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Cellular Phones

Cellular phone service also needs to be evaluated when you are planning to move. The cellular phone industry is becoming more diversified and competitive. As a result, there are more companies to choose from. In addition, today consumers are usually able to port their cell phone number between carriers. Choosing the company and plan that best suits your needs can be a challenge and involves investigating and researching the available options.

If you already have a service, find out if your new area is covered under your current plan. If not, you may have to switch plans within your service. Contact your provider to see if it can be done.

Switching cellular phone companies can be expensive if you have a contract. Early cancellation fees can be as much as $200, but staying with a cellular phone company or plan that charges you roaming in your new area could be more expensive in the long run.

If your provider does not have a good plan for your new area or you can’t switch plans within your service, you need to evaluate the companies and plans that will meet your calling needs in your new home.

New cellular phone service consumers need to understand that there are two basic types of service: Contract and Prepaid. Contract service requires a one or two-year contract and often comes with an offer for a free phone. Minutes are sold in bundles with monthly payments. You will be charged extra if you use more than your monthly allocation of minutes. On the other hand, prepaid service requires no contract. Normally, you would purchase a phone with a certain number of prepaid minutes. Additional minutes can be purchased in the future. Think about how much you will use your service and who you will call as you evaluate what kind of service you need.

If you move frequently, consider choosing a national coverage plan that will enable your phone to function most places without incurring additional roaming fees. Then, next time you move, you may only need to change the billing address.