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pick a cell phone service provider  

Buying a cell phone is more than a matter of choosing a handset–you also have to pick a service provider, or carrier, as well. Each carrier in the United States offers a different selection of technologies and services, so it’s important to think about your needs when making a choice. For that reason, selecting a carrier should be the first step in the cell phone buying process.
Twisting technology

Wireless carriers in the United States operate over two different networks: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). Though each technology transmits voice and data, they do so in different ways, which makes them incompatible. As a result, you can’t take a CDMA phone and use it on GSM or vice versa.
Thin phones such as the Motorola Razr2 V8 are popular.

Of the U.S. carriers, AT&T (formerly Cingular) and T-Mobile use GSM while Sprint, Verizon, and smaller carriers such as Alltel and U.S. Cellular use CDMA. Though Nextel is now part of Sprint, Nextel-branded phones use a third technology called iDEN, or Integrated Digital Enhanced Network.
Each technology offers distinct advantages.

Generally speaking, CDMA coverage is more widespread in the United States, especially in rural areas (though this won’t be true forever), and many argue that CDMA offers better voice quality. On the other hand, GSM service has a larger global footprint (it’s the standard in Europe, for example) and GSM phones use the convenient SIM cards, which you allow you to, among other things, switch phones more easily. Also, when taken on a global scale, GSM users will find a wider selection of handsets.
With that in mind, if you travel overseas frequently or you enjoy switching out your phone often for the newest model available, then GSM is the better choice. Not all GSM phones will work overseas, however, so be sure to read CNET’s Quick guide to world phones. But if you’ll be making calls mostly in the United States, then CDMA is an equally good option. What’s more, some CDMA phones now also support GSM networks for international use.
Besides technology, there are other factors that should play in your carrier decision. You should begin by deciding which carrier has the most economical service plans and the most attractive selection of phones. The quality of customer service is another determinant, but that can be difficult to evaluate beforehand. Since knowing the pros and cons of each operator isn’t easy, we invite you to take a closer look at service providers in our Carrier comparison section. Besides the major operators, you might also consider MVNO carriers that cater to a special demographic or lifestyle. For example, Helio and Virgin Mobile are targeted toward younger users while Boost Mobile is centered on urban users who want advanced features.
Ultimately though, you should base your decision on which carrier offers the best reception in your area. Because evaluating wireless coverage requires experience with the network in a wide variety of physical locations, CNET does not rate wireless carriers. With that in mind, word of mouth is an essential tool when selecting a provider. Since reception varies sharply by location, ask your friends and family which carrier they use. Also, since there’s no substitute for real-world experience, ask to borrow a friend’s phone, and test it in your house and your workplace. Remember that carriers have a grace period during which you can test the service and return the phone without voiding the contract. Yet if you do return a phone and cancel a contract, you may have to pay for calls made during the usage period.

choose a cell phone plan

Calculate your usage
Unless you choose a prepaid plan–more on that later–your carrier will ask you to sign a contract. While the contract does bind you to that carrier for two years, and you’ll have to pay a fee for breaking the contract early, you will be entitled to rebates on a new phone. Before you sign anything, think carefully about how much you’ll actually be using your phone, as usage time is the basis of every calling plan. In short, the more minutes you need each month, the more you pay. And if you go over your minute allotment, you’ll be saddled with expensive overage fees.
With most plans, you’ll mainly be limited to anytime minutes, which are calls that can be placed during peak periods (typically, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.), while off-peak minutes, which are calls placed during weekends, nights, and holidays, typically are unlimited. Be sure to think carefully about how many minutes you’ll need and pick a plan accordingly. For more explanation on costs associated with a cell phone plan check our quick guide to reading your cell phone bill.
By and large, you’re better off overestimating the number of anytime minutes you’ll need rather than paying overage charges. If you find that you’ve miscalculated your usage, you can easily change your rate plan, although that may result in an extension of your contract. All the major carriers allow you to track your minute usage through their Web sites, and some allow you to do it on your phone.

Figure out what you need
National plans, which include free roaming and long distance, are now standard for most carriers. But if you think you’ll be making most calls in one area, you could consider a regional plan instead. Regional plans are cheaper but are becoming increasingly rare, and you’ll be stuck with roaming fees if you ever leave your home area on vacation. As such, we recommend a national plan. Alternatively, smaller carriers will have different rules.
Other options to consider are shared or family plans, which allow you to share your monthly airtime allowance with additional lines for family members and prepaid plans, which allow you to pay for an allotted amount of service up front. When you’ve used all of your minutes, you have the opportunity to buy more service.
Before you sign on the dotted line
• Know how long the grace period is for trying a service, how long your contract lasts, and find out how much it costs to break a contract. When your contract expires, your carrier cannot force you to sign a new one, nor can it prevent you from leaving your contract early.
• Know how many minutes you have (both peak and off peak) and when off-peak hours begin and end. In addition, know where you can track your usage.
Be aware of all extra fees (activation, international calling, overtime, 411 and so on). And if you’re choosing a regional plan, pay attention to your region’s boundaries.
• If you’re going to use text messaging, multimedia messaging, e-mail, or Web browsing on a regular basis, it’s best to get a data plan that covers these features.
• If you’re a parent purchasing a phone for a teenager or a younger child, you may want to consider special handsets with restricted features. Alternatively, you can ask your carrier about how to limit features, such as picture messaging, on other handsets. Some carriers even offer Web-based programs where you can track your child’s location when they’re using their phone.
• Get only what you need. Don’t be pressured into purchasing a data plan if you won’t use it. And if you can’t get direct answers to your questions, go somewhere else.
• Carriers now offer a variety of free calling minutes to a select group of phone numbers. These can include calls to other cell phones on the same carrier, calls to cell phones on any carrier, or calls to a select set of phone numbers–even landlines. Check your carrier for specifics.