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