There are five major cell phone carriers in the U.S. They are Cingular (AT & T), Nextel, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint. We all have different experiences with our carriers. Some experiences are good, and some are just nightmares. Therefore, choosing a cell phone carrier is a personal reference.

Listed below are the five carriers, with their rates based on a family plan of 700 minutes. Keep in mind that with a family share plan, you have a two years contract with that carrier. Having these numbers sitting in front of you should help deciding on which one to pick.

1. Cingular-also now known as AT & T, the price per month is $69.99 for the first two lines. Each additional line is $9.99 per month. Off-peak (week night after 9:00 P.M.), and In-Network (other Cingular users) minutes are unlimited. The activation fee is $36.00 for the first line, $26.00 for each additional line. The only good thing is: Cingular offers rollover minutes.

2. Nextel-the price per month is $69.99 for the first two lines. Each additional line is $20.00. Unlimited walkie-talkie minutes. Unlimited night and weekend minutes starting at 7:00 P.M. There are no mobile to mobile minutes, unless you want to pay another $5.00 per month. The activation fee is $36.00 for each line.

3. T-Mobile-the price is $59.99 per month for the first two lines. An additional line is $9.99 per month. Unlimited nights and weekend minutes. Unlimited mobile to mobile minutes. The activation fee is $35.00 for each line.

4. Verizon-the price is $69.99 per month, for the first two lines. Each additional line is $9.99 per month. The first two lines have unlimited mobile to mobile minutes. Unlimited night and weekend minutes for all lines. The activation fee is $35.00 per line.

5. Sprint-the price is $69.99 per month for the first two lines. Each additional line is $10.00 per month. Unlimited night and weekend minutes. Unlimited mobile to mobile minutes. The activation fee is $36.00 per line.

These comparisons are just the basic for a family share plan. Looking at the five carriers, T-Mobile seems to have the cheapest cell phone service plan in the U.S. Taking rollover minutes into consideration, Cingular comes second in my choice. You might have to pay an extra $10.00 dollars more per month, but you get to keep the unused minutes.

Whichever carrier you choose, make sure you check out their customer service, coverage area, and the charges for each additional minute used. These all add up to how happy you are as a consumer.

Learn more about this author, BC Doan.
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