nnnggghhh

[kierthos]

I'm thinking about getting a cell phone (and getting rid of my land line), IF I can find a plan that is cheaper then my current phone bill.

The problem is, I don't understand what a lot of the crap listed in the plans I'm looking at mean. (I'm looking at Sprint/Nextel, btw, because I get a discount through work for their line of phones/plans.)



Okay... no roaming charges means that no matter where I am with the phone, I don't get charged extra, right? I'm pretty sure that's what it means.

But talk nights and weekends.... so if it's not on a night/weekend, then it would come off of my anytime minutes, right?

And unless it's some exceptionally weird plan, I should be able to call both other cell phones and land lines, right? (The only reason I ask is I saw something on a couple other plans that seemed to differentiate between unlimited talk and unlimited 'mobile to mobile'.)

Comments

[copper-fingers.livejournal.com]

Yup you've got it right.
I'm not sure how it goes in the States but over here whether you call a mobile or a land line, if it's from a mobile then it will cost the same (unless somebody corrects me!)
Land lines differentiate between land line and mobile calls and charge more for calls to the cell phone.

Mobile to mobile (again, over here) is a special deal where you get one or a couple of numbers (on the same network) that you can call for free anytime. Usually for 20min or so then after that it charges.

But you might need a fellow American to help out with the specifics.

[mierandra.livejournal.com]

Make sure your local 911 system either has cell phone GPS positioning or that a phone with no service can still dial 911 in your area before you ditch the landline. Not everywhere has been able to afford GPS technology and if something were to happen and you called on your cell and weren't able to give your location, they wouldn't be able to find you.

Sprint customer here.

[hartley.livejournal.com]

In 6 years with them, I've never had a major problem with them.

No roaming charges means pretty much what you think it means.

Also, "mobile to mobile" generally refers to calls to other people with cell phones with the same company. I believe all Sprint plans come with unlimited Sprint to Sprint calling.

[chumley.livejournal.com]

Also, many providers have a thing where you can call their other customers for free and it won't ding your minutes too.

Like I can call other Verizon ppl for free.

And most phones are E911 compliant now. By law, they have to be. (take this from someone who wrked for Verizon for three years)

[jdack.livejournal.com]

Been on sprint about 6 months, it's been fine.

And yeah mobile to mobile doesn't mean cellphone to cellphone, it means cellphone on sprint to cellphone on sprint (or whatever carrier.)

There's no diff between calling a land line and a cellphone with another carrier. Takes off your minutes until night/weekend hours come in to play.

One thing to note is whatever your plan says it will cost per month, in your head add $5 - $7 for "taxes" and other weird shit.