Making the Leap to Cell Phones

Thinking of buying your first cell phone—or changing your wireless carrier? You need answers to these questions.

Q: Where will you use your phone?

Where you live, and where you plan to use your phone, affects how much it costs to make calls. Some wireless plans are based on "home areas": calls within your home area are included in your plan, but calls from outside that home area will result in extra charges. Other wireless plans offer nationwide service, though they still may have geographic limitations. Then there's the "annoyance" factor. As with other radio devices, your cell phone might have static, drop calls, get busy signals, or not work at all—depending on where you are.

The company and plan you select should provide superior service in your neighborhood and other places where you plan to use it. Question salespeople about coverage areas and locations where you may be charged a "roaming" fee on top of the minutes you use. Some providers offer a risk-free trial period to try out their service. If so, see how their service handles calls from your home and the places you frequent.

Q: How much will you use your phone?

Most wireless plans feature a predetermined set of minutes for your chit-chat each month. If you use more than your monthly allotment, you pay a much higher charge for the extra minutes; if you don't use them, you lose them. Both the calls you receive and the calls you make are counted against your minutes, and there may be periods each week, such as weekends, where your phone time is not counted against your limit.

Carefully consider how much you anticipate using your cell phone, especially during peak periods when the minutes add up. If you only want a cell phone for emergencies—such as if your car breaks down—you might want to try a "prepaid" cell phone plan. Under these plans, you don't pay a monthly fee; you just purchase a set number of min-utes to be used any time. If you run out of minutes, you can buy more.

Q: What cellular phone is right for me?

Cellular phones exemplify gadget-mania: some phones even let you surf the Web or take and send pictures. Usually, a free or reduced-cost phone or phones are included with the package you choose from a wireless service provider, but you can upgrade your phone for an added cost.
At a minimum, consider these features in a phone:

• Size. How does the phone feel in your hand, or in your purse?
• Buttons. Can you use the keypad easily?
• Added features. Does the phone support additional features you might want, such as Caller ID or Internet services?

If you have special needs, make sure to choose a phone that accommodates them. Some phones will dial your calls on a vocal command; others have raised numbers for easier dialing. If you use a hearing aid, ask if the phone is compatible with it.

Q: Who will help me sort through all the options?

Check out nonpartisan publications such as Consumer Reports for the latest comparisons of cell plan features and options. Guidance also is available on the Internet, at sites such as www.wirelessguide.org.

-Doug Terwilliger, NEA Member Benefits

Quick Tips

Get Informed
Before getting your ear bent by a salesperson, do your homework. Check out "What you should know about wireless phone service" at the Federal Trade Commission's Web site. If you subscribe to Consumer Reports, get the latest plan-comparison info at www.consumerreports.org.

Get Friendly
Your friends and family are a great source of info on cellular phones and service providers. Borrow a phone to see which models feel right in your hand, and which service providers work best in your locale. Ask folks which service provider they never want to work with again!

Get Shopping
If you're ready to take the plunge, visit local stores or try Web sites such as www.letstalk.com or www.getconnected.com. Be sure to ask for a risk-free trial period, and read (really!) the Terms and Conditions before signing up.