Author: Eric Morgan
Ringtones originally were a take-what-you-get feature associated with the purchase of a new cell phone. Currently, phones come with an assortment of built-in ring tones, with capabilities to store countless more.
Cell phones have become an extension of our individual persona, and as such are a billboard of self expression. Just as someone might decorate their home for individual national holidays, so will they upload ringtones appropriate for certain times of the year. Accordingly, cell phone providers offer music fitting for a particular holiday on their websites.
With popular services such as the iTunes online store, any Top 40 pop song can become a personal ringtone for $1.98. In addition, when a song is downloaded from iTunes to be used as a ringtone, it can be also be stored on a PC as an mp3, eliminating the need to pay for the song twice.
Cell phone providers also occasionally offer ringtones based on the demographic of the cell phone network area. A cell phone company in the southern U.S. such as Southernlinc might offer songs popular for that region. One such song, (featured by Southernlinc) is 'A Country Boy Can Survive' by Hank Williams. With Southernlinc songs are $1.49/per download unless on sale. Most songs downloaded for use as a ringtone typically cost $.99/per song and up. Sprint PCS has a wide ranging variety of songs organized in a vast catalog, and are available to purchase for $2.50/per song.
Another useful feature offered by several websites are programs with the ability to assist you in composing an original score for your phone. In addition, with the current integration of technology between prime time T.V. shows and corporate television websites online gives cell phone users the ability to download the theme song from a particularly well loved show.
Many cell phone ringtones are available to download for free from various commercial and independently owned websites. Every cell phone provider offers a link to download ringtones on the providers' website. Some cell phone companies contract with specific artists to feature current albums or popular newly released songs. For example, Verizon Wireless currently features artists such as PHISH, Led Zeppelin, and Belinda Carlisle.
T Mobile has several options to purchase for use as a ringtones listed in four categories: MegaTones, HiFi Ringers, CallerTunes, and Voices & Sounds. MegaTones offer variations of current favorite songs arranged with instruments while HiFi Ringers feature snippets of songs by popular artists. CallerTunes and Voices & Sounds offer options offering songs "of your choice", or "sound effects, celebrity voices, and more."
AT&T hosts a Media Mall on its website offering a plethora of musical ringtone options, featuring mostly popular Top 40 songs under the Music Tones option. Under the voice tones option one can choose "voice tones" with celebrities such as Erik Estrada telling you to pick up the phone. "Holiday Fun" is another tab under the Music Tones tab, offering Independence Day and Christmas songs. Under "Celebrity Ringers", choosing a clip is merely a decision between which South Park and Larry the Cable Guy episode has your favorite sound clip. There are also several unique sound effects to choose from, such as a door creaking open and a crowd cheering. Each musical song chosen for purchase as a ringtone through AT&T costs $2.49/per song, while voice tones, sound effects, and polyphonic sounds cost $1.99/each.
Cricket offers a service called "Ringback Tones", which offers a catalog brimming with options. Music can be bought for a ringtone at an average price of $1.99/per song, with an expiration date of six months, which is a stand alone feature of Cricket. The catalog options with Cricket however, are more varied than competing cell phone companies; the catalog boasts 14 categories alone from which to choose your ringtone. Among the 14 are: "What's Hot", "Top 10", "Urban", "Country", "Comedy". "Movies/TV", and "Sports".
The options for cell phone ringtones are endless. Songs can easily be purchased through the individual cell phone retailer or on any number of websites on the Internet. Your ringtone can represent your personality playing your favorite hit song every time the phone "rings", or your favorite the time of year through seasonal song. Whichever you choose, your options are as multi-faceted as you.
*not responsible for prices quoted as they constantly change.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/how-to-find-the-best-ringtones-287100.html
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Phones แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
แสดงบทความที่มีป้ายกำกับ Phones แสดงบทความทั้งหมด
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 10 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2551
Push To Talk vs. Two Way Radios
Author: Eric Morgan
Push to talk is often confused as being the same thing as a two way radio. While it is true that two way radios use push to talk communication (think walkie-talkies), push to talk or PTT is a feature that can be added on to a cell phone plan for use on your cell phone. Two way radios on the other hand, are simply two way radios, with no additional features.
Two way radios have utilized the push to talk feature for decades in a variety of settings. Until recently, two way radios have been used primarily by industrial type workers, emergency crews, and utility companies. And although the communication takes place on a secure channel, the conversation is not necessarily one kept under a shroud of privacy. When using push to talk through your cell phone provider, the communication can be as private as a regular cell phone call.
Using push to talk is much like the old days of playing with walkie-talkies with your friends around the neighborhood. Only now, when push to talk is used as an additional feature on your cell phone, it has the capability of maintaining communication to national, and international customers. And instead of crackly, indecipherable conversations as was typical with walkie a talkie, the reception with push to talk is as clear as a standard phone call.
A perfect example of the benefit of using two way radios is in an emergency situation. An emergency dispatcher using a two way radio has the ability to communicate with and dispatch an officer to an emergency while maintaining contact with an emergency caller. The officer dispatched to the emergency can communicate with the dispatcher on his way to, and at the scene of the emergency with the touch of a button. If a cell phone were used in an emergency situation rather than a two way radio, critical time could be lost waiting for a cellular phone connection. When using two way radios, communication between users is instantaneous.
The way push to talk works through your cell phone is fairly simple, like using walkie- talkies; only radio IDs similar to phone numbers are designated for specific users, allowing for the privacy of a cell phone conversation. Here is a simple guide to using your push to talk phone:
• Enter the radio ID of the person you want to contact
• Push down and hold the push to talk button on the phone. When a specific tone is emitted, usually resembling a beep beep sound, the call is clear and ready to be made
• You are connected! Be sure to hold down the push to talk button while you're talking.
• When the other person is ready to talk, let go of the talk button and wait for their response.
• Wait until you hear the tone indicating it's clear to talk, then push and hold down your talk button to respond.
• When you're finished, push the talk button again, and the call is complete.
As with any service, there are pros and cons to using the push to talk service. Although it is estimated there are currently 20 million (and growing) push to talk customers, not everyone in your address book is likely to be available through push to talk. This limits the number of personal calls you will likely be making through push to talk. If however, this is something that will be used for a specific business related purpose, and everyone you need to talk to is guaranteed to be in the push to talk network it can be amazing.
Imagine an event such as a rock concert in a large stadium, with several outlying parking lots and hundreds of events staff. Using push to talk communication, calls can be made from one event staff to another, (one to one) or from the head of the event to all 200 employees (one to many, often called group push to talk). Instantaneous communication at a huge event, with multiple employees could potentially eliminate any number of unforeseen complications.
This expediency in communication is easily translated to any number of industries. In a situation such as a major metropolitan power outage, utility workers can have the capability of communicating between one another even while regular modes of communication are out, even cell phone towers. In a situation such as this, the coverage area is more limited, reaching a few miles rather than across state lines. Nevertheless, this type of communication is perfect for a power outage, enabling utilities and utility workers to restore utility services while maintaining communication with one another. Some carriers even have the ability for users of their networks to use the push to talk functionality off-air. This means users working in very remote areas where cell towers are unable to reach, such as logging companies working deep in wooded areas, can still use the radio functions to communicate effectively and instantly to one another on the same carrier's network.
Yet another benefit of push to talk is that it isn't cost prohibitive; minutes used across push to talk networks aren't deducted from monthly cell phone minute allotments. A basic plan for push to talk can be purchased as an additional feature for a regular cell phone. A plan with unlimited minutes between push to talk customers is around $9.99 on top of a regular cell phone bill. Family plans can be purchased for push to talk groups, starting at $19.99/per month. In addition to this benefit is that of international communication capability. With an international talk plan, calls can be made across international boundaries without the hassle of extremely high rates.
As opposed to regular cell phone conversations, push to talk is perfect for immediate, brief conversations. This feature is ideal for business meetings, or something as simple as instant communication between two spouses in a crowded grocery store. Push to talk phones are also cropping up all at amusement parks across the country. Teenagers can split up across an amusement park while maintaining contact with parents, all without deducting minutes from a monthly cell phone allotment or incurring roaming charges when out of network.
As with any type of communication, there are a few drawbacks when using push to talk services. One such disadvantage is that nuances of a regular conversation are lost as only one person at a time can talk while the other listens. This is especially true because there is a bit of a lag in time between communications, making the conversation seem a bit stilted. Another drawback is how obnoxious this type of conversation can be in a public place. Not only does someone within the vicinity of the call have to listen to your side of the conversation, they have to listen to the other end as well. Considering the current lack of cell phone manners, this adds an entirely new level of etiquette and privacy concerns.
Another drawback of using push to talk instead of a standard two way radio is the monthly fee attached to your cell phone bill. A two way radio can be purchased for a one-time cost of anywhere from $20-$250, while a push to talk cell phone customer can pay $9.99/per month up to $19.99/per month for similar features.
There are several differences between the push to talk feature of a cell phone and two way radios. Each has unique benefits and drawbacks catering to specific ranges of customers. A two way radio is a great device to stay in contact with your 14-year-old while visiting an amusement park. It's doubtful however that you would want to give the same 14-year-old unlimited access to your push to talk cell phone.
It seems likely that although there are a limited number of customers currently connected to the cell phone push to talk network, it's only a matter of time before that changes. While Nextel was once the only provider of this service, almost all other cell phone networks either currently offer services, or have plans in the immediate future to do so. Although it was once the stand alone feature differentiating Nextel from other networks, this is no longer the case. SouthernLINC Wireless, AT&T & Verizon all offer push to talk packages, and other networks are not far behind. Just as text messaging was once a rare cell phone feature, now it's hard to imagine anyone buying a plan without it.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/push-to-talk-vs-two-way-radios-287099.html
Push to talk is often confused as being the same thing as a two way radio. While it is true that two way radios use push to talk communication (think walkie-talkies), push to talk or PTT is a feature that can be added on to a cell phone plan for use on your cell phone. Two way radios on the other hand, are simply two way radios, with no additional features.
Two way radios have utilized the push to talk feature for decades in a variety of settings. Until recently, two way radios have been used primarily by industrial type workers, emergency crews, and utility companies. And although the communication takes place on a secure channel, the conversation is not necessarily one kept under a shroud of privacy. When using push to talk through your cell phone provider, the communication can be as private as a regular cell phone call.
Using push to talk is much like the old days of playing with walkie-talkies with your friends around the neighborhood. Only now, when push to talk is used as an additional feature on your cell phone, it has the capability of maintaining communication to national, and international customers. And instead of crackly, indecipherable conversations as was typical with walkie a talkie, the reception with push to talk is as clear as a standard phone call.
A perfect example of the benefit of using two way radios is in an emergency situation. An emergency dispatcher using a two way radio has the ability to communicate with and dispatch an officer to an emergency while maintaining contact with an emergency caller. The officer dispatched to the emergency can communicate with the dispatcher on his way to, and at the scene of the emergency with the touch of a button. If a cell phone were used in an emergency situation rather than a two way radio, critical time could be lost waiting for a cellular phone connection. When using two way radios, communication between users is instantaneous.
The way push to talk works through your cell phone is fairly simple, like using walkie- talkies; only radio IDs similar to phone numbers are designated for specific users, allowing for the privacy of a cell phone conversation. Here is a simple guide to using your push to talk phone:
• Enter the radio ID of the person you want to contact
• Push down and hold the push to talk button on the phone. When a specific tone is emitted, usually resembling a beep beep sound, the call is clear and ready to be made
• You are connected! Be sure to hold down the push to talk button while you're talking.
• When the other person is ready to talk, let go of the talk button and wait for their response.
• Wait until you hear the tone indicating it's clear to talk, then push and hold down your talk button to respond.
• When you're finished, push the talk button again, and the call is complete.
As with any service, there are pros and cons to using the push to talk service. Although it is estimated there are currently 20 million (and growing) push to talk customers, not everyone in your address book is likely to be available through push to talk. This limits the number of personal calls you will likely be making through push to talk. If however, this is something that will be used for a specific business related purpose, and everyone you need to talk to is guaranteed to be in the push to talk network it can be amazing.
Imagine an event such as a rock concert in a large stadium, with several outlying parking lots and hundreds of events staff. Using push to talk communication, calls can be made from one event staff to another, (one to one) or from the head of the event to all 200 employees (one to many, often called group push to talk). Instantaneous communication at a huge event, with multiple employees could potentially eliminate any number of unforeseen complications.
This expediency in communication is easily translated to any number of industries. In a situation such as a major metropolitan power outage, utility workers can have the capability of communicating between one another even while regular modes of communication are out, even cell phone towers. In a situation such as this, the coverage area is more limited, reaching a few miles rather than across state lines. Nevertheless, this type of communication is perfect for a power outage, enabling utilities and utility workers to restore utility services while maintaining communication with one another. Some carriers even have the ability for users of their networks to use the push to talk functionality off-air. This means users working in very remote areas where cell towers are unable to reach, such as logging companies working deep in wooded areas, can still use the radio functions to communicate effectively and instantly to one another on the same carrier's network.
Yet another benefit of push to talk is that it isn't cost prohibitive; minutes used across push to talk networks aren't deducted from monthly cell phone minute allotments. A basic plan for push to talk can be purchased as an additional feature for a regular cell phone. A plan with unlimited minutes between push to talk customers is around $9.99 on top of a regular cell phone bill. Family plans can be purchased for push to talk groups, starting at $19.99/per month. In addition to this benefit is that of international communication capability. With an international talk plan, calls can be made across international boundaries without the hassle of extremely high rates.
As opposed to regular cell phone conversations, push to talk is perfect for immediate, brief conversations. This feature is ideal for business meetings, or something as simple as instant communication between two spouses in a crowded grocery store. Push to talk phones are also cropping up all at amusement parks across the country. Teenagers can split up across an amusement park while maintaining contact with parents, all without deducting minutes from a monthly cell phone allotment or incurring roaming charges when out of network.
As with any type of communication, there are a few drawbacks when using push to talk services. One such disadvantage is that nuances of a regular conversation are lost as only one person at a time can talk while the other listens. This is especially true because there is a bit of a lag in time between communications, making the conversation seem a bit stilted. Another drawback is how obnoxious this type of conversation can be in a public place. Not only does someone within the vicinity of the call have to listen to your side of the conversation, they have to listen to the other end as well. Considering the current lack of cell phone manners, this adds an entirely new level of etiquette and privacy concerns.
Another drawback of using push to talk instead of a standard two way radio is the monthly fee attached to your cell phone bill. A two way radio can be purchased for a one-time cost of anywhere from $20-$250, while a push to talk cell phone customer can pay $9.99/per month up to $19.99/per month for similar features.
There are several differences between the push to talk feature of a cell phone and two way radios. Each has unique benefits and drawbacks catering to specific ranges of customers. A two way radio is a great device to stay in contact with your 14-year-old while visiting an amusement park. It's doubtful however that you would want to give the same 14-year-old unlimited access to your push to talk cell phone.
It seems likely that although there are a limited number of customers currently connected to the cell phone push to talk network, it's only a matter of time before that changes. While Nextel was once the only provider of this service, almost all other cell phone networks either currently offer services, or have plans in the immediate future to do so. Although it was once the stand alone feature differentiating Nextel from other networks, this is no longer the case. SouthernLINC Wireless, AT&T & Verizon all offer push to talk packages, and other networks are not far behind. Just as text messaging was once a rare cell phone feature, now it's hard to imagine anyone buying a plan without it.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/push-to-talk-vs-two-way-radios-287099.html
Cellular Phones vs. PCs Phones
Author: Eric Morgan
Most people are unaware of any discrepancy between the terms cellular and PCS. PCS services have cropped up however, in order to offer a viable alternative to cellular phone plans. While both are providers of mobile communication, there are some slight differences between the two. PCS stands for Personal Communications Services, which is essentially the trademark for the difference between the two. PCS boasts its ability to cater its services to meet the needs of the client. PCS is defined as "...a combination of services like paging, caller ID and e-mail. PCS has an emphasis on personal service and extended mobility, often used in place of "digital cellular".""
A cell, used for communication between such named cell phones, is described as such: "Cell: The basic geographic unit of a cellular system and the basis for the generic industry term "cellular". A city or county is divided into small "cells", each of which is equipped with a low-powered radio transmitter/receiver. The cells can vary in size depending on terrain and capacity demands. By controlling the transmission power and the radio frequencies assigned from one cell to another, a computer at the Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) monitors the movement and transfers (or hands off) the phone call to another cell and another radio frequency as needed."
While PCS boasts a more extended mobility than that of cell phones, it essentially is a phone service with additional features such as caller id and paging, with more comprehensive customer care. Another central difference between the two is the wavelengths on which they operate. Cellular wavelengths operate in the 824 MHz (megahertz) to the 894 MHz ranges, while PCS runs on the 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz ranges. In addition, because of the wavelengths on which PCS travels it doesn't cover a network as extensive as those covered by cell phones. PCS phones also work under digital technology, whereas cellular phones employ both digital and analog. Initially PCS phones were typically more expensive to purchase, but offered lower rates than competing cell phone plans. Currently, PCS phone plans are competitive in price with standard cell phone plans. A typical PCS cell phone plan starts at about $29.99/per month for 300 minutes ranging to upwards of $109.99 for a family plan with 2100 minutes.
As with any mobile calling plan, cellular or PCS, it is critical to determine your individual needs prior to deciding on a plan and purchasing a phone. Mobile phone plans are varied whether they are cellular or PCS, and one may suit your needs better than the other.
Everything evolves, becomes more complex and better quality (we hope). Look at the TV for example, first there were radios (sound only), then black and white, then color, then remote controls, then cable, then digital, and now High Definition TV's. The same principal is true with wireless, portable, phone service. We started with Cellular, which was originally geared at being available for people on the go, in their cars, away from their homes and offices. Then slowly, as the coverage areas grew, cellular coverage became almost absolute. Cell phones have now replaced the landline phone in many households. However, cell phones, on a cellular network, have just about hit a brick wall... so in walks the PCS! PCS, Personal Communications Services, is the new wave, the upgrade, of Cellular phone service.
PCS is a complex mixture of digital, wireless technology linked with messaging and internet at its base, not as additions to the service like Cellular. The whole process that PCS utilizes is shown, at its best and simplest, basically, in the children's movie "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" when he is explaining "Wonka-vision" to Mike Teavee. Now, with that assisting in the explanation, PCS utilizes digital technology, not cellular. It takes small pieces of the conversation or message and then breaks them into smaller pieces and sends those pieces out in random spurts of information that is collected by the PCS and put back together. This process makes the data more secure and harder to intercept than the continuous flows of information sent as in Cellular service. Another plus to PCS service is the speed. It is over twice as fast as basic analog Cellular service, this increased speed means that data such as text messages, emails, downloads, caller ID, and even voice calls will be faster.
All of this sounds great when comparing Cellular and PCS services; However, one of the drawbacks is that there are three different types of PCS services competing with one another. Unlike Cellular service where you can link up to any tower that is near you and have the airtime sent back to your carrier, if you are registered with one service, and you travel into another service area, you will not have service. There may be partnerships and mergers of technologies and creating compatible systems in the future, but as of now, this is a large concern when thinking about PCS service. The three major competing services now are Global System for Mobile Communication, Time Division Multiple Access, and Code Division Multiple Access. Another problem with PCS versus Cellular service is that the technology is still fairly new, making it not was widespread, and thus, reliable as traditional cell phones.
Every new technology has some hitches and bumps in the beginning, but slowly they get ironed out and the product with the best coverage, quality, and durability will surely win out. Some are placing bets on traditional Cellular service, others on PCS. But either way, the improvements to both will benefit us all.
* Not responsible for price quotes, as they may change over time.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/cellular-phones-vs-pcs-phones-287040.html
Most people are unaware of any discrepancy between the terms cellular and PCS. PCS services have cropped up however, in order to offer a viable alternative to cellular phone plans. While both are providers of mobile communication, there are some slight differences between the two. PCS stands for Personal Communications Services, which is essentially the trademark for the difference between the two. PCS boasts its ability to cater its services to meet the needs of the client. PCS is defined as "...a combination of services like paging, caller ID and e-mail. PCS has an emphasis on personal service and extended mobility, often used in place of "digital cellular".""
A cell, used for communication between such named cell phones, is described as such: "Cell: The basic geographic unit of a cellular system and the basis for the generic industry term "cellular". A city or county is divided into small "cells", each of which is equipped with a low-powered radio transmitter/receiver. The cells can vary in size depending on terrain and capacity demands. By controlling the transmission power and the radio frequencies assigned from one cell to another, a computer at the Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) monitors the movement and transfers (or hands off) the phone call to another cell and another radio frequency as needed."
While PCS boasts a more extended mobility than that of cell phones, it essentially is a phone service with additional features such as caller id and paging, with more comprehensive customer care. Another central difference between the two is the wavelengths on which they operate. Cellular wavelengths operate in the 824 MHz (megahertz) to the 894 MHz ranges, while PCS runs on the 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz ranges. In addition, because of the wavelengths on which PCS travels it doesn't cover a network as extensive as those covered by cell phones. PCS phones also work under digital technology, whereas cellular phones employ both digital and analog. Initially PCS phones were typically more expensive to purchase, but offered lower rates than competing cell phone plans. Currently, PCS phone plans are competitive in price with standard cell phone plans. A typical PCS cell phone plan starts at about $29.99/per month for 300 minutes ranging to upwards of $109.99 for a family plan with 2100 minutes.
As with any mobile calling plan, cellular or PCS, it is critical to determine your individual needs prior to deciding on a plan and purchasing a phone. Mobile phone plans are varied whether they are cellular or PCS, and one may suit your needs better than the other.
Everything evolves, becomes more complex and better quality (we hope). Look at the TV for example, first there were radios (sound only), then black and white, then color, then remote controls, then cable, then digital, and now High Definition TV's. The same principal is true with wireless, portable, phone service. We started with Cellular, which was originally geared at being available for people on the go, in their cars, away from their homes and offices. Then slowly, as the coverage areas grew, cellular coverage became almost absolute. Cell phones have now replaced the landline phone in many households. However, cell phones, on a cellular network, have just about hit a brick wall... so in walks the PCS! PCS, Personal Communications Services, is the new wave, the upgrade, of Cellular phone service.
PCS is a complex mixture of digital, wireless technology linked with messaging and internet at its base, not as additions to the service like Cellular. The whole process that PCS utilizes is shown, at its best and simplest, basically, in the children's movie "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" when he is explaining "Wonka-vision" to Mike Teavee. Now, with that assisting in the explanation, PCS utilizes digital technology, not cellular. It takes small pieces of the conversation or message and then breaks them into smaller pieces and sends those pieces out in random spurts of information that is collected by the PCS and put back together. This process makes the data more secure and harder to intercept than the continuous flows of information sent as in Cellular service. Another plus to PCS service is the speed. It is over twice as fast as basic analog Cellular service, this increased speed means that data such as text messages, emails, downloads, caller ID, and even voice calls will be faster.
All of this sounds great when comparing Cellular and PCS services; However, one of the drawbacks is that there are three different types of PCS services competing with one another. Unlike Cellular service where you can link up to any tower that is near you and have the airtime sent back to your carrier, if you are registered with one service, and you travel into another service area, you will not have service. There may be partnerships and mergers of technologies and creating compatible systems in the future, but as of now, this is a large concern when thinking about PCS service. The three major competing services now are Global System for Mobile Communication, Time Division Multiple Access, and Code Division Multiple Access. Another problem with PCS versus Cellular service is that the technology is still fairly new, making it not was widespread, and thus, reliable as traditional cell phones.
Every new technology has some hitches and bumps in the beginning, but slowly they get ironed out and the product with the best coverage, quality, and durability will surely win out. Some are placing bets on traditional Cellular service, others on PCS. But either way, the improvements to both will benefit us all.
* Not responsible for price quotes, as they may change over time.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/cellular-phones-vs-pcs-phones-287040.html
Finding The Best Family Cell Phone Plan
Author: Eric Morgan
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/finding-the-best-family-cell-phone-plan-286973.html
Cell phones are not just for adults anymore... With an estimated 16 million teens, pre-teens, and children owning a cell phone of their own, selecting a cell plan for mom, dad, and child can now be a veritable nightmare. The plan and coverage that was good for dad may not have been for mom or teen or vice versa. With near endless options and choices of air time, messages, and browser time, many families found themselves holding a different plan and provider for each person. Luckily, cellular providers saw a problem and offered a solution with the family package plans. These plans have met, and exceeded, the need for convenient and inexpensive plans.
Family coverage plans are a good option for many families because most providers offer a plan that gives each family member a line with their own phone number. The members of the family plan are able to talk to each other (on the cell phones) for as long as they want without using their plans regular airtime, it also allows members of the same family to share phone minutes, text messages, and browser time. Making the headaches of overages and keeping track of individual minutes and text messages a thing of the past. If members of the family use less airtime or messages, those can be transferred, automatically by the plan, to other covered members. Family plans typically offer the convenience of a single bill and coverage application for service, instead of each member needing to apply individually and the children and teens probably needing a co-signer. Another benefit of selecting a family plan is the reduced cost of purchasing of the cell phones and accessories. Most cellular providers offer package deals on certain number of phones at a reduced or even free rate when you subscribe to a particular contract.
Nearly every cellular provider has some sort of family plan, but they vary on number of minutes, text messages, browser time, price, number of lines allowed, and when the minutes may to be used (peak versus night) without penalty.
SouthernLINC Wireless' family plan is called Family Reunion and they offer three different plans. Each plan allows for unlimited member-to-member airtime, unlimited long distance within plan minutes, and caller ID. SouthernLINC Wireless offers two basic plans to choose from and this includes the first number, then each additional phones and lines have an add-on plan and fee attached. The number of add-on, or additional lines, is limited to three (within the family, living at the same address). All of SouthernLINC Wireless' Family Reunion plans are contingent on a two-year contract.
Verizon Wireless simply calls their family plan, Family Plan. They offer free mobile-to-mobile calling to any Verizon Wireless phone, not just members of your Family Plan, no long distance in the United States or Puerto Rico, free night and weekend minutes within plan guidelines of 9:01pm to 5:59am on weekdays and 12:00 am Saturday through 11:59pm Sunday on all of their Family Plans. They then offer three different coverage plans to chose from: Basic, Select, and Premium that each start with two lines, then an additional add-on fee per phone line added to the plan. The Basic Plan offers pay as you go minutes, texts, and web browser time with 700 anytime minutes for the members of the plan to share. The Select Plan offers unlimited text, picture, and instant messaging, pay per use of web browsing, and 700 minutes for the plan members to share. The Premium Plan offers unlimited text, picture, instant messaging, as well as unlimited browser access to all members of the plan, as well as 700 anytime minutes to share. With Verizon Wireless, the anytime minutes are just used when phones call landlines or other cellular companies phones, since they have unlimited Verizon Wireless mobile to mobile. This is a great option if you have many members of friends and family that have Verizon already. This is one of the important things to consider, ask the people you talk to on a regular basis, what plan they have. Try to select a company not only on price, but also on how often you talk to people and what plan they have.
AT&T, formerly Cingular, offers the Family Talk plan. This plan offers unlimited mobile to mobile (M2M) calling (every member must be enrolled in (M2M), it isn't any AT&T customer since M2M is a plan option) you are automatically enrolled with the Family Talk plan, free nights and weekends, free long distance, no roaming charges, and all left over minutes will be rolled over to the next month to be utilized and not simply lost. The basic plan begins with two lines, each additional line is then added with a low add-on fee and is limited by what plan you select and is for family members living under the same roof. AT&T offers seven different Family Talk plans that range from 550 anytime nationwide minutes to 6000 anytime nationwide minutes. Text and web browser options can be added as additional features for additional fees.
Sprint, or Nextel, offer the Sprint Power Pack Family Plan. This cell plan includes, free nights and weekends starting at 7pm, free long distance, and free mobile to mobile within your Power Pack Family Plan members. Sprint begins their family plan with two lines and up to three additional lines for an add-on fee per line. They have four different plans ranging from 550 anytime minutes to 3000 anytime minutes. Sprint also offers a Sprint Power Pack Family- Direct Connect Plan. Nextel Direct Connect offers all the same options as the Sprint Power Pack Family Plan listed above, but also free nationwide Nextel Direct Connect. The Direct Connect Plans vary from 700 anytime minutes to 3000 anytime minutes.
T-Mobile has two different types of family plans. First, the Family Time Plan and it offers free, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes within your family, unlimited nights and weekends (based on T-Mobile's standard of nights and weekends). They offer four different Family Time Plans and each begin with two lines, and allow up to three additional lines to be added for an add-on fee. The minutes vary from the Family Time Basic plan with 700 anytime minutes to the Family Time Ultra plan with 3000 anytime minutes. T-Mobile is known for their My Faves plan, and they have added My Faves for Families as well. This allows each number on the My Faves for Families plan to select five favorite numbers to get unlimited call time too. If you select this plan, you do not get automatic free mobile to mobile to every member of your family plan, only if you select them in your "faves." The benefits to the My Faves plan are you can select numbers of other cellular carriers and even landlines. This plan offers flexibility to stay within your plans minutes easily, if you are organized and know whom you will be talking to the most on a regular basis. The My Faves for Families offers four different plans with a slightly higher monthly premium than the basic Family Time Plan but with the same rules. The plan is for two beginner lines and each additional line, up to three, will be an additional monthly fee. Similar to AT&T, text and browser time can be purchased as additional features for each phone at additional charges.
When you need to supply a cell phone for 2 to 5 people, the pluses usually outweigh the minuses when selecting a family plan. However, research and knowing your families specific cellular needs is very important. Make sure to select a plan that allows all members of your family a reasonable enough airtime and text messages to avoid overage charges and penalties that decrease the bargain you thought you were getting.
*not responsible for prices quoted or plan details as they constantly change.
สมัครสมาชิก:
บทความ (Atom)
