It’s a generational thing. Many seniors still shy away from computers, yet alone use cell phones. “I don’t need a cell phone” or “I don’t know how to work it” are just a couple of reasons many older people choose not to have one. For those of us that have and use cell phones, we understand the value of our loved ones carrying one. Personally, I want to know that if my parents are traveling, they have a wireless “lifeline” within reach. I also want them to be able to contact me, and I them at any given time. Imagine your loved one traveling in a desolate area, they have a flat tire and are unable to change it. Without a cell phone, what do they do? Sit in the car waiting for help? Being able to call for help can make all the difference in the world. With family plans being as affordable as they are now, adding an additional line for your parents is inexpensive and brings tremendous peace of mind. It is a much better value to add an additional line to share your minutes than to purchase a single line plan that will have very little, if any use. If they still refuse, make sure at the very least they have an inactive cell phone in their vehicle when traveling. Even a phone that is not activated can still be used for emergency 911 calls.

I called my daughter’s cell phone the other day only to find a long, long greeting before getting to her voicemail. First I had to listen to a song I don’t particularly care for, followed by a more “personal” greeting especially for me.

It seemed the whole process took somewhere around 2 minutes before I was able to leave my message. It was out of curiosity I listened to the entire greeting, as I did know I could skip the greeting if I was so inclined.

To skip the greeting, you can press any key on your phone during the greeting (except the end key of course) and move directly to the beep.

This has been a great time saver for me and also uses less of my plan minutes.

It seems the time has finally come. Our laws are finally being adapted to include cell phone use while driving.

Many people have spoken out, fighting these new laws. This is not a law that is trying to take away our personal choices; it is a law put in place to save lives.

I was working one day several years ago when I received a phone call from a young man wanting to cancel his sister’s cell phone account. When I questioned the reason, I learned his sister had been killed a few days earlier in a car accident. It seems she was checking her voicemail, failed to stop at a stop sign and drove straight through the intersection only to be broadsided by a big rig traveling at 50-60 miles per hour. She was killed instantly.

I was speechless; words could not express to this young man how I felt and how sorry I was for his loss, a loss that could have so easily been prevented. We spoke for quite some time and he told me that it was going to be his personal goal to outlaw the use of cell phones while driving, in memory of his sister.

It will never be known if his personal actions contributed to these laws being put in place but when I heard of the many new cell phone use laws being put on the books, my mind drifted back to this young man and his sister.

Preventable loss of life and injury is enough for me to support and abide by the law. I hope it is for you too.

We all hear talk of competing service providers boasting they have the best 3G network, or the 1st 4G network. 
 
Each new advance brings better speed and capabilities to your current service.  It is important to know that if 3G service is available in your area, you will not be connected 3G unless your phone has the capabilities. 
The main difference between 1G and 2G, is that the radio signals that 1G networks use are analog, while 2G networks are digital. Although both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the handsets) to the rest of the telephone system, the call itself is encoded to digital signals in 2G whereas 1G is only modulated to higher frequency, typically 150MHz and up.

1G networks (NMT, C-Nets, AMPS, TACS) are considered to be the first analog cellular systems, which started early 1980s. There were radio/telephone systems even before that.

2G networks (GSM, cdma One, DAMPS) are the first digital cellular systems launched in the early 1990s.

2.5G networks (GPRS, cdma2000 1x) are the enhanced versions of 2G networks with data rates up to about 144kbit/s.

3G networks (UMTS FDD and TDD, cdma2000 1x EVDO, cdma2000 3x, TD-SCDMA, Arib WCDMA, EDGE, IMT-2000 DECT) are the latest cellular networks that have data rates 384kbit/s and more.

4G refers to the fourth generation of cellular wireless standards. The first was the move from analogue (1G) to digital (2G) transmission. This was followed by multi-media support, spread spectrum transmission and at least 200 kbit/s (3G) and now 4G, which refers to all IP packet switched networks, mobile ultra-broadband (gigabit speed) access and multi-carrier transmission. 

A 4G system is expected to provide a comprehensive and secure all-IP based solution where facilities such as IP telephony, ultra-broadband Internet access, gaming services and streamed multimedia can be provided to users.

You want the new Blackberry, you think it looks good and you have heard great things about it.  However, you don’t want to spend another $29.99 a month to add the data feature your provider says you have to have in order to buy the Blackberry.
 
The salesman explains that in order to use the features on the Blackberry, you have to have that data plan added. 
 
Here is the reason why.  You are looking to purchase a data phone and not use it as it was intended.  Imagine buying a motorcycle without wheels, it will look good in the garage and you can push it around but it will not perform as intended.  Perhaps buying a data phone is not the best option if you do not want to use data.
 
When a data phone is discounted, it is priced based upon the revenue that the provider anticipates with the additional cost of the data feature.  If you are being offered a $500.00 phone for $99.00, on a 2-year-contract, the provider is guaranteed that for 24-months, they will generate revenue of your talk and text plan and now your added data feature.  It boils down to economics 101. 
 
Most carriers now have disclaimers stating that no smartphone will be activated without an attached data plan.  Check with your provider for details on their policies regarding data features.

Have you ever wondered what all the commotion is over the newest and greatest smartphones?
 
Verizon has the droid, AT&T has the iPhone, T-Mobile has the HTC HD2 and the list goes on.  
 
Retail stores have lines of people camped out in front of them overnight to be one of the first to have the device.
 
Generally, the people willing to do this are the ones that follow the news, know what they want and use the features the phone offers.
 
What about the rest of us, the not-so-technical savvy ones?
 
Mary visits her local Verizon store looking for a new phone.  She has been carrying the Motorola Razr for about 4 years now and it is in perfect shape.  She is there because her grandkids have been teasing her about her “antique” phone and how she should get a newer, better phone.  Mary is greeted by Travis, a 20-something, sharp dressed, phone expert.  Travis immediately shows Mary the newest Motorola Droid.  He goes on to tell her how this phone will do everything she wants, from making calls to surfing the web, watching movies, downloading ringtones,  it will even turn into a metal detector if she wants. 
 
Mary is confused, all she wants is a phone to keep in touch with her friends and family.  Is the Droid the best choice for Mary? Will the features offered on this phone, along with the additional monthly cost of having a data plan, be the best option?  Probably not.
 
Basic phones are still offered but not generally promoted.  Providers make more money on data plans than they ever have on talk plans. Therefore, the data phones are the ones that are promoted by the carrier, as these are the phones that grow the most revenue. 
 
It boils down to one thing, know what you want, do your homework and choose the best phone and plan for you based on your individual needs.

How many times have you or someone you know received an astronomically high cell phone bill?

“But my plan is supposed to be $79.95 and now that company is charging me $245.00!”

“What a bunch of rip-offs!” “I am going to cancel my service if they can’t get my bill right!”

So, how did this happen? Who is to blame, if anyone? Is it the cell phone company? Or is it you, the consumer or perhaps both?

When a person signs up for cell phone service, a good representative from that company will help you determine what is the right plan. Asking relevant questions like “Have you had cell phone service before? Approximately how many minutes did you use during that time? Is this your primary phone? Do you use it mostly during the day or nights and weekends? Do you text? Do you call internationally? Do you travel frequently using your cell phone? Do you use the Internet on your phone? Do you check emails on your phone? Do you download games, ringers or applications?”

By answering these questions, the right cell phone plan can easily be chosen.

I have seen many people order the wrong cell phone plan in an attempt to save money when in fact, being on the wrong plan can cost much more monthly.

Minute overages, messaging charges, data usage and international calling are the primary cause of additional charges.

Let’s say for example you select a 500-minute plan with 300 text messages included for $39.95. Your actual usage for the month is 800 minutes and 400 text messages.

You are now facing overage resulting in a much larger bill. If your carrier charges .45 a minute for every minute you go over, your minute overage will now be $135.00 (plus tax) and if text messages are charged at .25 each (incoming and outgoing), you will see additional charges of $25.00 (plus tax). You will now be paying $160.00 in overage (plus tax) for one month of service plus your normal bill.

If you had originally selected a 1,000 minute plan with a larger text message package, your monthly charge would not have exceeded your expectations.

Most cell phone companies will allow you to backdate a larger plan should the overage be caught before the end of your bill cycle. Being proactive, monitoring your usage and contacting your provider when it occurs can save you from cell phone bill shock.

In today’s economy, having credit extended is more difficult than ever. When a company extends credit to its customers, it is crucial to the business to know how this customer handles their bills historically and to determine if this customer is low or high risk to their business.

Credit checks are used to assist the company in determining how their potential customer has handled their finances in the past. Most large companies have a credit department that will verify the information provided using your social security number, name, address, etc.

Things that will prevent you from getting credit include but are not limited to, poor payment history, accounts that have gone to collections, over extension of credit and inaccurate information including deliberate omissions on your credit application.

Why does credit matter if I only want a cell phone plan?

When a customer signs up for cell phone service, the provider is giving that customer unlimited access to using their service. Customers can accrue extremely large bills in a very short period of time simply by using their phone for roaming, international calling, data transfers, downloaded ring tones, games, software applications, overuse of allotted minutes and excessive messaging if not covered in their plan.

All of these charges are paid by or absorbed by the carrier regardless if their customer pays their bill or not.

The potential for loss from a business standpoint is high and therefore credit will not be extended to those who do not meet the criteria set forth by the individual credit department.

Options for getting service with less than perfect credit:

1. Pay a pre-determined security deposit per line to the company of your choice. Most deposits range from $150.00 to $1,000.00 per line and generally will be refunded after one year only if the account is kept in good standing with no late payments or suspensions of service from non- payment. If your account is not in good credit standing, this deposit can be held as long as you have service with your company.

2. Consider using pre-paid cellular service. There are many options available for this type of service and since minutes are paid in advance, no credit check is necessary. Be sure and do your homework to find the one that best suits your individual needs.

3. Get a co-signer. Many companies will allow a co-signer to co-own your account with you using their credit for approval. There are some companies that do not allow co-signers but will put the account in another person’s name. You can be authorized to access and make changes to the account with the account holder’s permission. This avenue will not allow you as an authorized user to establish credit with that company or have your good payment history reported to the credit bureaus as the account itself is not in your name.

4. Use a service that does not require a credit check. WirelessWithout lets you use a plan from a major provider without a credit check or Social Security number.

A common discussion I had with customers was “at what age is it appropriate for a child to have a cell phone?”.

My advice would be to consider the following:

1. Is your child independently away from adults frequently?

2. Does your child require a phone to keep in contact with their family?

3. Do you have a landline in your home accessible to your child?

4. Would you, as the parent, feel your child is safer having one?

If any of these scenarios apply to your child’s situation, perhaps a cell phone would be the right choice.

The next question/concern parents then have is “what is the least expensive way to get a cell phone for my child?” and/or “I do not want to sign a contract for this service as it may only be temporary”.

There are many options available for parents seeking cell phone service for their children.

1. If the parent is already on a plan, companies will add an additional line, sharing the minutes, promotions, and features that are attached to the main line. This can be a good option but one must consider the charges their child could create due to using more minutes than allotted, downloading data or using text messaging when charged per message. Remember, when the minutes are shared, if you have 1000 minutes and your child uses 900 of them, you will only have 100 minutes remaining for your own use and you will be charged for every minute of air time over your package minutes. I have seen distraught parents come in with bills from several hundred dollars to a thousand or more due to excessive use, downloading data and most commonly, excessive text messaging. Should you choose to add your child to your own plan, it is important you monitor your child’s usage closely to avoid large, unexpected charges.

2. Pre-paid cell phone service may be an option for limited, restricted use. Pre-paid plans can be a great option, however, with high per minute charges and lack of features and promotions available, can be an expensive choice. Most pre-paid plans do not have free nights and weekends or mobile to mobile calling, these are valuable features that can save a lot of money.

3. Find a mainstream plan without a contract. Very few options are available to do this. WirelessWithout.com offers no contract cell phone plans for the same cost as if you were signing a two-year contract. There are also web-based companies that match people that want out of their contract with people willing to take over the contract. CellTradeUSA and CellSwapper are companies that provide this service. If you are luck enough to find one of these plans with just a month or two remaining on the contract, you can assume the contract from the previous owner and any promotions extended on the plan with remain with it. You will need to consent to a credit check from the provider and you could be required to pay a large deposit if your credit is less than perfect. You will be required to complete the contract time or pay an early termination fee should you choose to cancel after assuming the contract.

Should you decide to get a cell phone for your child, do your homework. If the cell phone is a luxury and not a necessity, you may want to avoid a contract. If your child abuses his or her privilege to have a phone, canceling a contract can be a very expensive out.

“But Mom, all the other kids have them!” Does this sound familiar? Approximately 4 out of 5 teenagers now carry cell phone. I have personally seen children as young 5 or 6 with their own cell phones. Some people may find this extravagant and others may feel it is a necessity in today’s world.

I recall a gentleman coming into the cell phone store I was managing a few days before Christmas one year. He wanted to get his daughter a new cell phone for Christmas as he felt hers was outdated. We discussed her needs and decided on a top of the line Motorola with camera. The father wanted to be assured that if his daughter was unhappy with his selection, the phone could be returned or exchanged, i guaranteed him it could within 30 days of purchase. Fast forward to the day after Christmas, my customer returned with his daughter, cell phone in hand. Much to my surprise, his daughter was 8 years old. This child proceeded to tell me that she wanted a ‘better’ phone than the one her father selected. All the while, dad is smiling and in agreement with her request. I have to admit, I found it a bit difficult keeping a smile on my face while this young person ran corner to corner of the store pointing to different phone and demanding the best. To me in was reminiscent of Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, “Daddy! I want it, and I want it NOW!”. Of course, Daddy smiles and does his best to make his little girl happy. She did eventually select a phone, not necessarily what I would consider top of the line, but she was happy with the look and feel, and after all, she was the customer and she and her father were happy.

Was she too young to have a cell phone? I believe it is dependent on her life circumstances. in retrospect, I began to think of the reasons why a child this young would need a cell phone. Many scenarios crossed my mind. I imagined her being the child of a broken marriage that may not have been an amicable split. Perhaps the only way her dad could talk to her was by providing her with a personal phone to keep in touch. Maybe she was in school and child care most of the time and the parents thought it important that she be able to reach them, and them her. Did she spend time away from the family in extracurricular activities? A cell phone is a great tool for a child to be able to contact someone to pick them up after practice. Could the family have chosen to eliminate their home landline and instead give all members of the family cell phones? This is a common practice in many households. Regardless of the family’s reasons, they felt it necessary for their 8 year old to carry her own phone.

to be continued…