What is number portability?

What happens if I have a contract with my current wireless provider?

What do I have to tell my current wireless provider to get them to port my number to my new provider?

What makes my number
“ portable” or “ not portable”?

Can I use my current phone with my new provider?

What is the farthest I can call from my wireless phone?

Can all cellular phones be used worldwide?

Can I upgrade my phone and plan?

How do I pick the best service plan?

When do I get charged long distance fees?

What is my home coverage area?

What are the differences between analog and digital phones?

What is 3rd Generation

What is a dual-band phone?

What battery has the longest life, NiMH or Li-Ion?

What is the difference between talk time and standby time?


Why is the quality of my wireless service sometimes inconsistent?

What is roaming?

What do peak and off-peak hours indicate?

Do I get charged when people call me?

Does it use up my minutes when I call other wireless phones?

When I call my voice mail am I using my minutes?

Are toll free number calls free?

Local Plans

Regional Plans

National Plans without Roaming Charges

Additional Plan Features and Fees

  What is number portability?
Number portability allows wireless customers to keep their current phone numbers when they switch from one wireless provider to another within the same local service area.

What happens if I have a contract with my current wireless provider?
You are still required to honor your contract. The alternative is to pay the early termination fee associated with your contract.

What do I have to tell my current wireless provider to get them to port my number to my new provider?
Nothing. This should be taken care of by your new provider. When you sign up with the new provider and request that you keep your current number, they will first check to see if your number is portable. If it is, they will request your
number from your provider and take care of the details.

What makes my number “ portable” or “ not portable”?
The number must be a local number, and must be within the new provider ’s local service area. Additionally, your current wireless account cannot be “cancelled” or “suspended ”.

Can I use my current phone with my new provider?
Probably not. Different providers operate using different technologies, so most often; your phone won’t work on another providers network. You will likely have to buy a new phone when you port your number to a new provider.

What is the farthest I can call from my wireless phone?

You can call any phone number around the world, but wireless providers restrict international calling unless requested. Read the details of the service plan to see if international calling is restricted or if there is an extra monthly fee to allow it.

Can all cellular phones be used worldwide?
No. To be able to place a call while you are outside the United States, you must have a wireless phone that is designed for use on the network in the country where you will be traveling. Most countries have some form of wireless phone service, but the phone that you use in a country must be compatible with the prevalent technology in that country. For example, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is most commonly used in Europe.

Can I upgrade my phone and plan?

Getting a new plan and/or phone is as easy as calling. Keep in mind that not all advertised promotions will apply.

How do I pick the best service plan?
There's no one right answer, but here are a few pointers. Think about how much you plan to use the phone, and then match your anticipated calling patterns to a plan's available minutes and coverage area. Look at plan details such as the monthly fees to determine how much you may be spending for wireless service. Finally, check for money saving promotions that may reduce your costs.

When do I get charged long distance fees?
A wireless call is considered to be long distance if it is placed to a number outside of your local calling area (which is defined by your provider). Make sure you're familiar with the boundaries of your provider's coverage map and local calling area. Also, check the details of the plan you're buying.

What is my home coverage area?

This is the region where your provider has set up a network, or has agreements with other providers to carry your calls. Check the coverage map associated with your plan for a visual representation of your home coverage area. If you do not have a plan that includes free roaming and free long distance, you will be charged additional fees for calls made outside of this area.

What are the differences between analog and digital phones?

Analog phones operate by sending and receiving signals in a continuous sound wave; digital phones send and receive messages by converting sounds and voices into numeric code. Analog phones have shorter talk and standby time than digital phones. Digital phones offer better voice quality. Digital phones have a longer battery life. Many digital phones also work on analog networks.

What is 3rd Generation?
The 3rd Generation (3G) mobile devices and services are the next wave. 3G will provide the capacity for online, real -time transfer of information, regardless of time and place. For example, you will be able to send images or participate in live video conferencing by using your 3G mobile communications device.

What is a dual-band phone?
A dual-band phone is a PCS phone that can operate on analog cellular networks when it is out of range of PCS network antennas.

What battery has the longest life, NiMH or Li-Ion?
Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries tend to offer the longest talk times and standby times in a lightweight package and tend to be the most expensive. Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are the reliable standard that offer average talk times (2 to 5 hours) and standby times (24 to 48 hours).

What is the difference between talk time and standby time?
Talk time is the amount of time you spend conversing on your wire- less phone, either making outgoing calls or receiving incoming calls. Standby time is the amount of time that you have your phone on, but are not actually
talking on it. You do not have three hours of talk time and thirty hours of standby time on one battery; you have either three hours maximum to talk or thirty hours maximum to be on standby.

Why is the quality of my wireless service sometimes inconsistent?
Your service quality may vary from time to time based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the weather, your distance from a tower, and large obstacles (such as buildings) causing service interference.

What is roaming?
When you use your phone outside of your providers network (see maps), you are roaming on another wireless provider's network. Airtime minutes used when roaming are generally not part of your basic calling plan. Check your wireless provider's plan details and coverage maps to determine when you are roaming, and how you are charged for these calls. Most providers offer no roaming charge features in some calling plans.

What do peak and off-peak hours indicate?
Peak hours refer to the hours of highest wireless phone usage. Typically, peak minutes are billed at a service plan's highest rate. Conversely, off-peak hours refer to the hours of the lowest wireless phone usage, and are billed at lower rates. Many providers offer unlimited off-peak calling (unlimited Night and Weekends).
Peak and off-peak times vary significantly by wireless carrier. Check the details to know for sure. Peak hours typically are between the hours of 7 AM and 9 PM, Monday through Friday. Off-peak hours include the weekends, some holidays, and typically the hours from 9 PM to 7 AM during the week.

Do I get charged when people call me?
Yes. You are billed for the amount of airtime minutes that you use, regardless if the call is incoming or outgoing. However, Sprint Nextel has a calling plan that offers free incoming calls.

Does it use up my minutes when I call other wireless phones?
Sometimes. Most service providers offer unlimited Mobile-to-Mobile calling to other mobile phones in their network. This benefit allows you free calls to other users of your service provider's wireless phone service. If you call a wireless phone on another network, you will be charged the same number of minutes as if you called a regular phone number.

When I call my voice mail am I using my minutes?
Yes. When you call to retrieve your voice mail messages, you are charged airtime minutes.

Are toll free number calls free?
No. You will not be charged a long distance charge to call a toll free number; however you will be charged airtime for the minutes you are using your phone to call the toll free number.

Local Plans
The service area for a local plan is usually your metropolitan area and immediate surrounding areas. When using your phone outside of your service area, you may be charged a roaming fee. You should make sure you check out both the service area and roaming rates of the plans you are considering. Additionally, if you are making calls to places outside of your calling area, you may be charged a long distance fee.

Regional Plans
Regional plans are the next level of service plans. They will be slightly more expensive per minute than a local plan. The service areas for these plans include most of your region; for example, most of the Northeastern states or Southeastern states. You will not be charged any roaming fees within your service area, and you will not be charged long distance fees for making long distance calls from within your service area. You will be charged both roaming and long distance fees (when applicable) for calls made from outside of your service area.

National Plans without Roaming Charges
National plans are examples of rate plans with no additional roaming charge anywhere you make or receive calls. These plans allow you to use your phone anywhere to call anywhere in the domestic US, without being charged roaming or long distance fees. They may be well worth your money if you travel or make a considerable number of long distance calls per month.
 
  Additional Plan Features and Fees
There are many of other plan features that may be Included in your service plan, or you may choose to add onto your service plan. Each service provider offers a different set of features, and will include different features with their plans. The following includes a fairly standard list of features to consider with your plan:
 
  • Activation Fee Most service providers will charge you a one-time fee when you set up your service, usually along the lines of $25 to $50.
  • Cancellation Fee Most wireless providers will also charge you lf you want to end your service before the end of your contract. This can be as much as $1 50 to $250, so make sure you know what it is before you cancel.
  • Taxes Depending on what state you live in, you will have to add a couple dollars of taxes onto your monthly bill, as wall as a Universal Service Fee.
  • Voice Mail Most service providers include some sort of voice mail service in their plans. Enhanced voice mail service may cost you extra, however. And consumers should keep in mind that some service providers deduct minutes from your Included minutes when you check your voice mail from your phone.
  • Caller ID The ability to see the number of the person calling without answering the phone. Being able to screen your calls can be a time and money saver.
  • Call Waiting The ability to receive incoming calls while on the phone.
  • Call Forwarding The ability to send Incoming calls to another number. Even though the ability’ to do this is often include in your plan, you may be charged for the airtime when using it, or pay an additional per minute fee.
  • Three-way Calling The ability to speak with two parties simultaneously.
  • Wireless Internet Access The ability to access Internet-based messages, news, and information from your phone.
  • Text Messaging The ability to receive textual messages on your phone’s screen.
  • Directory Assistance Per-Call Fee Charging $0.99 per call to call directory assistance is typical.
  • Mobile-to-Mobile Calling Some service providers offer special rates for placing calls to other mobile customers on their network.
  • Handset Insurance Most service providers offer you the option to pay a monthly fee for insurance that will allow you to replace your handset for free if it is lost or stolen.
  • International or Certain Country Calling Most wireless carriers will restrict your calls to destinations in the United States. Some are adding the ability to call Canada or Mexico for a low monthly fee plus your minutes of use.