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How
to Choose a Cellular Phone and Plan? |
Cellular
Phones and Wireless Plan FAQs
FAQ sheet
for choosing wireless phones and cellular plans
What is my home coverage
area?
This is the region where your provider has set up a network, or
has agreements with other carriers to carry your calls. Check the
coverage map associated with your plan for a visual representation
of your home coverage area. If you do not have a plan that includes
free roaming and free long distance, you will be charged additional
fees for calls made outside of this area.
What are the differences
between analog and digital phones?
Analog phones operate by sending and receiving signals in a continuous
sound wave; digital phones send and receive messages by converting
sounds and voices into numeric code. Analog phones generally are
less expensive than digital phones, but the service is usually
more costly. Analog phones have shorter talk and standby time
than digital phones. Analog phones offer more complete coverage
in rural areas. Digital phones offer better voice quality. Digital
phones have a longer battery life. Many digital phones also work
on analog networks.
What
is the difference between PCS and cellular?
Phones that operate on a PCS system (personal communications
service) use digital technology and offer advanced features
like caller ID. Cellular phones use either digital or analog
technology, or both.
What is 3rd Generation?
The 3rd Generation (3G) mobile devices and services are the
next wave. 3G will provide the capacity for online, real-time
transfer of information, regardless of time and place. For example,
you will be able to send images or participate in live video
conferencing by using your 3G mobile communications device.
What is a dual-band phone?
A dual-band phone is a PCS phone that can operate on analog cellular
networks when it is out of range of PCS network antennas.
What battery has the
longest life, NiMH or Li-Ion?
Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries tend to offer the longest talk
times and standby times in a lightweight package-and tend to
be the most expensive. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries
are the reliable standard that offer average talk times (2 to
5 hours) and standby times (24 to 48 hours).
What
is the difference between talk time and standby time?
Talk time is the amount of time you spend conversing on your
wireless phone, either making outgoing calls or receiving incoming
calls. Standby time is the amount of time that you have your
phone on, but are not actually talking on it. You do not have
three hours of talk time and thirty hours of standby time on
one battery; you have either three hours maximum to talk or
thirty hours maximum to be on standby.
Why is the quality of my
wireless service sometimes inconsistent?
Your service quality may vary from time to time based on a number
of factors including, but not limited to, the weather, your distance
from a tower, and large obstacles (such as buildings) causing service
interference.
Which wireless carrier
has the best signal strength?
It depends. As we mentioned earlier, the quality of your service
will depend a great deal on where you live, work, and play. Your
best resources on this question are your friends and family. They
can tell you first hand what their experience with a network in
your area has been.
What is roaming?
When you use your phone outside of your local calling area (as
defined by your wireless carrier), you are roaming on another
wireless carrier's network. Airtime minutes used when roaming
are generally not part of your basic calling plan. Check your
wireless carrier's plan details and coverage maps to determine
when you are roaming, and how you are charged for these calls.
Most wireless carriers also send an indicator to your screen display
to tell you when you are roaming.
If
it is called a nationwide plan, then why are there roaming
charges?
Nationwide plans tend to have no roaming charges if you are
in your wireless carrier's network area. If you wander over
to another wireless carrier's network, then you may have roaming
charges. Although many of the nationwide wireless carriers
have extensive physical networks built, they don't have every
square inch of the United States covered. So you could have
a nationwide plan based in New York City, and when you travel
to Dallas, San Francisco, and Des Moines, you may have no
roaming charges. Then when you take a day trip to rural Pennsylvania,
you wind up with roaming charges. It's not how far away you
go, but exactly where you go.
What plans do not charge
for roaming?
Find the plan that covers the areas in which you travel and you
will be all set. If you are trying to find a plan that has absolutely
no roaming charges ever, then look for a service plan that will
work with phones that can work on digital and analog networks, and
which states that there are no roaming fees on any network.
What
do peak and off-peak hours indicate?
Peak hours refer to the hours of highest wireless phone usage.
Typically, peak minutes are billed at a service plan's highest
rate. Conversely, off-peak hours refer to the hours of the lowest
wireless phone usage, and are billed at lower rates.
Peak and off-peak times vary significantly by wireless carrier.
Check the details to know for sure. Peak hours typically are
between the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM, Monday through Friday.
Off-peak hours include the weekends, some holidays, and typically
the hours from 9 PM to 7 AM during the week.
If you call during peak times, you will be using your anytime minutes.
If you call during off-peak times, you will be using your evening
and weekend minutes. If you call during peak times and talk straight
through to off-peak times, the minutes you talk during peak time
are counted toward your anytime minutes and the minutes you talk
during off-peak time automatically switch over to your evening and
weekend minutes.
Do I get charged when people
call me?
Yes. You are billed for the amount of airtime minutes that you use,
regardless if the call is incoming or outgoing. However, some service
providers have a feature that offers a free first minute of incoming
calls.
Does it use up my minutes
when I call other wireless phones?
Sometimes. Some service providers also offer a mobile-to-mobile
feature for a monthly fee. This nice benefit allows you free local
calls to other users of your service provider's wireless phone service.
If you call a wireless phone on another network, you will be charged
the same number of minutes as if you called a regular phone number.
When I call my voice mail
am I using my minutes?
It depends on the wireless carrier and the plan. When you call to
retrieve your voice mail messages, you may be charged airtime minutes.
You will need to read the fine print or call customer service to
verify this on a carrier-by-carrier and plan-by-plan basis.
What
is considered a long distance call?
A wireless call is considered to be long distance if it is
placed to a number outside of your local calling area (which
is defined by your service provider). Make sure you're familiar
with the boundaries of your service provider's coverage map
and local calling area. A good way to save money making international
and long distance calls is to use Calling Cards. Click
here to check out an extensive array
of prepaid calling cards.
Are toll free number
calls free?
No. You will not be charged a long distance charge to call
a toll free number; however you will be charged airtime for
the minutes you are using your phone to call the toll free
number.
What
is the farthest I can call from my wireless phone?
You can call any phone number around the world with some wireless
carriers, but many restrict international calling. Read the
details of the service plan to see if international calling
is allowed at all or if there is an extra monthly fee to allow
it.
Can all cellular phones
be used worldwide?
No. To be able to place a call while you are outside the United
States, you must have a wireless phone that is designed for use
on the network in the country where you will be traveling. Most
countries have some form of wireless phone service, but the phone
that you use in a country must be compatible with the prevalent
technology in that country. For example, GSM (Global System for
Mobile Communication) is most commonly used in Europe, and some
phones sold in the United States can work on the European network.
Can I get a new phone for
my current service plan?
If you would like to upgrade to a new phone (and keep your current
service plan), carriers provide different concessions on new cell
phones.
Can I keep my current
wireless phone and get a new plan?
This depends. Each phone is manufactured to work using a
specific technology. Check the type of technology employed
by your phone (CDMA, TDMA, etc.), and then check what providers
in your area operate on that technology. You can generally change
your plan and keep your current provider, but switching to an
entirely new provider usually means that you'll have to buy a
new phone as well. See WLNP(Wireless
Local Number Portability) FAQs
Can I upgrade my phone
and plan?
Getting a new cell phone plan from your current carrier is as
easy as calling
us directly Keep in mind that not all advertised promotions
will apply, although the upside is that you will get to keep your
phone number.
Current AT&T and Cingular Wireless Customers qualify
for the new CELL
PHONE UPGRADE PROGRAM
If you are ready to switch carriers and change your phone
number, you can take advantage of all the great deals you see
here.
Where can I get a copy
of a manufacturer mail-in rebate form?
You have several options:
- Rebate
forms are viewed in PDF Format. You will need Adobe© Acrobat©
Reader to view and print PDF files. Click here
to download a free copy.
- Go to the
service provider/carrier or product manufacturer's web site
to get a copy of the form online.
- Call your
service provider/carrier or product manufacturer's customer
service number and request one be mailed to you.
PLEASE NOTE:
Some manufacturers require a copy of your sales receipt or your
customer service agreement in order to receive your rebate check.
Since you bought your phone online, a copy of the shipping statement
is an acceptable substitution.
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