Cellular Provider

Which Cellular Provider is Right for You?

You might think that one cellular provider is just like any other cellular provider, but, this is not the case. Each cellular provider has its strengths and weaknesses.

What are the things you should know about a cellular provider you are thinking of using?

First, you should know how cell phones connect to a network. Every provider has a network of radio towers or cells. There are usually a number of cells on each tower. As you move from one location to another, your cell phone automatically contacts the radio tower or cell nearest you. It let's the cell know that your cell phone is available to receive calls.

When you make a call or receive a call you are exchanging radio frequency signals with a particular cell. If you are in a moving car, you will probably move from one cell to another several times during your call. Normally, your connection automatically transfers to the cell nearest your location.

But, sometimes a glitch happens or all the cells in the tower are already in use. In this case, your call may be dropped. And, dropped calls are a more frequent problem with some cellular providers than others. Check out this CBS News Report on Cell Phone Carriers

You should check the coverage map for each cellular carrier to ensure that they have good to excellent coverage in all the areas you frequently travel. Also, check with friends who are in your area to see their experiences with dropped calls and learn about any problems they have connecting to a cell.

Second, you should compare cell phone plans between the cellular providers. There are several factors to consider:

• Number of minutes a plan provides. You must think about how you will use your new cell phone. If you are changing jobs, starting college, running a home based business, or in other ways changing your situation, your use of your cell phone may change. So, try to gage how many minutes you will need in the future.
• When you will call. Some plans provide a number of minutes that can be used any time and additional minutes for use during off-peak hours. By estimating when you will use your phone, you can choose the provider and their plan that best suites your needs.
• Mobile-to-mobile minutes. Some carriers and plans provide almost unlimited minutes when calling other phones on the carrier's network. So, if you have friends you frequently call, you might be able to select a cheaper plan and still have lots of talk time with your friends.
• Texting and Internet. Be sure to understand how your carrier treats Internet connection time as well as sending and receiving text messages. For some plans, texting is quite expensive.

By predicting your calling habits, you can choose the best plan and provider that will give you the best value for the money you spend.

Third, you should know that your cell phone typically cannot be transferred or switched from one carrier to another. So, if you find a cell phone plan with another provider that you really like, you can't simply switch to the new provider's plan.

When you purchase a cell phone, the phone you receive is normally "locked". This means that the computer program running the cell phone is tied to the SIM card for that particular carrier. The SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) contains your phone's "identity" and allows it to connect to a particular network.

To switch networks, your cell phone must be able to use a SIM card from a different cellular provider. For most phones, you have to modify the computer program to accept the new SIM card. While you and I can't modify the cell phone's computer program, there are smart people like Global Unlock that sell unlocing services.