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Related reports: Cell phones, smartphones and prepaid wireless
Smartphones -- which combine PDA functionality, web services and sometimes music with a phone -- are popular, but you'll need a more expensive service package to send data over your phone or to surf the Internet. Unlimited data and voice plans can easily cost $80 or more per month, although Boost Mobile (part of Sprint) offers a highly rated prepaid version for only $50 per month. High-speed wireless Internet services like Verizon's EVDO network can reach Internet speeds faster than broadband, but they can also be expensive. Also, the much talked-about Apple iPhone is available only through AT&T. We have separate ConsumerSearch reports on
Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are also covered in our report on
4G is on the way
Wireless companies are busy building 4G networks, which promise to be many times faster than 3G service is (which still isn't available everywhere in the U.S.). As of this update, 4G was available in Sweden and Norway, and in a few markets in the U.S. (but only for laptops, not phones). According to The New York Times and PC World, Sprint plans to deploy 4G in 2010 and sell a 4G smartphone. Verizon and AT&T are both expected to roll out 4G in limited areas in 2010, with widespread 4G coverage by 2011. T-Mobile, a latecomer to 3G, had not announced any 4G plans as of this update. However, experts note that -- like 3G -- 4G may not live up to its on-paper promise in real life.
Switching carriers
If you're considering switching carriers, you probably know that you'll be able to keep your cell phone number (this is called number portability). However, you will need to buy a new phone from the new carrier. If you are still under contract with your old carrier, you'll probably pay anywhere from $175 to $350 for early termination. However, after consumer groups pressed to have termination fees dropped, carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T began prorating their fees in 2007, with other cellular companies following suit. Your new carrier will probably charge you a small activation fee, though.
Phones for international use
If you think you might want a phone for use in other countries, one option (aside from going with a GSM-network carrier) is to pick up an unlocked quad-band (850MHz/900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz) GSM phone; used ones are usually available on eBay. When you arrive at your destination, buy a SIM card for your phone. Be sure to buy an unlocked phone or to unlock the phone at a site like Unlock123.com or TheTravelInsider.info before you leave.
The New York Times' Eric A. Taub provides tips for doing so in his article "Guidelines for Using a Cellphone Abroad." He says you can avoid headaches by factoring in the carrier you use, the length of your trip and your destination.
Cell phones and how they work
If you are interested in cell phone technology and how mobile phone services work, an excellent place to start is HowStuffWorks.com. Editors have compiled a lengthy article that explains how cell phones evolved, how GSM networks are different from CDMA systems and many other essentials.
"Essential Things to Know: Cell Phone Technologies," from First Glimpse magazine, also covers network technologies, including EVDO and EDGE, in a convenient Q & A format.
PC Today magazine also has several informative, easy-to-understand articles on cell phone technology. "The Path to 4G" offers a history of cellular systems and a mini-dictionary of cellular terms and acronyms, and "Wireless Today: What's Here & What's Right Around the Corner" lists the types of networks and speed rates of different carriers.
For updates on the latest cell phone technology and plans, The New York Times column "Phone Smart" by Bob Tedeschi appears twice a month. MobilePhoneBlog.org is also a useful site for staying abreast of emerging products and services.
There's a helpful buying guide at Wireless.org that covers everything from phone types to features to upgrades.
Saving money and getting better cell phone service
A number of ConsumerReports.org articles discuss ways to save on cell phone plans and bills, including "Cell Plan Extra Charges: Why and What You Can Do," "8 Ways to Cut Your Cell-phone Bill," and "Prepaid Cell Phones Can Offer Savings" on its money blog.
PCMag.com cell phone guru Sascha Segan discusses how he cut his own phone costs in "How I Slashed My Bills with Tech (Part 1)."
PC World's Yardena Arar lists "5 Ways Wireless Carriers Gouge You -- And How to Fight Back," including strategies to limit texting fees and overseas charges.
About.com's plan-chooser quiz is handy if you're trying to figure out what type of cell phone plan works for your calling habits. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
The New York Times article "How to Amplify Those Fading Bars" suggests ways to increase cell phone reception, including signal boosters and femtocells, such as T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home.
CellReception.com is a searchable database that let users look for cell tower locations, read reports of cell coverage and check for reception dead spots.
DeadCellZones.com has a complaint database and a listing of dead spots in metropolitan areas.
CNET's new feature "Compare Carrier Coverage in Your Area" offers street-level coverage maps for eight markets: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Orange County, Calif. and Dallas. It gleans data from people's phones to show signal strength, dropped calls and data throughput for AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon on an interactive map, so users can see block-by-block how well each carrier works in their neighborhoods.
You can get detailed pricing and coverage information on the websites of each wireless service provider: