To get a Cellphone

[RetroEvolute]

Or not to get a cellphone? That is the question (Not really).

I'm 17, driving, working, and at school almost all the time. I'm home regularly, but there are many more circumstances where I am NOT home. My parents still don't seem to think that a cell phone is necessary, and are too cheap to add one to their plan anyway (It's a ripoff with whatever plan they've currently got, or something). However, I think that having a phone would be very handy in many situations such as emergency, and convenience. Not to mention that my friends all want me to get a phone as well...

So, I'm planning on getting my own cellphone and plan, and paying for it myself. I think I make plenty of money at work to handle it just fine. SO, my real question is... What's the best plan for someone who's in my place. Something at a reasonable pricing, and I'd like a nice phone, too... I come here to ask you guys because I just cannot trust the information that the companies themselves give me.

Any ideas?

[RayH]

Unfortunately, cell phone can get very expensive. Not all cell phone service is equal, not in coverage and not in pricing...especially in HOW they determine their fees.

You are going to have to ask around among your friends what is their carrier and what kind of plan they have. A lot depends on how you use the phone. There are a lot of taxes and mandatory fees. Expect about $12 additional to the base charge for taxes and mandatory fees.

Air Time is the charge just for being connected to the service: making calls, answering calls, uploading, downloading, INTERNET, email, messaging.

In addition to air time, there may be extra fees attached to each service. Yes, depending upon how its done, there may be additional fees for phone service. Also, things like photo may be handled differently. Most carriers will allow photo download via cable. Sprint wants you to do it via INTERNET (for which there is extra charge).

[Rootstonian]

We've got a family plan through Verizon..5 phones...bill is like $100 a month. I don't know what contract your parents have, but Verizon's "add a phone" is $10 per month.

[erhan28]

I would ask your parents first because opening a service that gives you little is a ripoff plus a 2 year contract ??? I would talk to your parents first and they always can change plans with there service without breaking the contract. What service do they have ?

[mr.jiggyfly]

If you're afraid of Telcos ripping you off, and if you don't use too many minutes, get a prepaid plan. I'd suggest T-Mobile. It can get down to about 9.2 cents per minute (no unlimited nights/weekends or any fancy stuff like that) and the minutes don't expire for a year if you buy the $100 card.

Usually the phones aren't too great, so you can just get an unlocked phone from Ebay and use the SIM card on that.

[RayH]

Whatever cell phone you get, don't try to be stylish and use a clip on the pocket. I guarantee you'll lose it. I have never lost a cell phone in 7 years of usage. I have a belt pouch that goes through a loop in the case, not a clip on the case, a loop in the case. Those clips don't work so good. The only clip I've ever seen work worth a beans is one my friend purchased at the gun show. It's the same clip used for holsters. Other than that, those clips will lose you a cell phone. Then you have to buy another.

I have a boring cell phone. Actually, I could have gotten one with all sorts of features. But I opted for a basic phone that phones. No picture taking, no music, no connection to the internet. My old phone would want to connect to the internet by itself and I would have to fight charges for it each month. Hey, it's like maybe I was connected to the internet for two hours because the phone was in my pocket.

[RayH]

Alsol, watch out. You cell phone number could be a recent recycle from as new as 30 days ago. You'll then be getting a lot of misdials looking for the former owner of that number or get billed for automatic services to which that person subcribed.

[bombledmonk]

I was sorta in the same situation as you about a year ago. From what I figured out the best solution would be to add to your parents plan and pay them. Individual Cell plans add up and lock you in for way too long.

The second best option tends to be a Prepaid as jiggyfly said. It would be likely be no more expensive unless you spend hours at a time on the cell phone. For quick convo's with a few longer ones dotted in there prepaid is the way to go. There are many more prepaid options now than there were last year at this time as well so I'd suggest looking into it. The good services also do have some pretty nice phones so some research is needed there as well to determine the best ones.

[bwcc]

One major hurdle you are going to run into is, unfortunately, still being a minor comes into play with contracts. Most (if not all) companies will require you to be at least 18 years old inorder to accept a contract. Otherwise, you will have to have your parents sign the contract.

I would recommed the same thing bombledmonk said - get on your parents' plan and tell them you'll pay for the phone, usage, etc, etc. Work on your sales pitch to them!

[rmk11]

I like the Cingular Rollover plan.

[elroy]

I'm a BIG fan of Cingular, been with them for 10 years. With free calling to all other Cingular customers, rollover minutes, free night & weekends, no roaming ever, they are hard to beat. It would definitely be best to get on your parents plan and pay them. I would not get involved in any contract that has roaming charges. The largest city near my home is Indianapolis, some companies phones will roam in Indianapolis. Also the phone will not display roaming minutes used versus free minutes. So you never really know where you stand.
[now for the parents speech]
You MUST beware of your minutes used. It is not unusual for 1st time cell users to run up bills of hundreds of dollars the 1st month. I know people who's kids ran up $300-500 bills in a month or 2. My employer handed out cells to everyone a few years back. 1st month some people used up 900 daytime minutes while most others used less than 50. Your friends will be your worst enemy, call you anytime eating up your minutes. Be careful.

[RetroEvolute]

Yeah... I really looked into Cingular the other day when I went around to check stuff out... But yeah... Prices do add up. Verizon seems to be very shotty, and not get the greatest signal, from using my family's phones... However, it's probably best if I hop onto their plan, as well...

But, here's a new question:

If I were to get on my parent's Verizon plan, do I get the same selection of phones as say... Cingular?

[rmk11]

Yeah... I really looked into Cingular the other day when I went around to check stuff out... But yeah... Prices do add up. Verizon seems to be very shotty, and not get the greatest signal, from using my family's phones... However, it's probably best if I hop onto their plan, as well...

But, here's a new question:

If I were to get on my parent's Verizon plan, do I get the same selection of phones as say... Cingular?

Verizon has the best reception but Cingular has the best in everything else. The only thing I like about verizon is the ESPN phones.

Especially if you get the Motorola Slivr (New and improved razr). That has even better reception then the Verizon phones.

The Motorola Slivr is even thinner then the razr and they've ironned out all the problems that the razr had in the slivr. They've also added some new features.

Oh, as for your question. No, I don't think you do.

And you can't get the wonderful slivr on verizon either.

[RetroEvolute]

Man...

I like the razr, too... I'll check out this slivr just because I can.

(Is the SLIVR non-flip phone only? I kinda like the slip phone design... Oh well.)

[rmk11]

Man...

I like the razr, too... I'll check out this slivr just because I can.

(Is the SLIVR non-flip phone only? I kinda like the slip phone design... Oh well.)

I have a flip phone version.

[RetroEvolute]

Hmm.. How new is the phone? google had trouble finding it!

Weird... I'll look around some more.

[rmk11]

Hmm.. How new is the phone? google had trouble finding it!

Weird... I'll look around some more.

Quite new, I just saw the commercial for the first time 3 days ago (I bought the phone before I saw the commercial).

[RetroEvolute]

http://direct.motorola.com/ENS/phone...roductid=29213

I don't see it in their listings... They only seem to have the non-flip phone version...

[rmk11]

Perhaps it's sold out?

[RetroEvolute]

Hmf... Verizon's phone choices are not too great, from what I can see on their site... And anything good is a rip.