Mobile Ministry Magazine

In this section:

• Choosing a Phone Network
• Choosing a Phone Carrier
• Plans: Post-Pay/Contracts
• Plans: Pre-Pay/Pay-as-You-Go

Choosing a Phone Network

Phone networks - not carriers - are something that many people do not consider when looking at smartphones. Here is some advice for smartphones (in the US):

• CDMA smartphones use a faster version of 3G (DSL/cable speed wireless access) for now.
• Verizon's CDMA smartphones while later to market than other models, usually suffer from fewer network issues like dropped calls.
• GSM smartphones utilize the network more efficiently, giving better battery life.
• Some GSM smartphones can be manually toggled between using just GSM, GSM+UTMS/HSDPA, or switching automatically. The latter option uses more battery life, but gives the fastest cellular data connection when needed.
• Verizon's CDMA network is usable in some subway areas (underground); this is less so the case with GSM networks.

Choosing a Phone Carrier

Choosing a phone carrier is a bit harder. Depending on budget and region, some carriers are better than others. If you are the type of person that doesn't travel outside of your region - for example region being the Northeast US, or the West Coast - then you might score better being with a regional carrier than a larger carrier.

Other things to consider when choosing a carrier are things such as quality of service (for making and recieving calls), coverage for your area, and customer service (if any issues should arise). For the most part, the larger carriers tend to knock these out of the box, but you are merely a number to them so be mindful of their technology and abilities towards your needs.

If your purchase is moreso a business-oriented purchase than a personal one, stick with the larger carriers as they offer service more oriented to business professionals.

After all of that, its about looking past the advertisements and paying attention to what others around you have experienced. You will hear more bad opinions than good ones, but ask around and those who are having a good go of things with a particular carrier will respond as such when asked.

Post-Pay/Contracts

Now the fun part, contracts.

The advantages of going on contract include a lower inital price for the mobile device, guaranteed service, and rebates for new and renewing contract holders. Purchasing a contract usually merits a subsidised mobile - meaning that the price you pay has been in part paid by the carrier, you pay the carrier back over the life of your contract.

Pre-Pay/Pay-as-You-Go

The other side of things is that many carriers allow you to bring your own phone and then you can do a Pre-Pay/Pay-as-You-Go arrangement where you pay ahead of time for what you will use and that's it. These arrangements do not usually offer subsidized phones, are cheaper because of lower taxes and the lack of subsidy add-in, and vary in terms of what you can do with them (some offer the ability to add data services while others do not).

Between the two, you can make out cheaper with a Pre-Pay/Pay-as-You-Go, but your selection of mobile devices that the carrier will support is greater with Post-Pay/Contracts. Things such as family plans and unlimited are almost never offered on pre-pay plans. Though most pre-pay plans will offer free in-network calling, and greater flexibility with anytime minutes.

Labels: MMM Smartphone Guide, smartphone