Cellular Service Promotions
How the mobile networks will entice you
It's great to look at the high-end, full-featured phones and picture yourself using a Palm Treo or one of the latest Smartphones. Browsing the web, sending / receiving emails and media files from anywhere seems like power gadget bliss until you get the bill. The cost of a new expensive cell phone is just the beginning.
You'll easily spend much more than the initial cost of the cell phone over time, depending on what billing options you choose. Most mobile network providers charge you by the minute and many of the high end options keep you connected to the network costing you dearly.
Network providers like Cingular, Nextel and Verizon all offer access to their cellular network. When your phone connects you're literally occupying a connection on the network, a resource they've agreed to sell you. But the networks only have a finite number of potential connections; what the resource mobile networks provide is twofold; area and time. This is why almost all plans will sell you minutes and those minutes are at a premium during regular business hours.
Messaging
Most phones are capable of text messaging either through SMS (Short Message Service, usually limited to 60 characters) and email or both. Many plans will charge you 5 - 10 cents per message. Frequent text messaging can quickly add up to messages totaling in the thousands at a cost of $20 per month. Messaging can be a great way to ease the total minutes you spend on the phone if you have a specific message you want to share. But get carried away with them and the cost becomes a significant factor in your bill.
Plan options
If you're going to be a first time cell phone user it's difficult to estimate how many minutes you'll talk on the phone per month. It's difficult to decide what plan is right without trying it on first. Most of the major network carriers provide a two week trial period, take advantage of it. Every cellular network provider will push you to sign up for a long term contract. Sometimes they'll offer a free phone or discount service for the first month if you'll sign up for a two year contract.
What you'll find upon further investigation is that the free phone is only free after rebate and will naturally be a low end handset. It's probably best to sign up for a one year contract only, even if you end up paying a bit more for the phone. This gives you more freedom - terminating your contract early can cost up to $200.
Next let's look at some of the nitty gritty details of a Cellular Service Plan.