Which Cellular Carrier is Best for You?

With all the competitive cell phone carriers out there it's hard to decide which one is the right one for you. New Phones hit the market almost every week. The newest trends are smartphones. Are you an iPhone enthusiast? AT&T and Verizon both now carry the iPhone. The new iPhone 5 is slated to be released early October. Most phones are free or have a reduced price with a 2 year contract. Just be sure you check your current plan because early termination fees can be quite hefty. And some carriers are willing to offer you specials just to keep you as a current customer. 


AT&T
Pros: HSPA+ 4G network. 4GE LTE network coming by the end of the year. Phones and services hard to beat.
Cons: Dropped calls reportedly at about 5.8% vs. Verizon at 2%.


VERIZON
Pros: Offering the iPhone since February 2011. 4G LTE technology already running. CNet claims the HTC Thunderbolt is noticeably faster than other phones tested. Better coverage out of the big 3.
Cons: Early termination fees are very high at $350 for advanced devices. 


SPRINT
Pros: For the tech savvy customer who wants to link up their Sprint phone number to your Google Voice, receiving voice mail in text format through your Gmail account.
Cons: Customer service issues have been reported.


T-MOBILE
Pros: Sidekick 4G equipment introduced by Samsung. Largest 4G market claimed by T-Mobile. Adding additional data plans for a monthly $10 fee to new contracts. Known to cut deals to keep their customers.
Cons: No plans for iPhone 5 at T-Mobile this year. While faster than existing 3G options, surveys show T-Mobile’s 4G network is not as fast as Verizon’s or Sprint's.


PREPAID Phones
Pros: Decent cheaper and no contract plans available. Blackberry and Android phones to choose from. 
Cons: Less phone selections available. Spotty service depending on your area. Minutes add up quickly, not for users who use a lot of  minutes per month.


Be sure to also check out these smaller companies: US Cellular (USM), Leap (LEAP), MetroPCS (PCS), and Virgin (VMED).  Make sure you are aware of limited coverages. Don't forget to check for bargain service plans and exclusive web-only deals that stores don't offer. There may be fewer phone stores available and fewer customized services and apps but the trade offs may be worth it.
 

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