Time to bite the bullet and get a cell phone: need advice on plans.

[Fausto]

Basically, I just want 100 or so minutes per month that I can use anytime, local or long-distance, for cheap. Does such a plan exist? With whom?

I did some searching around on the web, but it seems like most "Let us help you pick a service plan to suit your needs!" sites each only pushing a single provider (Sprint, T-Mobile, etc). Any way to compare and contrast plans from a variety of providers.

Any other words of advice or tips on good deals?

Thanks!

 

[FoBoT]

point.com helps you choose among all of the company's plans

clark howard recommends it as a good source to help you choose the plan that is best for you

 

[Kelvrick]

I think for 20 bucks, you'll get 60 anytime minutes or something. For 30, you'll get 300+ anytime and unlimited night and weekends, or at least 3k night and weekends. This is in California from companies like Cingular, T-Mobile, Sprint, and ATT. I got 350 anytime minutes with unlimited night and weekends from ATT in the Davis/Sacramento area for 29.99 a month. Usually buy.com and amazon will give you phones and sometimes cash back if you get the phone and plan through them.

<== monkey dance

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
point.com helps you choose among all of the companies plans

clark howard recommends it as a good source to help you choose the plan that is best for you

That was one of the sites I was talking about. Cingular or nothing. I need to compare plans from a variety of providers side by side.

 

[NTB]

How convenient - thanks Fausto1 I had a question along similar lines; I've already got a plang (parents just tacked me onto theirs with another phone) but I may buy a different phone. Any suggestions? I need one that will work on ATT's networks. ATT sent me a nokia 3360 as a freebie, which is different from my mom and dad's, but it's still a free phone. if it works anything like their older one (which is to say not very well - I have a hard time hearing on it) I may replace it. I'll try it out first though. No point in replacing it if it works well enough.

thanks for any help

Nate

 

[Fausto]

Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

 

[KeyserSoze]

I've actually been doing a lot of Cell Phone research lately, so I know some decent plans right now.

First of all, have you thought about who you want to go with? (Sprint, Cingular, AT&T Suncom, T-Mobile, etc.)

I say talk to people around you, where you live, and ask them if they are happy with their coverage/service. And as far as Customer Service, there are a lot of places online where people share good/bad experiences. Hell, everytime there is a hot deal for a Cell Phone service, someone is always commenting, so check out those old threads.

And also, how much do you want to spend?

In my opinion, one of the better deals right now is from T-Mobile: $39.99 (I think?) gets you 600 minutes daytime, unlimited n/w, and all other sorts of options that they have. (Long Distance, No Roaming, etc) But from your original post, you only wanted like 100 minutes or so? Oh yeah, and also...I don't kno about most states, but I have to pay something like 10 bux in taxes (FCC, etc.) so also research that, cuz it might not always be as simple as "$39.99"



KeyserSoze

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have no idea about coverage or plans in Atlanta, but to this point my cellular experience has been that Sprint PCS bites, and Verizon is excellent, especially in their customer service.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

If you don't mind getting some help from the Grand Nagus then I'll gladly chime in.

PhoneArena.com is great for comparing plans side by side but I have heard that some of their data is outdated but it is a good reference tool.

The best advice I can offer is ask your friends/family/co-workers what cell phone carriers they have, are they happy?

IF T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) is considered good in your area then here are 2 plans which are perfect for you and they're under $30/month with UNLIMITED weekend minutes.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

If you don't mind getting some help from the Grand Nagus then I'll gladly chime in.

PhoneArena.com is great for comparing plans side by side but I have heard that some of their data is outdated but it is a good reference tool.

The best advice I can offer is ask your friends/family/co-workers what cell phone carriers they have, are they happy?

IF T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) is considered good in your area then here are 2 plans which are perfect for you and they're under $30/month with UNLIMITED weekend minutes.

Ah....that's what I was after. Thankyaverymuch!

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

If you don't mind getting some help from the Grand Nagus then I'll gladly chime in.

PhoneArena.com is great for comparing plans side by side but I have heard that some of their data is outdated but it is a good reference tool.

The best advice I can offer is ask your friends/family/co-workers what cell phone carriers they have, are they happy?

IF T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) is considered good in your area then here are 2 plans which are perfect for you and they're under $30/month with UNLIMITED weekend minutes.

Ah....that's what I was after. Thankyaverymuch!

You're welcome, glad to be of help.

Have you voted yet?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

If you don't mind getting some help from the Grand Nagus then I'll gladly chime in.

PhoneArena.com is great for comparing plans side by side but I have heard that some of their data is outdated but it is a good reference tool.

The best advice I can offer is ask your friends/family/co-workers what cell phone carriers they have, are they happy?

IF T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) is considered good in your area then here are 2 plans which are perfect for you and they're under $30/month with UNLIMITED weekend minutes.

Ah....that's what I was after. Thankyaverymuch!

You're welcome, glad to be of help.

Have you voted yet?

Depends....know of a good deal on a phone?

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: Fausto1
Bumpity bump.

Surely one of our resident Ferengi can show me the path to cellular enlightenment....

If you don't mind getting some help from the Grand Nagus then I'll gladly chime in.

PhoneArena.com is great for comparing plans side by side but I have heard that some of their data is outdated but it is a good reference tool.

The best advice I can offer is ask your friends/family/co-workers what cell phone carriers they have, are they happy?

IF T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) is considered good in your area then here are 2 plans which are perfect for you and they're under $30/month with UNLIMITED weekend minutes.

Ah....that's what I was after. Thankyaverymuch!

I think that T-Mobile doesn't offer you night-time hours where they either give you off-peak minutes or unlimited minutes though. Thats one big drawback. Use Rossman's chart to do some quick comparison work, and then cross-reference with buy.com and amazon.com for some cheap phones. ATT and Sprint is currently offering unlimited night and weekend minutes.

<== monkey dance