by Ken Reigle

Created on: February 06, 2008

The best cell phone provider is the one that works whenever you need it, wherever you are. Oh, if only life were that simple! There are so many choices available, and selecting the best provider for you takes a bit of research. This guide will help you enter into a loving two year relationship with that certain special carrier. Sappy romantic musings aside, I'll take you through the features you need to know, then provide you with a summary of four major wireless companies with links to their sites.

COVERAGE

Most importantly, you need to find a cell phone provider with adequate service in your geographic area and the areas to which you most frequently travel. This service area is referred to as coverage. All major carriers have coverage maps, either online or in their store, that show the geographic areas in which you can expect to receive cellular service. In general, the greater the concentration of coverage areas on the map, the broader the level of service from that provider. All carriers are likely to have "dead spots" in their coverage, and this will not be shown on the map. However as technology evolves, these dead spots are rapidly diminishing. I've included links to the coverage maps of the four primary carriers below.

MOBILE TO MOBILE

All major carriers allow you to make unlimited mobile-to-mobile calls to other numbers within their own network. If you make most of your calls to a specific person, such as a spouse or associate, it may be more economical if you were both using the same carrier. Families, small offices, and other closely knit groups will gain significant value from this feature.

FAVORITES

Some carriers offer plans that allow you to make unlimited calls to a few phone numbers of your choosing. Since these minutes do not count against your allotted monthly minutes, you gain more value from the plan. You can make changes to your favorites at any time.

ROLLOVER

If you feel you may go over the allotted minutes once in a while, selecting a carrier that allows you to rollover and accumulate unused minutes is important. Without rollover, you may lose minutes that you've already paid for.

CHANGES TO PLAN

You may be uncertain if a specific rate plan will be right for you, and having to sign a two year contract can fill you with fear and uncertainty. Some carriers require you to extend your service contract if you make any changes to the plan. A number of carriers allow you to modify your rate plan without locking yourself into another two years. This is

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