How to find the right cell phone provider

By now, most of us have cell phones. And after some time with a provider or two, we also know what we are looking for in wireless service. While there is no such thing as the "perfect" cell phone provider, there are optimum plans and services for everyone. The top five factors for consideration are:

Service Area:

• Rural areas often have more difficulty picking up wireless signals. Even some urban areas might lose signal strength in certain spots.

Full Circuits:

• This may happen during high volume calling periods, preventing your calls from going through.

Dropped Calls:

• In mid-conversation, your call is dropped and ended abruptly. How often does this happen to you?

Static:

• Annoying static can ruin any conversation, and prevent understanding. Sometimes we don't even hear the static, but we hear the voice on the other end "breaking up."

Customer Service:

• Have you been burned by cell phone contracts? Do you feel like the person on the other end of the line would rather have your signature in blood rathr than help you get what you want from your cell phone service?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alltel

• Alltell is up and coming. Their service area is growing rapidly, though it may not have reached the level of other, older carriers just yet. Alltel has highly rated customer service. They offer a My Circle plan that mimicks the myFaves plan of T-Mobile - My Circle allows free unlimited calls to up to 10 landline or cell phone numbers. They have some pretty neat features and plans: check them out at www.alltel.com.

Verizon

• Verizon rates well for customer service and good signals/connections. Find plans and advanced technological features at www.verizon.com.

T-Mobile

• T-Mobile often rates up there with Verizon. They offer the myFaves plan that allows unlimited free calls to any five people on an network. Choose your Fave Five at www.t-mobile.com.

AT&T

• AT&T has the coveted iPhone. (I want one, too.) They don't quite have the connectivity or customer service of the other carriers mentioned above. See what AT&T can offer you at www.wireless.att.com.

Sprint

• Sprint is an alright carrier, but they generally rank at the bottom for customer service. Just surf the net and find the disgruntled Sprint customers. They also have more dropped calls and less connectivity than the other major carriers listed here. Sprint merged with NexTel and acquired their walkie talkie phones and services. They do have earlier times for the Free Nights and Weekends program, earlier than other carriers (starting at 7pm) for a small fee. See more at www.sprint.com.