Choosing a cell phone provider — Can you hear me now?
There are many cell phone service providers looking for your business, touting their reliability, great reputation and even greater cell phone deals. How do you choose the right one for you?
Service — it's all about what you don't want...
- poor quality sound,
- dropped calls, or
- no signal
- poor coverage in the area you will use the cell phone
whether you are at home or out of town. The government's General Accounting Office found 20 percent of cell phone users complained of at least one of these problems with 10 percent of their calls. Go with the company that offers the best service.
Coverage — cell phone coverage is the ability to use your cell phone (either making or receiving calls) in any given geographical area and this coverage can vary greatly from region to region. While one company may service your area, another may consider it "roaming" or have no strong signal when and where you need it most. Go to the service provider's web site and type in the appropriate zip code to see if your area, or the area you will be calling frequently is covered.
Here are some tips to choosing a cell phone provider
- Compare companies. Look at customer satisfaction, turnover rate, and digital network. Can you roam on other networks? Make sure the basics are covered before your head gets turned by special deals and "techie" phones.
- Who has the best coverage in your area? Ask your friends and around your neighborhood and city what phone company they use and if they are satisfied.
- Use the trial period offered by most cell phone companies to make sure you have the service and coverage you need. Most likely you won't get a refund on the phone and you'll have to pay for the calls you made, but if you don't like the service, you can back out without being stuck with a two-year contract or a stiff penalty.
|
|
