| Family cell phone plans can be as diverse as | | | | cell phone provider. Some cell phone |
| the different members in a family. There are | | | | companies consider their regional calling |
| so many benefits to choosing a family cell | | | | areas to be "national" calling areas. If this |
| phone plan including -and maybe most | | | | is the case, it's possible that phone calls |
| importantly- diminished overall cost. To be | | | | you make, which you believe to be a part of |
| considered a family plan at least two phone | | | | your coverage area, are actually outside the |
| lines are required, with the option of adding | | | | region of the coverage plan for your cell |
| more phones, starting at $9.99/per phone | | | | phone provider. If this is the case, the |
| added. One popular cell phone provider for | | | | phone calls made outside the coverage area |
| example, will allow up to 5 phones per plan | | | | are eligible for roaming charges, which can |
| with each additional line added costing | | | | add considerable cost to your cell phone |
| $9.99. | | | | bill. |
| | | | |
| The price for a family cell phone plan can be | | | | Roaming is a term used in the communications |
| as varied as the plethora of companies | | | | industry to describe what happens when cell |
| offering them. It's important to look at all | | | | phone coverage areas overlap. If a call is |
| the details of the plan and each company | | | | placed from your cell phone outside your |
| closely before signing a contract. It is | | | | providers' coverage area it's probable you |
| possible to find one that best suits you and | | | | will still be able to place the call, but it |
| your needs, so don't settle for the first one | | | | will likely be made through the network of a |
| you find. Look for the details of each cell | | | | different provider. Cell phone companies |
| phone and provider that are tailor made for | | | | contract with one another to ensure there are |
| you. If there will only be two of you using | | | | limited holes or dead spots in network |
| the plan, it makes more sense to get a plan | | | | availability. However, even though dropped |
| with minimal minutes. This is especially true | | | | calls, and a loss of a cell phone signal are |
| if most of the calls will be made between the | | | | a somewhat distant memory, roaming charges |
| two phones, and you are confident no extra | | | | are not necessarily so. Although most cell |
| minutes will be accrued outside the allotment | | | | phone providers offer "free", or no roaming |
| for your plan. Find a company that won't try | | | | charges, as a part of national cell phone |
| to sell extraneous features to you. Phone | | | | contracts, it's still critical to determine |
| plans can be as basic or as elaborate as you | | | | the exact details of the coverage area before |
| need them to be. There is no reason to spend | | | | committing to an extended contract. This way |
| extra money on features that will never be | | | | there will be no surprises when the monthly |
| used. | | | | cell phone bill arrives, and you have accrued |
| | | | charges by placing calls outside your |
| Most cell phone providers offer free | | | | network. |
| mobile-to-mobile minutes, (or calls made | | | | |
| within the network) so even if you choose a | | | | The vast array of options when choosing a |
| plan with minimal minutes, it won't | | | | cell phone can be a little overwhelming. The |
| necessarily be cost prohibitive if most calls | | | | most important place to start is by |
| are made in network. For example, if a family | | | | determining your individual cell phone needs. |
| has a plan with 5 phones and most of the | | | | The cell phone model you choose can be as |
| minutes of the plan are used making calls | | | | simple as a phone with no additional |
| between family members, find a plan that has | | | | features, or as intricate and high-powered as |
| free mobile-to-mobile minutes. This way every | | | | you are. For example, if one of the cell |
| phone call made within the family network is | | | | phones in your family plan will be used |
| essentially free, as no minutes will be | | | | primarily for business and travel, take into |
| deducted from the overall minutes of the | | | | account the variety of options available to |
| plan. | | | | you such as: broadband Internet access, |
| | | | Bluetooth, text messaging, picture messaging, |
| The service provider ads overage fees onto | | | | Email, GPS, speakerphone, and data packages. |
| your monthly bill if you or anyone in your | | | | This array of features is optimized through a |
| family adds up enough talk time minutes to go | | | | phone such as The BlackBerry phone, which is |
| over the maximum allotment of minutes for | | | | essentially a laptop that fits in your |
| your plan. If a cell phone customer has a | | | | pocket. If the feature potentially used by |
| plan allowing 700 minutes/per month, and the | | | | you the most is email, choose a phone with a |
| customer uses 750 minutes, the additional 50 | | | | built-in keyboard to facilitate easier |
| minutes are considered overage minutes. The | | | | typing. The BlackBerry has the capability to |
| charge for overage minutes varies from one | | | | use any of its numerous features anywhere you |
| cell phone provider to another. For example, | | | | go. The phone can be purchased from an |
| the five providers below vary between $.40 | | | | individual cell phone provider, or through a |
| minute to $.45/minute per additional minutes. | | | | third party such as an online retailer of |
| | | | electronics, or almost all local electronics |
| It's important to get the right number of | | | | stores. Then the phone will be activated |
| minutes for your family's needs, as overage | | | | through the cell phone provider you have |
| fees for a customer talking on the phone for | | | | chosen. If there will be teenagers or other |
| an additional 50 minutes can cost up to an | | | | children on your family phone plan, determine |
| extra $22.50 per monthly bill. If you | | | | carefully which phones might work best for |
| consider that a few teenagers could each very | | | | each individuals' needs. A teenager doesn't |
| easily tack on several hours of overage | | | | necessarily need a Blackberry, but you might |
| minutes, it's easy to see why it's critical | | | | want them to have some extra features |
| to find a plan with the right amount of | | | | available in order for you to stay in better |
| minutes for your family. It's a good idea to | | | | contact with them. |
| go into a cell phone contract knowing how | | | | |
| many minutes you think you might use before | | | | A feature, which has become almost universal |
| you get locked in for the long term. If you | | | | on cell phones, is a built-in digital camera. |
| aren't sure how many minutes you think you'll | | | | This is an extremely convenient feature as it |
| need, ask a representative from the cell | | | | ensures that anywhere you go with your cell |
| phone company you are considering to help | | | | phone, you have a digital camera at your |
| you. Someone who has helped a multitude of | | | | access. The quality of the camera will vary |
| people find cell phone plans will likely be | | | | depending on the model of the phone, as well |
| helpful in giving you a decent estimate on | | | | as details such as number of megapixels and |
| how many minutes you will need. | | | | quality of resolution. If this is a feature |
| | | | that is important to you, do your homework |
| Every cell phone provider features several | | | | and find a phone whose camera has a |
| plans, some without extra features like text | | | | reputation for producing quality photos. Some |
| messaging and data packages and others where | | | | newer phones also have the capability of |
| the monthly cell phone fee is all-inclusive. | | | | recording digital movies as an extended |
| Data and text messaging fees very greatly, | | | | option of the digital camera. |
| even within individual providers. With one | | | | |
| popular cell phone provider data plans, or | | | | One important aspect to keep in mind when |
| Internet access through your cell phone, | | | | choosing a cell phone is that it's almost |
| starts at about $39.99/per month for a basic | | | | always possible to get a phone for a discount |
| package and can go up to $89.99/per month. | | | | under a rebate or promotional offer. It is |
| Text messaging with another provider ranges | | | | rarely necessary to pay full retail price for |
| from $4.99/per month for 400 messages to | | | | a cell phone that meets your needs. Ask the |
| $14.99/per month for unlimited messaging. If | | | | cell phone provider you choose what cell |
| you don't want to sign up for a | | | | phones they have available with a discount or |
| text-messaging plan but think you might want | | | | rebate. If they don't have a phone that meets |
| to text occasionally, it's possible to pay | | | | your needs, choose an online retailer. They |
| per text message. Texts can range from $.15 | | | | sell new and refurbished phones without |
| per message to $.25/per text for text only | | | | contracts, and these phones can be activated |
| messages to $.25/per message for pictures and | | | | under the chosen cell phone provider. As |
| video messages. | | | | always, if the phone doesn't meet your needs, |
| | | | upgrading to a newer cell phone is always an |
| If there is a possibility of a lot of text | | | | option. |
| messaging in your future, or the future of | | | | |
| anyone in your family plan, a package with | | | | The final, and perhaps one of the most |
| unlimited messaging for a flat fee is | | | | critical details to choosing a family cell |
| probably your best option. Text messaging at | | | | phone plan is the contract. Contracts vary |
| up to $.25/per message can add up really fast | | | | greatly depending upon several variables |
| and add a lot to your monthly cell phone | | | | including: number of lines per family plan, |
| bill. | | | | number of minutes, extra features like data |
| | | | plans, etc. Choose a contract length you are |
| Another very important aspect to buying a | | | | comfortable with as terminating your contract |
| cell phone plan is determining the coverage | | | | can cost anywhere upward of $175. Some |
| area available with each cell phone provider. | | | | contracts are 1-year in length, others are |
| Some cell phone companies are more prevalent | | | | 2-years. Often choosing a longer-term |
| in specific regions of the country, and will | | | | contract will decrease the monthly payment. |
| provide better coverage for you if you stay | | | | However having a higher monthly bill with a |
| within its outlined geographic region. If | | | | shorter contract length might be a more |
| your primary cell phone will be used mostly | | | | attractive choice for your individual family |
| for business and travel outside your home | | | | plan. For example, if a family move is a |
| state, ensure the coverage area for your | | | | possibility in the future, a shorter-term |
| provider before the cell phone is used | | | | contract might be the best option, if you |
| outside the area and roaming charges are | | | | move out of the coverage area of your current |
| applied. This is true for any of the cell | | | | cell phone provider. |
| phones under the same family plan. | | | | |
| | | | The real key to choosing a phone, cell phone |
| Be sure to carefully study the available | | | | provider, plan, or contract length, is an |
| coverage maps before choosing a specific cell | | | | upfront approach with all of your questions |
| phone plan. It is your job as the consumer to | | | | before you sign a contract. Get all of your |
| be as well informed about your plan as | | | | concerns taken care of in detail, from all |
| possible; read the fine print concerning the | | | | potential providers, before your decide and |
| coverage area and if any roaming charges will | | | | read the small print in every contract. This |
| apply outside of said area. Most cell phone | | | | will ensure a happy relationship between you |
| companies have a national network, with wide | | | | and your provider, and you and your family |
| coverage, ensuring that your cell phone will | | | | will be thankful for it. |
| work when you need it. However, what | | | | |
| constitutes "national" coverage to you may | | | | *not responsible for prices quoted as they |
| not actually be national in the eyes of your | | | | constantly change over time. |