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How To Choose A Wireless Phone Provider
Today there are five wireless phone providers, each with its own coverage footprint, unique rate plans, customer-service policies and, of course, technology.
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Business New Haven
11/22/1999
By: Mitchell Young
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Didn't they tell us the digital age was designed to make things easier? Didn't they tell us we could be connected everywhere we went? Didn't they tell us that it would be clearer, faster and cheaper to talk on our wireless phones?
Yes, we have it heard it all, but what turns out to be most true is that when choosing a wireless phone provider, you had better dial the right number.
Over the past several years in Connecticut there has been an explosion of choice for the wireless phone user. Only three years ago, two companies divided almost the entire market between themselves. This was the case in most cellular markets around the country, and almost all systems used analog technology.
Today there are five wireless phone providers, each with its own coverage footprint, unique rate plans, customer-service policies and, of course, technology. Making the right choice is simple: All you have to do is read and listen to the advertisements, buy the package with the cheapest rates and great looking phones and you're all set, right?
Wrong.
Let's talk tech first. Analog phones use radio wave-type signals. This is reliable technology, and it offers a full audio range. Unfortunately, the limitations include garbled sound and high energy needs requiring large batteries or connection to a car's power source. Analog systems can accommodate only a limited number of users per transmitter cell at any one time.
To accommodate these limitations, analog systems typically charge a high per-minute usage fee while providing free or low-cost phones. The analog company's services have built their networks over many years, and they are extensive. Analog phone technology is standardized and your phone will work in most areas that have cellular services. The costs, however, while roaming or for long distance can be formidable.
Digital phone technology provides far greater flexibility than analog, as well as clearer sound. Digital technology allows many more users per cell, allowing lower per-minute costs. Digital phones also require far less signal strength and use less battery power, allowing far smaller, lighter phones. Battery life on a digital phone is far longer as well. In choosing your wireless provider, if you choose digital you'll likely have to pay for your phone.
While all digital phones work in a similar fashion, the different systems in Connecticut are not compatible. A user from any service can call the other, but a phone you bought for one will not work on another system. Several of these systems are available in other areas of the country, and your phone will work in those systems. When seeking service, determine where you will have coverage and (if appropriate) where you will have analog or digital service.
Some suppliers offer phones and service that can switch between analog and digital. This may be an important feature, if the areas where you need coverage currently do not have digital service. There is a downside, however: Combination phones need more battery power for their analog workload, and they lose some other features when they switch to analog service.
The smaller size of digital phones have made them more wireless - they're not just “car phones” any more. You'll be taking your phone wherever you go, making its coverage areas far more important. Each provider has its own home calling area where your basic rates apply.
If you presently have analog service, expect that the calling plans are far different if you go exclusively digital. You'll find lower rates per minute and you'll buy a certain number of minutes for a flat monthly rate. Calls in the home calling area are not charged as long-distance calls and of course when you travel (within the home area) there are no additional roaming charges. Each company's home calling area is unique to that company; match your needs with its coverage area. The digital home calling areas are typically more extensive than the analog ones - even from the same companies.
You'll make the right choice when you compare your own needs to the rate plans, service areas and features.
Checklist:
• Digital or digital analog
• Minutes per month/ costs per month
• Cost of phone
• Calling area
• Home calling area for billing (roaming and long
distance)
• Other services (voice mail, text messages,
caller ID).
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