| Does The Potential Cell Phone Provider Offer | | | | please do not get these confused. |
| Service In My Area? | | | | What Additional Features Will I Need? |
| The first thing you will need to verify, is if the | | | | So you already picked the phone and the plan |
| wireless providers you are looking into, service | | | | with the desired amount of minutes you need, |
| your geographical area. I have seen many people | | | | but now you may want additional features such |
| get their hopes up on a phone, then find out that | | | | as text messaging and data. These are |
| carrier does not service their area or only service | | | | completely different features and believe it or not |
| a part of their area. Most cell phone carriers today | | | | some people think if they get text they |
| have a coverage map on their site that you can | | | | automatically have data. This is NOT the case. |
| check your zip code to see how good of a | | | | Text (SMS) messaging allows you to send written |
| service you will have. | | | | or typed messages to your friends while data |
| Qualification | | | | allows you to browse the web, stream music and |
| It is very interesting that most people today do | | | | videos to your phone, YouTube, check email, |
| not even know that a credit check is involved in | | | | download apps and play games. Think of data as |
| getting cell phone service. A credit check will | | | | the internet. When you connect your computer to |
| verify your ability to pay your bills with that | | | | a modem, data is what is transferred to make |
| carrier and in some cases determine the offer | | | | your browsing experience possible. Internet with |
| your qualify for. I usually recommend you prepare | | | | your computer is not free, hence the data |
| yourself to pay a deposit, that way you do not | | | | requirement for smartphones. If wireless |
| lose the deal that is available at that time because | | | | providers did not offer data as a requirement, |
| you did not do your homework first. This is vital | | | | you would see phone bills surpassing $4000-$8000 |
| and having a credit or debit card is usually required | | | | a month or more. Therefore you need a data |
| especially if you are placing an order on that | | | | plan and a text plan depending on the phone and |
| carriers site. | | | | features you would like. There are many other |
| What Phone Should I Go With? | | | | features such as roadside assistance, GPS etc. |
| Next, you need to know is the phone you are | | | | How To Find Phones At The Best Prices |
| going with. This will be a matter of personal | | | | There are many places where you can actually |
| preference for the most part but I will cover | | | | purchase phones and some great prices. Most of |
| some key things about this step. You need to | | | | the time these prices are much better than going |
| decide if you need a simple/basic phone or a | | | | to the store or with the carrier directly. Even if |
| smartphone. If you choose to go with a | | | | you are simply trying to upgrade your phone, you |
| smartphone such as a BlackBerry, iPhone, or any | | | | can get some awesome deals with third party |
| of the Android Devices, you need to understand | | | | companies. This is also the case with prepaid cell |
| that a data plan will be required at an additional | | | | phones. I will provide three resources at the end |
| charge. If you do not want to pay additional for a | | | | of this article that you can get some awesome |
| data plan, then I strongly suggest you go with a | | | | deals on cell phones. |
| basic phone. | | | | Plan Terms & Commitment |
| Choosing The Best Cell Phone Plan | | | | This is the last thing you will need to make sure |
| The first step to choosing the best cell phone plan | | | | you understand. I have seen so many people |
| is to check what you currently have with your | | | | leave one carrier simply because an upgrade |
| current wireless provider and your usage. For | | | | would cost them too much, then they go with |
| example, if you log into your current wireless | | | | the other carrier and a year later it is the same |
| account, you should be able to see a history of | | | | thing. Keep in mind,when you start cell phone |
| how many minutes you use monthly over the last | | | | service you usually get a cell phone at a |
| six months. I would recommend, you do an | | | | discounted price IF you agree to a two year |
| average over those six months and see how | | | | agreement to that phone and service. Therefore, |
| many minutes you use. That way you will know | | | | a year later, you cannot turn around and want a |
| exactly how many minutes should be right for | | | | new phone and expect to get a discount on it |
| you with the next provider. You will also want to | | | | when your current agreement which you signed is |
| do this for text messaging and data as well. It is | | | | still in effect. Basically, you would be breaching the |
| important to know that when you see a cell | | | | contract, therefore the carrier will want you to |
| phone plan with the mount of minutes offered, | | | | purchase the phone at full price, or in some cases |
| that usually does not include text or data. Text | | | | give you an early upgrade at a discount. Please |
| and data are features and are only added to a | | | | understand these terms of service as well as |
| plan. Data or text does not use minutes, so | | | | your cancellation fee. |