Dragon SoulWRRever's blog: "The Various Cellular companies out there"

For each of the post paid blogs I will have a legend to follow the abbreviations. pk=peak time(7am-9pm) N&W=Night & weekend min(9pm-7am mon-friday and (pm fri-7am mon) kb=kilobit mb=megabit m/a=monthly access m2m=mobile to mobile(which is to any same carrier customer{which are unlimited for most carriers if not I will notate) For all plans any unused pk minutes rollover at the end of billing cycle! $39.99 m/a =450 min pk and unlimited min N&W $59.99 m/a= 900 min pk and unlimited N&W $79.99 m/a= 1350 min pk, Unlimited N&W $99.99 m/a= 2000 min pk, unlimited N&W $149.99 m/a=4000 min pk, unlimited N&W $199.99 m/a=6000 min pk, unlimited N&W All plans are Nation wide long distance, Roaming, call forwarding, call waiting, 3-way calling, caller ID. To get unlimited text to anyone add $20 to the prices above for what Verizon calls Select plan.(i.e.-450 min plan goes from $39.99 to $59.99 if added as a select plan with unlimited text) if you don't go with the Select plan option and want text here are the text package rates: $10/month=unlimited in messaging + 500 aditional to use for anyone outside of the verizon network $15/month=unlimited + 1500 Add'l for outsiders $20/month=unlimited + 5000 add'l for outsiders outsiders= anyone not on Verizon network any text over the package is $0.15 a message send/receive VZ Navigator Verizon has a GPS service availible for your cell which is $9.99/month or $2.99/day(good for 24hrs) To get it just goto Get it now on your Verizon handset, tools, applications, VZ NAV. Download and install. VCAST TV select pkg $25/month unlimited accessto: ESPN MobileTV, NBC News2Go, NBC2GO, CBS MOBILE, MTV, NICKELODEON, COMEDY CENTRAL, and FOX Mobile. VCAST VPAK Unlimited basic V Cast Video Clips and access to mobile web 2.0; includes unlimited airtime for V Cast Video, V cast Music, Mobile Web 2.0, and GET IT Now. VCAST Mobile TV Basic Pkg $15/month ESPN Mobile Tv, NBC News2Go, NBC2Go, CBS Mobile, MTV, NICKELODEON, COMEDY CENTRAL, and FOX mobile Ringtones, Games, Ringback tones,Graphics, and Applications can be ordered from the handset and cost from $0.99-$9.99 RingBack Tones are tones that replace the ring that a caller hears when they call you. Tones are $0.99/per line/per month. $1.99 annual per tone, 100-tones maximum a year.

For each of the post paid blogs I will have a legend to follow the abbreviations. pk=peak time(7am-9pm) N&W=Night & weekend min(9pm-7am mon-friday and (pm fri-7am mon) kb=kilobit mb=megabit m/a=monthly access m2m=mobile to mobile(which is to any same carrier customer{which are unlimited for most carriers if not I will notate) For all plans any unused pk minutes rollover at the end of billing cycle! $39.99 m/a =450 min pk and 5000 min N&W $59.99 m/a= 900 min pk and unlimited N&W $79.99 m/a= 1350 min pk, Unlimited N&W $99.99 m/a= 2000 min pk, unlimited N&W $149.99 m/a=4000 min pk, unlimited N&W $199.99 m/a=6000 min pk, unlimited N&W All plans are Nation wide long distance, Roaming, call forwarding, call waiting, 3-way calling, caller ID. Adding text packages- $9.99 Media basic=400 messages($.10 each additional), 1mb wireless internet($.01 each add'l kb) $14.99 Media Works=1000 messages($.05 each additional message), 5mb wireless web($.01 each add'l kb) $19.99 Media Max 200= 200 messages($.05 each add'l message), Unlimited Wireless web, Unlimited Video. $29.99 Media Max 1000=1000 messages($.03 each add'l message), Unlimited Wireless web, unlimited video $39.99 Media max 3000=3000 messages($.03 each add'l), unlim wireless web, unlim video If you want your N&W min to start at 7pm add $8.99/month 411 calls are $1.79 each Ringtones, games, and graphics range from $1.99-$9.99 each(access from handset or Cingular's web site) Answertones(instead of a ringtone for your callers they hear music)$.99/month and $1.99/each answertone With cingular you can access cingular music and download a music ID program( Out with friends and hear a song none of you can agree upon the title use Cingular Music ID to find the Title, Artist, and download it as a ringtone or the full song.) Most Cingular(AT&T) phones come with an instant messenger such as AIM, Yahoo, MSN. Each uses T9(predictive text). Any usage is counted as regular text message. One of my last blogs I will give some tips on making and sending ringtones and graphics, to cell phones from your computer. All it will cost is messaging fee. Unlimited text to any Carrier can be add for $20 over normal m/a. No additional text package needed. you will have to add a wireless web package if you want the wireless web.

Cingular(AT&T)to go phone Choose the rate plan that fits your needs. Unlimited TAlK-$0.10 per minutes, unlimited mobile to mobile to any Cingular(AT&T) customer(availible only if you have funds on the account), $1 a day access(meaning to be able to call or receive calls you pay $1 everyday), Rollover minutes. Simple Rate-$0.25/min for any calls even to cingular(AT&T ) customers. Rollover minutes No activation fee. Each phone comes with $10 worth of time on it and the time is based on which plan you pick. There is no contract. You buy cards or use a debit, credit, or checking account to add minutes to the account. Cingular(AT&T)to go has a rewards program for every $100 you spend refilling your account you receive a bonus. The Bonus's are as follows: Lvl 1-$100=$5 more added to you account Lvl 2-$200=$10'' Lvl 3-$300=$15'' Lvl 4-$400=$15'' Lvl 5-$500=$20'' Premium-Every $100 increment afterwards=$20 Text is $0.05 per message Domestic sent/received, $0.20 per message International Sent/ $0.05 Received, MMS(picture messaging)$0.01/per kilobit. No per minute charge. T-Mobile To Go T-mobile to go is also a card cell- buy cards to add minutes. Each Card gives you so many minutes $10=30 minutes $25=130 $50=400 $100=1000 each card extends service 90 days except for the $10 card which gives 30 days of service T-mobile (like Cingular's to go) has a bonus minutes program after filling over $100 receive 15%more minutes and the minutes won't expire for 1 full year. There is no activation fee, no contracts.

There are many Pre-paid carriers to choose from here is a list of the ones availible in the South Western Pennsylvania area: 1.Cricket-Buy the handset, pick a plan and pay a monthly access fee. No contract required. A.$35 for Unlimited Local calling in your area code B.$40 for Above and Long Distance C.$45 for Above and call waiting, caller ID, Voicemail, 3-way calling, unlimited texting. D.$50 for above and 411 directory assistance, mobile web. E.$55 for above(-mobile web and 411) but you receive 100 min of nationwide roaming. F.$60 includes all of E but with 200 minutes of nation wide roaming. with any of the plans from A-D you can add for roaming: $5 for 30 minutes of nation wide roaming $10 for 70 minutes, and $15 for 120 minutes. There is a $36 activation fee and if you miss paying on time the phone is deactivated and to have it turned back on there is a $15 are-activation fee. If you change your plan at anytime or change handsets(even if it because the origanal handset is being replaced due to defect or damage there is a $15 charge) Handsets for Cricket can cost as low as $80 and as high as $300 dollars. For handset details goto www.mycricket.com 2.Tracfone is a pre-paid service that gives you access with a due date. Meaning that you have a set amount of time to use with in a time frame(i.e. 60 minutes to use within 90 days. if you use the minutes up before the 90 days purchase a new tracfone card to add minutes. buy a new card before the 90 days to maintain service.) Handsets are minimum $15 to ? (all depends on the functions of the handset) All tracfone phones come with 10 minutes after activation. The minute cards are in the following denominations: 30 minutes for $10(good for 45 days), 60 minutes for $20(good for 90 days), 120 minutes for $30(good for 90 days), 200 minutes for $40(good for 120 days), 400 minutes for $100(good for 1yr) and a double minute card for $50(good for the life of the handset). The double minute card does not come with minutes but if you place it on the handset before adding a minute card those mionutes will be doubled and so will each card added until you change handsets(so try out the handset for a week or 2 before adding the double minute card and any large minute card incase you decide you don't like the handset). Tracfone is a Nationwide Service no roaming charge. If let the the service expire you can lose the phone number and minutes but Tracfone usually maintains the minutes and gives a new number after a 15 day grace period. There is not an activation fee for carriers that use minute cards(Tracfone, Net10, Boost, Cingular to go(soon to be AT&T), T-Mobile to go, Verizon inpulse, Virgin mobile, Kajeet, Jump mobile) there are many more Pre-paid carriers to come in the next few blogs.

Net10 is just like Tracfone in the respect that you must purchase cards to keep the service active. Net10 handsets start at $30 and up. Each handset comes with 300 minutes to use within 60 days. the cards come in 150 minutes for $15(good for 30 days), 300 minutes for $30(good for 60 days), 600 minutes for $60(good for 60 days). Texting costs half a minute. NET10 is Nationwide service and costs $0.10/min in or out of your area. Boost Mobile is a Pay-as-you-go service(buy cards to have service) or Premium service(pick a plan). Nice thing about Boost is the Walkie feature(you can use the handset like a walkie talkie to contact other Boost customers $1 a day for unlimited use). Cards for the Pay-as-you-go start at $30 and up. Features are $0.10/min-Night&weekend, $0.10/min for mobile to mobile, $0.20?min for national calls, $1/day for Walkie, free to receive text $0.10 per message to send. Boost Premium: $30/month-inlimited Nationwide Walkie, $0.10/min National calls, $0.10/min Night &Weekends, Unlimited text and mobile web for $10/month $50/month-Unlimited Nationwide Walkie, 400 anytime minutes, Unlimited text and mobile web for $10/month $70/month-Unlimited nationwide walkie, 600 minutes for daytime usage, unlimited Night&weekend minutes, $10/month for unlimited Web and text Handsets start at $30 and up More to come on pre-paid

OK this is just a starter fo rmany blogs to come on cellular phones. For starters I do sell cell phones and other services at work. I just thought after seeing alot of Mumms on "what carrier or handset should I go with ?" this would be helpful to many. There are Post-paid and Pre-paid. Post-paid is a contractual agreement for no less than 1yr and no more than 2yrs. Most carriers charge a $175 termination fee if yo uwant ot get out of the contract early. Also upgrades to any equipment is 11 months into a 1yr contract or 22 months into a 2yr contract. In order to receive an upgrade towards the end of your contract you must renew with the carrier for 1 to 2 yrs and the cost of the handset depends on the length of the renewed contract and whether you go to the carriers own store or website or an authorized dealer for the carrier.(i.e. Walmart, a kiosk at the mall, or Flywire.com). I will in future blogs go into depth on the various carriers in the south western Pennsylvania area which these carriers prices do vary slightly through out the Continental U.S.. Pre-paid is cheap cellular phones but the cost of the minutes may vary dramatically. the cost of pre-paid depends on the minutes used and the features offered by the carrier.