Choosing Cell Phone Family Plans
With so many cell phone family plans out there, and each with a multitude of different service plans, there is undoubtedly a plan available for every need the general public might have.
A new trend in plans has been emerging in which consumers are allowed to pick a certain number of phone numbers which that person may then enjoy unlimited calling with, without using up airtime.
Two of those plans are T-Mobile’s MyFaves plan and the A-List plan from AT&T. T-Mobile’s MyFaves plan allows the customer to choose 5 phone numbers which then can be called for an unlimited amount of minutes. The 5 numbers can each be switched out for a different number once per billing cycle.
MyFaves comes with a variety of anytime minutes, ranging from 300 anytime minutes (for only $39.99 a month) and progressively more minutes for more money. MyFaves can either be bought as an individual or family plan, in which case each family member would be allowed 5 numbers to make unlimited calls to. The A-List plan from
AT&T allows a customer who purchases any plan with a monthly charge of $59.99 per month or higher, to choose 5 numbers which the customer can then enjoy unlimited calling to; with family plans, any plan with a monthly charge of $89.99 per month can choose 10 numbers for unlimited calling. AT&T’s plan also includes rollover minutes in which unused anytime minutes can be rolled over to the next month and therefore not lost. Both of these plans are available to new customers on a 2-year agreement.
While each has its pros and cons, it seems to be clear that T-Mobile’s plan might be more appropriate for individual phone lines (especially since the monthly charge required is lower in the first place), while AT&T’s plan might be more suitable for family phone lines, where more minutes are required and the minimum monthly charge is often higher in the first place.
Without a doubt, these two cell phones companies have given customers a unique opportunity in offering these plans. Since the average consumer often calls around 5 people much more often than others, this plan can be a huge savings for the customer while maximizing the customer’s ability to use his phone plan to the fullest extent.
Tags: airtime, cell phone, Cell Phone Family Plans, cell phones, phone numbers, rollover minutes, T-MobileRelated posts
Cell Phone Family Plans: Before You Sign
Before you sign a contract for cell phone family plans, choose a plan and a company that meets your needs.
Where can you make and receive calls? Most providers now offer a choice of local, regional, or national plans. A local plan offers low-cost options if most of your calls are near home. Regional plans generally offer a larger geographic area – sometimes several states. If you call outside the area covered by these plans, you will pay long distance and roaming charges in addition to the airtime used. National plans are the most expensive, but they let you use your phone anywhere in the country for a single per-minute price.
How frequently will you use the phone? If you just want a phone for emergencies, an economy plan with a few minutes a month may be all that you need. On the other hand, if you are going to be a heavy user, a plan with several free hours and the lowest airtime charge is a wiser choice. If you plan to use texting, pick a plan that will meet your needs and avoid surprises on your billing. Most services allow you to upgrade a plan without an added charge.
Is a family plan option available? Instead of individual cell phone plans for each member of the family, you can share one cellular service plan and a pool of monthly usage minutes among several phones. The cost of the additional numbers per month is usually less than if you purchased individual accounts.
Is there a trial period during which you can test the service? Many people experience dead spots where a cell phone doesn’t work. A trial period lets you test your service and try the features of the phone without incurring a termination fee.
Know your options. Make sure you are only buying the options or features you really need. It is always easier to upgrade a plan later if you feel you need an added feature.
Are there fees or limits on changing your plan? Some providers charge a fee if you want to downsize or upgrade your plan. Others limit how often you can make changes.
What happens if you want to cancel your service? Most providers have a penalty. This is a concern if you have to move out of the area covered by your plan.
Pay-As-You-Go Plans. If you want cell phone service only for emergencies or aren’t sure how much you will actually use a cell phone once you get it, you may want to consider a prepaid cell phone before you commit to a long-term wireless contract. With a prepaid cell phone, there is no contract to sign and no monthly bill to worry about. You will know exactly how much you spend. The down side of prepaid plans is that you pay more per minute, and if you don’t use the phone for an extended period of time, you could lose the money in your account. If you’re looking for the cheapest cell phone plans, this might be the right choice for you.
Tags: airtime, cell phone, Cell Phone Family Plans, cell phone plan, cell phone plans, cell phone service, cellular service, economy plan, long distance, prepaid cell phone, regional plans, roaming charges, termination fee, usage minutesRelated posts
Choosing Cell Phone Family Plans
Before you sign a contract, choose cell phone family plans with a company that meets your needs.
Where can you make and receive calls? Most providers now offer a choice of local, regional, or national plans. A local plan offers low-cost options if most of your calls are near home. Regional plans generally offer a larger geographic area – sometimes several states. If you call outside the area covered by these plans, you will pay long distance and roaming charges in addition to the airtime used. National plans are the most expensive, but they let you use your phone anywhere in the country for a single per-minute price.
How frequently will you use the phone? If you just want a phone for emergencies, an economy plan with a few minutes a month may be all that you need. On the other hand, if you are going to be a heavy user, a plan with several free hours and the lowest airtime charge is a wiser choice. If you plan to use texting, pick a plan that will meet your needs and avoid surprises on your billing. Most services allow you to upgrade a plan without an added charge.
Is a family plan option available? Instead of individual cell phone plans for each member of the family, you can share one cellular service plan and a pool of monthly usage minutes among several phones. The cost of the additional numbers per month is usually less than if you purchased individual accounts.
Is there a trial period during which you can test the service? Many people experience dead spots where a cell phone doesn’t work. A trial period lets you test your service and try the features of the phone without incurring a termination fee.
Know your options. Make sure you are only buying the options or features you really need. It is always easier to upgrade a plan later if you feel you need an added feature.
Are there fees or limits on changing your plan? Some providers charge a fee if you want to downsize or upgrade your plan. Others limit how often you can make changes.
What happens if you want to cancel your service? Most providers have a penalty. This is a concern if you have to move out of the area covered by your plan.
Pay-As-You-Go Plans
If you want cell phone service only for emergencies or aren’t sure how much you will actually use a cell phone once you get it, you may want to consider a prepaid cell phone before you commit to a long-term wireless contract. With a prepaid cell phone, there is no contract to sign and no monthly bill to worry about. You will know exactly how much you spend. The down side of prepaid plans is that you pay more per minute, and if you don’t use the phone for an extended period of time, you could lose the money in your account.
Tags: airtime, cell phone, Cell Phone Family Plans, cell phone plan, cell phone plans, cell phone service, cellular service, prepaid cell phone, roaming charges