| Look for the coverage area provided by every carrier. | | | | change after sometime and you might need to switch |
| Ensure a prospective carrier's service works where | | | | your carrier. Look for cheap mobile phones as you can |
| you are staying. Look for national coverage if you | | | | get some great full featured phones when you sign in |
| travel a lot. | | | | for a 1-2 year contract. Consider advanced features |
| Ask your friends and neighbors which carrier they | | | | like good colour screens, built-in camera, |
| choose and how satisfied they are with its service. If | | | | speaker-phone, custom ringtones. |
| you want data services like email, games and internet | | | | Find out which network CDMA, GSM or TDMA work |
| access check whether they are available. If you use | | | | for the areas you call. Select the carrier with a |
| your phone throughout the day, more 'anytime' minutes | | | | network in your preferred call zone. Ask if something if |
| can be a better deal. | | | | you are confused or unclear about anything. Read the |
| Ask for the standard features like voice mail, call | | | | terms and conditions carefully before signing a |
| waiting and caller ID to be included in your plan without | | | | contract plan. |
| any extra charge. Select for a plan with rollover | | | | After figuring out your specific needs, you'll need to |
| minutes that don't expire at the end of the month if | | | | consider whether to go with a prepaid service or sign |
| your calling pattern varies over time. Look for a plan | | | | a contract phones for upto a year or more. |
| with a low cancellation fee as your needs might | | | | |