Wireless Phone Buying Guide:  Select Service

Selecting your wireless phone service will depend on a number of factors, including access mode, reliability, price, and feature you may want supported. You should make a list of your needs and find the most reliable carrier with the best price who has those features available in one package.  Through this article, you will be proviced some basic information and analysis to aid and assist you in wireless phone buying.  Through this basic information, you will be able to set off and find a wireless phone that will be best able to serve your immediate and more long term (as long term as a wireless phone option ever is) needs.

Analog Versus Digital Access

First of all, consider the access you want: analog or digital. Digital may be cheaper and is what the industry is moving towards, analog is more prevalent and the handsets are cheaper. You also have a choice of dual mode, a phone that can switch between analog and digital depending on the service in the area where you are at any one time. If you want bells and whistles like camera phones, caller ID, email, or internet access, you are limited to digital.

Pay Attention to the Dropped Call Rate -- It's Important

Next, check out prospective carriers’ dropped call rate. Make sure it’s something you can live with for the price of service. Also check their coverage map on their website or in their physical store. Remember that the map can’t be 100 percent accurate and that coverage may vary—there may be dead zones caused by landscape and topography, and the maps don’t indicate signal strength. Do a thorough internet search to find dead zones in a certain area, especially places where you plan to travel.

Visit with Friends, Family Members and Co-workers

You should also ask friends and coworkers about their service. Find out how many dropped calls they have, if their service offers the features you want, and ask them to rate the company on a scale of some sort. Compare the ratings from your friends and see how the carriers stack up against each other.  Even in this high-tech age, the best source of information very often is the comments and reflections of those people closest to you in life.

Take Advantage of Trial Periods

If you can get a trial period from the carrier, do—make sure you won’t have to pay a fee for switching to someone else if you’re unhappy with the service. Remember that they will not refund any money for activation of your account, nor will they refund money you paid for airtime. Only if you are happy with the service and the phone should you sign a service contract and make a long term commitment.

Remember the Significance of a Signed Contract for Service

Remember that once you sign the service contract, you are committed to that company for a long period of time, and could pay hefty fees for early termination. Make sure you do your homework before committing to anything.