be a tough decision--especially when it's for a one- to two-year commitment. The Free Lance-Star looked at phone plans from the six major carriers--Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, Cingular, Nextel and AT&T Wireless. Industry experts also gave advice on how to pick the carrier and plan that best works for you. Here's what we found. Can you hear me now?The first step in choosing the right carrier is making sure that it has good service in your area, said Allan Keiter, president of myrateplan.com, a wireless plan and phone comparison Web site. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell what kind of service a carrier has beforehand. Two ways to find out are by asking friends and neighbors or researching the carrier's customer service rating in your region. According to J.D. Power and Associates, Verizon and T-Mobile ranked the highest in cost and service plan options for the Mid-Atlantic region, which includes Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. In 2003, Nextel and Verizon had the lowest percent of customers who left the company, according to the Telecommunications Research and Action Center in Washington. Some wireless providers, like Cingular and Sprint, offer a two-week trial period where you can return the phone and not pay the cancellation penalty if service in your area is poor. "So, whatever carrier you pick, you'll want to test in all areas where you might need the phone," Keiter said. Over your macaroni minutes?Most calls are rounded up to the next minute. For example, a 15-second call will cost the same as a one-minute call. So will a busy signal or no answer. You will also be charged for the minutes used when someone else calls your phone. When choosing a plan, be careful that you pick a plan that best meets your needs and has slightly more minutes than you think you'll need. "This is because minutes in the rate plan are cheap, but it can be 40 cents each when you go over," Keiter said. "And it won't take long to double your bill." A comparison chart on myrateplan.com shows that in the Fredericksburg area, most overage minutes cost between 40 cents and 45 cents each.
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