With all the commercials about "unlimited" calling, one has to wonder what the term actually means to cell phone companies. In fact, various types of "unlimited" plans could end up costing consumers more than they bargained for.
Instructions
1. Decide on prepaid or contract. It is not as unattractive to go prepaid anymore, though it may be a budget-saver for some. You will generally have to pay full price for a phone, though.
2. Deciding what features you want on your phone can narrow down the providers. For example, If you want the touch screen, you will have to go to AT&T or T-Mobile for the iPhone or Google Phone.
3. Set a monthly budget--let's say $125 with tax. Let's determine what you can get from cell phone providers.Alltell: This will get you unlimited calling, but you must add on data, text messaging and other items. Boost: This is a noncontract, prepaid. It charges $70 for unlimited chat, text and web, but it also has add-ons that can raise the price. There is a charge to make calls outside your calling area.Cingular: Unlimitd runs $99.99 with nothing else.Helio: $80 for unlimited with text and web.Virgin Mobile: $79.99 for unlimited; adding unlimited text and Web would run more.
4. The more bells and whistles on your phone, the more expensive it will be, even if part of it is subsidized with a contract. Some of your choices may be limited by the phone you pick because of exclusive deals.
5. Start online first: Most of cell phone providers make offers online that they do not have in their stores. Some even have phones that they only sell online.
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