The Smartphone Buyer's Guide 2015 (2015)
A Plan that Works! - Everything You Need To Know About Cell Phone Plans
Choosing a Cellphone Plan
Choosing a phone service provider can be quite difficult from the beginning stages; especially, if you don’t know the entirety of your options. There are only five wireless providers that are widely advertised, and even less that offer nationwide coverage. Although these phone carriers have superb service and great coverage, there are some phone carriers that offer dependable service. It is best to shop around and research. However, this book has everything for you in one place. The overview of phone plans in this section will give you great information on the options that you have available. You’ll be surprised that your options are slightly wider than you think.
Contract Phone Plans
Contract phone services are the most constricted. They usually offer great coverage and great phones. However, the minimum duration of the contract is two years. So, if you are not able to make the payments on time consistently, your credit will take a major hit. And unfortunately, for individuals with bad credit, it will be hard to receive a phone under a contract. The only thing that makes contract phones enticing is the drastic reduction of the phone prices. Purchasing a phone under contract will reduce the prices of some phones all the way down to FREE! Some phones can be reduced by $100.00 to $400.00. Most consumers with a contracted phone plan have to wait to upgrade their phones. It can be considered best to avoid any obligations to pay a monthly bill. So, don’t be seduced by the lowered phone prices of the phone. This will be the ideal phone plan for the mission shopper or the researcher, but not the impulsive shopper. There are a number of phone carriers that offer contract phone plans. Check out the list below:
AT&T
CREDO Mobile
Sprint
T-Mobile
US Cellular
Verizon Wireless
Prepaid Phone Plans
Prepaid phone plans offer you the option of paying a monthly fee with no contract. This option works great for those that are not financially able to meet the obligations of a contract, or risk their credit taking a hit. Another upside to this phone service is that when it comes to upgrades, the sky is the limit. You can BYOP (Bring your own phone), or you can upgrade or downgrade to any phone that you like, at any time you like. However, this comes at a price. You will have to pay full price for the phone if there is no contract. If you aren’t prepared to do this, then it is best not hold-off on this plan until you have the money to accommodate. Plan ahead for the best phone that you can afford, and if you do enough saving you will be able to purchase the phone that you want. For this phone plan, it would help to adapt to the characteristics of the researcher, the discount shopper, and the negotiator. Impulsive buyers stay away unless you are prepared to pay. Here is a list of phone carriers that offer prepaid phone services.
AT&T
Boost Mobile
Cricket Wireless
Freedom Pop
Freedom Pop
GiV Mobile
Go Phone
H2O Wireless
Metro PCS
Net 10
Page Plus Cellular
Pay-Lo Talk & Text
Republic Wireless
ROK Mobile
Simple Mobile
Sprint
Straight Talk
Ting Mobile
TracFone Wireless
US Cellular
US Mobile
Verizon Wireless
Virgin Mobile
Walmart Family Mobile
Zact
Pay-As-You-Go Phone Service
This phone Pay-As-You-Go phone plan is another option that does not require a contract. With this plan, you have the option available to pay only for the talking, texting, and data you use. You just refresh your minutes and data whenever they run out. There is no monthly fee, and you are not obligated. You have the same freedom as you would under a prepaid phone plan. This plan also requires that you pay for your own phone or bring your own phone. However, some phone carriers will require a SIM card that you will have to purchase if you want to use their mobile services. Here are a few Pay-As-You-Go service providers below.
AT&T
Boost Mobile
Consumer Cellular
Earthtones
Jitterbug
Kajeet
Liberty Wireless
Metro PCS
Net 10
o2 Wireless
Page Plus
PTei
Ready Mobile
Red Pocket Mobile
Republic Wireless
Simple Mobile
Solovei
Sprint
STI Mobile
Straight Talk
T-Mobile
Total Call Mobile
Touch Mobile
TracFone Wireless
US Cellular
Verizon Wireless
Virgin Mobile
Wi-Fi Phone Plans
Wi-Fi phone services are sort of new to the phone carrier market. The offer no contract carrier-free, Pay-As-You-Go phone service. There is no need to go to a store, because these plans are all enabled through mobile applications. These apps offer free texting and some offer a certain amount of free talking minutes. However, you will be able to purchase a large amount of minutes at a very low price. For example, some applications offer 1000 talk minutes for as low as $14.99 per month, with free talking, and data is free because you will be running off of Wi-Fi. Some of these phone services will even allow you to retrieve free minutes by completing phone surveys and trying out new apps. This phone service may be unconventional, but it is a money saver, and can be very helpful to those that are able to adapt. Here are a few Wi-Fi based phone services.
KiK
Line
Pinger
Ring Plus
Skype
Text Free
Text Now
Text Plus
TextMe
Walkee Textee