A mobile subscription can cause you a lot of stress if you don’t know how to choose the subscription that suits you best. You can sometimes find some information on your provider’s website, but these are clearly biased towards that particular provider and so you may need to do more research. This article explains how to compare different carrier plans and choose one that suits your needs.
Mobile phones have such a wide range of uses unlike in the past when they were mainly used for playing games, calling and texting. With your current cell phone, you can navigate the streets and even the wild, research, make calls, text, send emails, play online and offline games, and other broader applications based on today’s computing needs.
Data is at the heart of most services and so you will find that you will have to spend more money for more time or data if you are going to take out an “unlimited” subscription for your services. If you’re just learning about a cell phone plan, you’ll find that unlimited services isn’t just the only term that causes some confusion.
Understand the behavior of your mobile phone
People are not the same and therefore no two people can have exactly the same cell phone behavior. Before looking for a new mobile plan, make sure you know how much data and talk time you’ll be using regularly. Think about where you are calling from. And to which country you are calling and how much money you have available for just your mobile phone.
Some people spend a lot of time browsing and downloading material and this requires a lot of data usage. If you are one, get a mobile phone plan with lots of data at the expense of the rest. Consider this option especially if you don’t have reliable Wi-Fi in your home or office.
Recommended for you: Top 10 Best New Smartphones You Can Buy Right Now (Unlocked).
What is your budget?
Your budget should be your biggest consideration when choosing a mobile plan. Buying a brand new phone will come with a premium cost and you don’t want to be the one with a brand new phone but can’t do anything with it. Since data is the new king, you should get a plan that prioritizes unlimited data.
For those who would rather not risk a price hike if they exceed their monthly data allotment, unlimited data plans are becoming increasingly popular. To eliminate the unpredictability of volatile prices, many people prefer fixed costs and unlimited data plans.
Locked vs Unlocked Cellular Plan
Locked cell phones are a carrier’s hidden weapon. They determine where you can and cannot use their services. Locked prepaid mobile plans usually offer better prices and great insurance for the gadgets. However, other users prefer unlocked mobile plans because it gives them the flexibility to use the mobile phone and the employee’s services in more places and they can switch and use a different SIM card on the mobile phone.
What about data-only SIM cards?
It is not possible to make or receive calls with this type of SIM card in your phone, as long as you have one in it. It is best to sign up for a long-term cellular plan as there are several applications and services that require a phone number to call you and establish authentication.
Prepaid vs Postpaid Mobile Plan
A prepaid mobile subscription is a subscription that allows you to pay for services in bundles until their expiry date. This means you make payments throughout the month according to your resource needs. Prepaid cell phone plans are ideal if you are on the go and expect your cell phone needs to fluctuate. They are also great for people who don’t need structured mobile packages and know exactly how much they need per day or per week.
On the other hand, postpaid mobile plans offer bundled offers that are paid monthly. You don’t have to constantly worry about running out of resources if you already understand your monthly expenses and can predict that there won’t be too many fluctuations. The key to keeping your postpaid resources intact is budgeting and scheduling your resources.
You may like: 18 reasons why tablets are better than your smartphones
Why unlimited data isn’t always the best choice
Getting an unlimited data plan may sound like a great idea at first, but you’ll find that unlimited data is actually an expensive option over time. With Wi-Fi services pretty much everywhere, getting unlimited data will likely mean you barely use it and still have to pay for it.
The best bet is to opt for a plan with a lower data limit. Prepaid data options allow you to buy data only when you need it and even plan several weeks or months ahead. You can easily switch between a prepaid subscription and WiFi because you don’t waste money.
Getting the Right Minute Plan
Despite having data based calling services, you still need a reliable GSM based service which is more reliable as it does not require wifi or data. Most carriers take advantage of their minute plans by bundling them with data plans, but this creates confusion for new mobile plan users. You should know exactly how many minutes you get and if you have an option to add more minutes in case yours expire. This way you avoid getting stuck and having to wait days before you get your new monthly offer.
Make sure your device is not locked to the network before contracting with a carrier for a cellular plan. If you want to switch from your current carrier to another one in the future, an unlocked phone is the best option as you don’t have to ask to unlock the phone anymore.
Choosing a phone plan may seem like a small undertaking, but if done right, it can save you a lot of time, stress and money in the long run.
In general, the first rule when choosing a great phone plan is to know that not all phone plans work the same for everyone. While one may prefer a plan that offers more flexibility and freedom, others want structured plans that they can easily predict and project future costs. The following tips can help you find a plan that works best for you.
Conduct quality research on various potential network carriers
As mentioned, research can be difficult at times when you’re bombarded with ads left, right, and center. You can get through this maze by simply writing down the main carriers you see when you start your online search. Chances are, you’ll end up on AT&T, Verizon, US Cellular, or T-Mobile, among others. Check whether these carriers have good network coverage in your area or in the area you are traveling to.
An online search on the carrier’s website will not provide you with complete, objective information. You can continue your search through independent websites that compare different packages to fully narrow your search.
Finally, you can ask a few friends about the quality of service they get from their service provider. This type of search will yield much more extensive research because you can get an independent evaluation from a real user you trust.
Find an affordable unlimited data plan
An unlimited data plan is a practical savior if you are a heavy data user. Data is king and traditional messaging and calling platforms are slowly being phased out. Therefore, having unlimited data leads to greater cost savings and allows you to balance between calling, texting or taking out a phone plan. Since data-based calls and text messages require similar app platforms, some limitation on cross-platform texting and calling still remains. So make sure most of your contacts are in a similar app platform like WhatsApp or Duo to make communication easier.
You may also like: Internet connectivity and its impact on students in Australia.
Be sure to check customer service
Customer service is essential for new mobile plan owners as it helps them navigate the sometimes complex cost structure and understand new offerings. Appalling customer service can be detrimental to customer satisfaction, and this not only affects the customer’s overall view of carriers, but also diminishes trust in other affiliated companies, such as telephone companies.
There are situations where unintended circumstances can lead to poor service and most customers may not understand the reason behind it. With a good customer service platform, the carrier can fully control such a situation and retain its customers so that they can enjoy quality service once everything is back to normal.
Disclosure: Some of our articles may contain affiliate links; this means that every time you make a purchase, we get a small commission. However, the input we produce is reliable; we always select and review all information before publishing it on our website. We can make sure you always get real and valuable knowledge and resources.
0 Comments