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Selecting Cell Phone Plans

When selecting a cell phone plans there are a number of things to consider to assist you in making a choice that will best suit your needs.  The first step is to really analyze what your needs are and to identify what the real costs are of the plan.  Below is a listing of some important considerations when selecting cell phone plans.

 

  1. How will the cell phone be used?
    1. Will the cell phone be used for emergency purposes only?  How many total minutes do you think will be used in a one month period?
    2. Will you need one cell phone or more for family members?
    3. When will you be making most calls?  Days, nights, or weekends?
    4. Where will you be making and receiving calls from?

 

  1. What does the monthly flat fee cover?
    1. How many minutes are included in the flat fee?
    2. What is the charge for minutes that exceed the monthly plan?  Do unused minutes carryover from month to month?
    3. Do minutes for both calls placed and calls received count toward your allotted minutes? Do minutes spent listening to voice mail count toward your allotted minutes?

 

  1. Are there other fees?
    1. What is the "home area", are there fees for roaming?
    2. Are there fees for calling land based lines, calling overseas, calling directory assistance, 1-800 numbers, or 911?
    3. What discretionary charges will show up on your bill?
    4. Are there activation fees or shipping fees for your phone?

 

  1. Be sure to check on other services you want and their cost.
    1. Is voicemail included in the monthly fee?  What about caller ID, call waiting, etc.?
    2. Check about charges for internet access, text messaging, etc.

 

  1. Check to be sure cell phone reception will be good where you live, work, and in locations you will call frequently.

  6.   Check on the terms of the contract.

a.       How long is the cell phone plan contract?

b.      What is the cancellation policy?  What are the associated termination fees?

c.       Are you allowed to change the cell phone plan mid-contract if you find you need more, or fewer, minutes per month?

d.      If you have kids that will be using the cell phone you might consider a pre-paid plan to set a limit on calls/costs.

e.       Find out how you can check how many minutes you have remaining throughout the month.

f.        Ask about a trial period that would allow you to sign up and try the plan for 2 to 4 weeks to determine if it meets your needs.

 

  1. Consider "no contract" cell phone plans if you are confident you won't exceed the minutes and want the flexibility of being able to cancel at any time without obligation.  Generally speaking, most "no contract" cell phone plans will not provide the free phone.

 

A possible second step in assessing which plan best suits your needs is to look at how current customers rate the cellular service.  The internet is littered with commercial sites that offer product reviews and consumer feedback.  It is difficult to discern which ones offer unbiased feedback and yet do not require a subscription or charge a fee.  Our best recommendations include the following:

 

            a.   http://www.jdpower.com

   b.  Consumer comments are at:

            http://www.consumerdemocracy.com

            http://www.ratings.net

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Compare Cell Phone Plans

Below are just some of the cell phone plans that are offered. You can choose from nationwide coverage, family, local coverage, prepaid, and no contract plans. The availability of the various cell phone plans varies by region, please check with TMI Wireless to assure availability within your area.

Cell Phone Plans with Nationwide Coverage

 Plan Minutes   Nights/
Weekends
 Long
Distance
 Contract Cost 

T-Mobile

300 

Unlimited

Free

 2 year

$29.99 

Sprint Free
Incoming
300 
 300  Unlimited Free  2 year  $49.99

Sprint Power
Pack 450

 450  Unlimited  Free  2 year $39.99 
Verizon America's Choice 450  450  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $39.99
   
Nextel  Power
Pack
450
 450  Unlimited  Free  2 year $39.99 
Sprint Free
Incoming
500
 500  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $59.99
Alltel National
Freedom 500

 500

 1000

 Free  2 year  $39.99

T-Mobile Get
More

 600

 Unlimited  Free  2 year

$39.99

Sprint Free
Incoming
800
 800  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $79.99
AT&T Nation
900
900 with rollover  Unlimited  Free 2 year  $59.99
Verizon Americas' Choice
900
900  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $59.99
Sprint Free Incoming 1000  1000  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $99.99
 T-Mobile Get
More Plus
 1000 Unlimited  Free  2 year  $59.99
Alltel National
Freedom 900
 900  Unlimited  Free  2 year $59.99
Sprint Power
Pack 1350
1350   Unlimited  Free  2 year  $79.99
Verizon America's Choice
1350
 1350  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $79.99
At&T Nation
1350
 1350 with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $79.99
Alltel National
Freedom 1400
 1400  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $79.99
T-Mobile Get
More 1500
 1500  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $59.99
Verizon America's Choice
2000
 2000  Unlimited  Free  2year  $99.99
AT&T Nation
2000
2000 with rollover  Unlimited Free  2 year   $99.99
Sprint Power
Pack
2000
 2000 with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $99.99
T-Mobile Get
More Max
 2500  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $99.99
T-Mobile Get
More 3000
 3000      2 year  $49.99
AT&T Nation
4000
4000 with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $149.99
Verizon America's Choice
4000
 4000  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $149.99
Sprint Power 
Pack 4000
 4000  Unlimited  Free  2 year $149.99
T-Mobile Get More Supra  5000  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $129.99
AT&T Nation 6000 6000 with rollover   Unlimited  Free  2 year  $199.99
Verizon America's Choice
6000
 6000  Unlimited Free   2 year  $199.99
Nextel Power Pack Unlimited  99,999  Unlimited  Free  2 year  $199.99
           
           
           



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Compare Cell Phone Family Plans

Cell phone family plans allows families to share allotted minutes, have multiple lines while still receiving one bill, and save on calling, especially within their own family.

Family Cell Phone Plans- 2 lines

 Plan  Minutes Nights/
Weekends
Long
Distance
 Contract  Cost

Sprint Power Pack Family 550 (2 lines)

 550 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $59.99

AT&T Nation
Family Talk 550 (2 lines)

 550 Shared
with rollover
 Unlimited  Free  2 years  $59.99
T-Mobile Family
Time 700
 700 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $59.99
Verizon America's Choice
Family Share Plan 700
 700 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $69.99
AT&T Nation Family
Talk 700 (2 lines)
 700 Shared
with rollover
 Unlimited  Free  2 years  $69.99

Nextel Power Pack Family 700 (2 lines)

 700 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years $69.99 
Sprint Power Pack Family 700 (2 lines) 700 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $69.99
Alltel National Freedom
1000
1000 Shared  Unlimited Free   2 years  $75.00
T-Mobile Family Time 1000 1000 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $69.00
Alltel National Freedom 1400
1400 Shared Unlimited Free 2 years  $89.98
Verizon Choice Family
Share Plan 1400
 1400 Shared  Unlimited  Free 2 years $89.99
AT&T Family Talk
1400
1400 Shared
with rollover
 Unlimited  Free  2 years  $89.99
Sprint Power Pack Family 1400 (2 lines) 1400 Shared with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $89.99

Nextel Power Pack Family 2100 (2 lines)

2100 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $109.99
T-Mobile Family Time 2000  2000 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $99.99
AT&T Nation Family
Talk 2100 (2 lines)
2100 Shared with rollover  Unlimited  Free 2 years   $109.99
Verizon America's Choice Family Share Plan 2100  2100 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $109.99
T-Mobile Family Time
3000
 3000 Shared  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $129.99
AT&T Nation Family
Talk 3000 (2 lines)
3000 Shared with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $149.99
AT&T Nation Family
Talk 4000  (2 lines)
4000 Shared with rollover  Unlimited  Free 2 years  $199.99
AT&T Nation Family Talk 6000  (2 lines) 6000 shared with rollover  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $299.99


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Compare Cell Phone Prepaid and No Contract Plans

Cell phone prepaid or no contract plans allow buyers to avoid the committment of a contract. These plans typically work well for travelers, first time buyers, those with a poor credit history or no credit history, and those on a strict budget or who need to monitor usage carefully.  Below are just a few of the plans available. Availability of plans varies by area, check details with TMIwireless.

No Contract Cell Phone Plans/No Termination Fees

 Plan  Mintues  Nights/
Weekends
Cost  Coverage Add on Minutes
Liberty Wireless 10 cent flat rate 300 Anytime minutes  NA $30  Nationwide  $.10
Liberty Wireless Anytime 800  800  Anytime minutes  NA $45 Nationwide   $.29
Liberty Wireless Unlimite Nights and Weekend 225  225 minutes unlimited 

$40

 Nationwide  $.20
Liberty Wireless
Nights and Weekend 650
 450  unlimited

$70

 Nationwide  $.20

Our most popular Pre-Paid Cell Phone Plan
 Plan  Minutes  Nights/
Weekends
Long
Distance 
 Contract Cost 
Sprint PCS
Fair & Flexible Unlimited
 NA  Unlimited  Free  2 years  $199.99

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Jitterbug Cell Phone Plans

Jitterbug cell phone plans have no roaming or additional long distance fees.

 Plan  Rate  Anywhere, Anytime Minutes
 SOS  $10  $.35 minutes, pay as you go
 Simple 30  $15  30 minutes
 Simple 60  $20  60 minutes
 Simple 150  $30  150 minutes
 Simple 300  $40  300 minutes
 Simple Plus  $80  800 minutes
Share
Monthly
Service
Add $15/month
additional to plan
Add up to 5 people on plan and get
unlimited Jitterbug to Jitterbug calling
Jitterbug for a
Year (12months
plus free voicemail)
 $120  $.35 per mintue pay as you go OR
purchase add-on minutes for a rate as
low as $.15 per minute
     


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