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Compare different cell phone wireless carriers

warrenh — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 17:34:36 +0000

Let’s Compare Wireless Carriers

We’ve listed the five carriers in order or relative overall performance below, because we feel a carriers performance is most customers primary consideration when first considering a carrier. However, if you tend to travel a lot internationally or through backwash rural areas of the United States, the type of network that your carrier uses and the way you use your phone maybe worth examining as well. After the list below you will find our suggestions if you’ve decided to change your carrier and you want some advice on how to go about this complicated process.

VERIZON WIRELESS

How good - consistently a top performer in customers surveys by independent sources like Consumer Reports and in our own independent surveys. Always among the better national carriers in responsiveness to customer questions, inquiries and complaints. Networks – CDMA and analog. Verizon offers analog access on only a few of its new phones, which could mean less coverage in some rural areas of the country.

ALLTELL

How good – Alltel has been a consistent top performer in all three metro areas where they have sufficient data to rate it, but only three of course. Notably good for both connectivity and customer service in all areas, including helpfulness in responding to questions, inquiries or complaints. Networks – CDMA or analog.

T-MOBILE

How good - A solid consistent performer in all the metro areas where there is sufficient data to rate their service, but marred by lack of service in some places. Also ranked among the better providers in responsiveness to customers questions, inquiries and complaints. Networks - GSM only. Most of its phones can be used outside the United States because of this fact though.

CINGULAR

How good - Middle to low levels of consumer satisfaction with sound and voice quality. Static and busy circuits were common problems, as they have been in previous surveys conducted. Relatively low performance for helpfulness in handling customer questions, inquiries and complaints. Networks – Primarily GSM, some TDMA and analog. Most GSM phones can also be used in many parts of the world.

SPRINT

How good – One of the poorest performers in terms of overall performance and customer satisfaction. Had more dropped calls than other carriers in all situations? Sprint merged with Nextel in 2005, and out results do not include former Nextel customers or those who receive Nextel service from Sprint, because their phones operate on a different network than Sprint customers. Networks - Sprint uses CDMA but can roam using analog. If you’re ready to switch to a different cell service provider, here’s how to find a carrier more likely to meet your personal standards:

If you live in a major metropolitan area focus your search on the carriers at the top of the list, in most of these population centres there are up to three carriers to choose from when making your choice. To choose from the top carriers in your area, check the online coverage maps for each carrier at their Web sites, paying special attention to where you live, work and plan on traveling. These on line maps can vary in detail and accuracy, so you should go one step further and ask people you know who travel, work and live on the same streets as you which carrier they use and if they get consistently good service.

Depending on how often you use your cell phone while in rural areas or outside the continental United States, you’ll want to pay close attention to which network the carrier operates on. The major digital networks are CDMA (code division multiple access) and GSM (global system for mobile). The advantage of CDMA is that many CDMA phones incorporate analog backup for roaming in areas where a digital signal is unavailable. Many GSM phones, however, provide coverage in other countries, a plus for those of us planning to spend a lot of time away from home.

Once you choose a carrier, be sure to take advantage of the trial period most carrier offer. If you find that the service is poor of nonexistent in places where you need it most, cancel that contract and try another of the highly rated carriers on the list.

If you’ve settled on a carrier, you can go directly to its Web site and compare the plans it offers. As we’ve noted in the past, however, you might have to poke around a little to find the cheapest plan the carrier offers, or else call the carrier directly and ask. Comparing plans of different carriers is relatively simple at Web sites like Letstalk.com (click on Service Plans, then compare).

If the amount of shekels you spend is your primary concern, the best way to compare is on a per-minute basis. For example, when we recently checked rates for Tampa, Florida, Sprint and Verizon were both offering 450-minute plans for $39.99 a month, or about 9 cents a minute. T-Mobile offered 600 minutes for the same $39.99, or about 7 cents a minute.

If you only use your cell phone for roadside emergencies or make very few calls, consider a prepaid or “pay as you go” plan. When comparing prepaid plans, pay special attention to what the carrier charges per minute, how soon minutes expire, and whether your minutes can be roller over. Although we haven’t rated prepaid carriers, some of the major providers are T-Mobile, TracFone, Verizon, and Virgin. You can buy prepaid phones and refill minutes at electronics and office supply stores, as well as online and in Canada online or at specified stores.

Saying goodbye to your old carrier will be very easy if your contract has expired. Just ask your new carrier to switch your existing (and, by law, portable) cell number to your new cell phone. If however, you still have months or years to go on your contract with your current carrier, the switch is a little trickier, especially since you could be facing a whopping early termination fee. If you’re desperately unhappy with your plan and carrier, you may want to just pay the fee and get them out of your life forever. As much as we hate to admit it, paying a penalty of $150 to get out of a deal may be no worse then paying $50 month after month for service you’re not getting or drives you insane. Well that’s it for this hub, join me next time as we will talk about the new fee-based features cell phone makers are adding to your friend and some things to pay attention to. Happy talking!

Phoning across the world using the Internet

warrenh — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 18:08:06 +0000

Internet Phoning Grows Up

Recent surveys of customers using Voice over Internet Protocol shows increasingly happy customers, but nothing is perfect.

Tired of paying large telephone bills for traditional landline telephone service, looking for a little monetary relief from the onslaught of your progeny’s social needs and your wife’s marathon telephone sessions, take a look at the improved service of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Called VoIP by many users who are saving as much as $20 to $50 or more a month by using the service, it transmits your telephone calls over the same Internet network that delivers your e-mail messages.

Providers of this service are telephone companies, cable operators, and newcomers such as Vonage but check in the area your using your service in to find the one that suits you’re need best. Typically unlimited local and domestic long-distance plans cost around $25 to $40 a month, depending on your provider and services with you’re plan. Just about all include telephone features normally seen, such as voice mail, caller ID, and call waiting and additional services not available with a landline, such as the ability to make local calls with your home phone number even when globetrotting thousands of miles away from your residence.

The combination of price and services is heads above typical landlines, but does VoIP deliver on the promised services or is it just more hype. Surveys conducted by industry specialists with individuals who have used this emerging technology for at least one year indicate customers are generally satisfied with the service provided. Over fifty percent indicated their telephone bills had dropped and the level of service about the same as traditional landline service.

Users indicated dissatisfaction with issues like the 911 emergency service so we suggest you keep your landline even if you opt for VoIP for day to day use.

Around fifty percent of the VoIP consumers surveyed cited reducing local and domestic long-distance phone bills was the main factor in their decision to try VoIP. Surveys indicated that around 80% of users with lower bills saved around $20 a month, and 34% saved over $40 or more. Sound quality and unreliability were not an issue they had to live with to achieve the monetary savings provided by this emerging technology.

Around 57% of those surveyed who used both VoIP and landline service reported Internet phone calls sounded at least as good as calls made on their traditional landline phone, while the other 43% said their landline always sounds better.

Half the consumers with VoIP and a landline reported no difference in their ability to make and receive calls reliably, but the rest were split down the middle in rating either VoIP or landline as the most reliable.

Generally, users of both VoIP and a cell phone reported Internet phoning to have more reliable connections that their cell phone and comparable sound quality.

While many of those surveyed had no problems with VoIP, almost 33% reported at least one dropped call or difficulty making or receiving calls within a week of the surveys and some had occasional problems listening to callers or being heard by callers.

The typically positive reports of VoIP user’s maybe piques your interest in buying the VoIP service, but here are a few things you should be aware of before signing on the dotted line.

You will probably be moving to a new phone company that provides the VoIP service, some landline and wireless providers, such as AT&T and Verizon, offer VoIP service, but you’ll also encounter names you haven’t associated with telephone service. Including cable giants like Cablevision and Time Warner Cable, as well as businesses that specialize in VoIP, like one of the largest mainstream VoIP providers Vonage, a VoIP only provider.

The good thing about VoIP is you can use any standard touch-tone phone with the service, and the person you’re contacting doesn’t need special equipment or Internet access to receive your calls. Typically you plug your phone into an analog telephone adapter, called an ATA, which you can purchase at a retail store near you for about $100 or less; some companies even provide one at little or no expense to the user. The adapter hooks to a router or modem, which in turn connects up to the cable or DSL line that serves as your broadband connection.

Only one phone needs to be connected to the VoIP adapter, but if you have more than one phone connected to the line you can use a cordless phone with several handsets or a multiple-jack device with the adapter. You could use the existing phone wiring and jacks to plug your phones into the VoIP line, but only if your willing to give up your landline, which we don’t recommend just yet.

You might be able to have your landline phone number reassigned to the VoIP line you’re planning on using, but only if you cut your landline service and as we said this is not recommended. It will take a few weeks for the transfer to go through, so you’ll be using a temporary number during the transition period. The only exception to this rule is if you’re using a broadband access is through DSL, in this case you may have to keep your current number for that line and get a new number for the VoIP line.

If you would rather have a new phone number with your new VoIP line, you can usually choose the area code yourself.

Like any service VoIP has its drawbacks it clearly isn’t for everyone, some of the reason indicated for not using the service are. It requires a broadband Internet connection that can cost up to $30 to $45 if you have in installed so you can use VoIP. You will need to know the ins and outs of a computer to get VoIP up and running, about 40% of those who installed it themselves reported problems and even experts can have problems. They said it took them more than two hours to install, several return visits or even some replacement hardware to get it up and running. If you lose power or you’re internet connection at your residence your VoIP phone won’t work, we suggest buying a backup battery that will provide about four to six hours of talk time. Security is an issue with any emerging technology using the Internet because of the risk of vulnerability to viruses, hackers, and denial of service, but no incidents have been reported so far.

The bottom line indicates the need to deal with potential problems associated with the phone service to make it work, but VoIP will increase the time you can talk on the phone, save you shekels on you’re phone costs and add useful features not seen on with typical landline phone service. We urge you to keep a corded phone requiring no power and a traditional landline for emergency situations if you do opt for the VoIP phone though.

Looking for a new cell phone deal

warrenh — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:30:44 +0000

How To Find The Best Cell Phone Deal

After bringing you the best cell phones in the world the we would feel irresponsible if we didn’t tell you how to find the best deal for the phone, service provider and calling plan.

Cell phones rock! But if you thought choosing your last piece of Star Trek spawned technology, service provider, and calling plan was tough as asking a Klingon to refuse a physical challenge, just wait until you use the list of the world’s best cell phones to find one and try it. The convoluted puzzles that are the latest plans are confusing to figure out and the multitude of phones themselves have become complex beyond comprehension to the average Mary or Joe. Digital camera are commonplace on even the most basic of models, and MP3 players are increasingly popular. With each new feature hatching new services and new costs as manufacturers rush to be the first to bring new, innovative, features onto the marketplace and reap the financial benefits.

This is where we can help by providing you with the information to make your own informed choices about the cell phone, service provider and calling plan you choose. If your planning on replacing your phone check out my hub “The Best Web Browsing Phones In The World”, but if your looking for a better deal on your service provider and calling plan then the last one you had, stick around we have what your looking for here.

If your just looking for a new cell phone because the contract with your carrier is up, check to see which cell phones will work with your present carrier. Unless your familiar with the model your considering purchasing, there is no substitute for visiting a walk-in store and assessing the feel of the model your considering with your own hands. Surveys indicate readers experiences have been better with online transactions, so you might get better results completing the deal online.

In a recent survey of 18,000 subscribers of Consumer Reports, 65% of respondents to the survey bought a cell phone from a service provider’s Web site and were completely satisfied with the service, compared to 55% who bought at the provider’s walk-in store.

When browsing for a new cell phone or carrier, don’t be swayed by someone offering you a discount, discounts have become the standard, with 89% of the people involved in the survey saying they got one.

If you want to try a new provider, competition is a good thing. In a separate survey conducted by industry experts; nearly twenty-five percent of respondents reported switching to a new carrier during the first three years, mostly due to poor service. If this struck a nerve then start looking for a new provider here.

A prospective buyer should note that even if your happy with your current cell phone, chances are you won’t be able to take it with you when you go to a new provider. This is because providers sometimes use incompatible networks, but also because providers “lock” their phones electronically to discourage customers from going to another provider. A recent federal ruling allows consumers to unlock their cell phones for use with other networks, but this can only be done easily with a few cell phones.

If you have a cell phone that works on the GSM network, used by T-Mobile and Cingular, ask the new provider whether your old phone will work on their network. Even if you can keep using your old cell phone though you may have to pay your new provider or a third party, such as www.unlockmyphonenow.com, $10 to $40 to free it up. Unfortunately, if your phone works on the older CDMA network if probably can’t be transferred to your new provider, so your next option may be to donate or recycle it. For more information on what to do with an old cell phone, visit the website www.GreenerChoices.org.

If your under contract currently switching providers in the middle of the contract can have financial consequences, with you paying around $200 in early termination fees per phone number. If you can tolerate your existing service, try living with the contract until it is over, it will simplify you’re life.

If the price is the issue, remember you can usually make a deal with the provider to move to one of your current carrier’s other plans, without additional financial penalties. But be aware that switching can mean having to extend your current contract, pay new activation fees, or surrender any rollover minutes you’ve accumulated while using your original agreement.

Surveys indicate that nearly half of respondents who switched plans did so because they wanted more minutes, a move that can save you nasty charges for exceeding your monthly allotment. But, if you don’t use your cell phone much, consider switching to a more basic monthly plan with fewer minutes and this will save you money.

Replacing your cell phone is usually not a good idea while your still under contract with a provider, unless you absolutely need to, because the carrier or other authorized dealer won’t be as generous with discounts. If you have lost or broken your cell phone and don’t want to pay through the nose for a replacement, don’t worry, you can often find a less expensive replacement on eBay or other related websites.

That’s it for this hub, look for additional hubs on related material to this article in the next few days, I will be talking about my survey of carriers and which one maybe the best for your needs and purposes. Happy phoning!

Looking for a new job

warrenh — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 22:20:37 +0000

If you’re thinking about looking for a new job in the renewed job market

If you recently decided, like millions of dissatisfied employees in 2006 and 2007, to test the renewed waters of the job market to see if greener shores can be found further along the employment stream, your not alone. In fact, employment experts say the average worker in today’s world of uncertain employment changes jobs, often industries, and an average of every two to five years in order to stay afloat on today’s employment stream. Considering the hot job market lately it’s not surprising workers are choosing now to change jobs in favour of a better work environment, a larger portion of the booty, or whatever reasons for folding up your tent, loading your canoe and braving the turbulent waters of today’s employment stream. You maybe young and full of world changing energy, this is good we can find a use for this. Some of the information you will need to make it through the employment rapids upstream you will find here, information to help you decide which tributary to take along the employment stream ahead of you when you come to one. Yes I realise time isn’t as important a consideration to the young, you think, but you still need to make a plan, a map of your intended shore along the employment stream ahead of you to guide you to your goal. If dreams of personal wealth are your main impetus for pushing off from shore and testing the employment waters, then you better buy a lottery ticket, make a wish to your luck deity, or plan the perfect bank robbery during your lunch breaks. A job with better financial potential then the one you’re currently chained to waits somewhere along the employment stream, you have to look to find though. For many people lifestyle changes in this uncertain world with an uncertain future seems more prudent over more shekels to count and you maybe looking for a job that fills your need for fulfillment more than material adornment. If you recently had a disagreement with the ‘man’ losing your position in line at the money trough, or feeling in jeopardy of being kicked out of line, can be a traumatic event in human terms, especially if unforeseen and sudden. If this is the case you might want to use the information in this hub to make an escape plan in case the warden suddenly decides to change the rules. This way if you wake up one day to find your work-world unfavourably changed forever, you have a plan for escaping such an eventuality of life and making it to greener shores. You could map out several routes along the employment stream to prepare for the unemployment abyss that can swallow you whole, when you suddenly loose your place at the money-trough. Having a map of the current employment stream could improve the future for you and your family; provide additional creature or spiritual comforts and the emotional comfort of having a sound backup employment plan in case the unforeseen happens. Whatever the reasons we have information you will need to plan your route along today’s employment stream in search of your dream job or scout out a sound map in case the employment abyss comes knocking at your door.

In the previous hub, ‘Boom or Go Bust?’, we discussed the job market conditions since the beginning of the new millennium to the present and the ten hottest jobs employers are looking to fill in the next decade of certain employment turbulence in the U.S. In this hub we will discuss the ten hottest cities in America in which to get off the employment roller-coaster discussed in Boom or go Bust?’ and begin the search for the right location along the employment stream in which to search for your chosen field of endeavour. All in order to provide you with the information to build your map to greener shores along the employment shore find a new career direction or your way out of the unemployment abyss. In order to facilitate your search we listed the ten hottest American cities along with a short paragraph on the employment conditions in each city below.

Competition is fierce for the greener shores along the employment stream so be prepared to knock canoes and rub elbows along the way to your dream job; competition is normal in humans, it brings out the best and worst in us. Well, if you’re ready to go life seeker, let’s put the canoe in the water. Hang on tightly as you do so though, the current is awful powerful when experienced for the first time in awhile. Push off from shore and let’s paddle upstream to the ten hottest cities in America to find a hot new job or new professional field for you to play on.

Tributary 1 – Las Vegas

Job growth in all related industries to conferences, real estate, casino tourism, and outdoor recreation will keep things hopping in the city that never sleeps. Retail opportunities, customer service representatives, and general office positions abound with secondary employment in all related industries are required. More people move here then any other city in America for a reason, employers are always looking for people.

Tributary 2 – Orlando

Customer service is growing with Disney World being present. Physical sports therapy is a growing field of endeavour, with occupational therapists, physician’s assistants and medical specialists catering to the large baby boomer crowd. With the normal secondary industry jobs being produced in other run-off industries Orlando is an area of the country that will be growing in the next decade.

Tributary 3 – Riverside

A distribution point for the flood of Chinese imports Riverside is always in the need for transportation experts and logistic experts, as well as all the related industry jobs that support these main industries.

Tributary 4 – Austin

Technology’s rebound means IT hiring is back in Austin. And with Toyota’s nearby plant creating thousands of jobs this city is hot. Throw in the normal assortment of secondary industry jobs needed to help keep the main industries hopping and the employment picture is hot alright.

Tributary 5 – Phoenix

This growing city is falling behind in filling job positions. Expected to need 2000 CEO’s in the next ten years, this city is definitely a place to find greener employment shores for many of the industries mentioned in ‘Boom or Go Bust?‘. The normal secondary industry jobs will be needed in all sectors as well, making Phoenix a hub of employment until 2014.

Tributary 6 – Jacksonville

Build new computer systems and computer system analysts will come to Jacksonville to run them, and with the need for medical assistants and occupational therapists growing in leaps and bounds over the next decade this city will be a hotbed of employment in these areas of endeavour. Throw into the employment melting pot the secondary industry jobs tinkling down from the main industries and you may want to take a look at this hot job market if you’re in the area.

Tributary 7 – Tampa

The war machine is driving the wheels of industry in this city, buoying defence hiring at the home of the U.S. Central Command. Most of the hottest industries will have openings in the Tampa area, throw in the secondary industry jobs that need to be filled to make the other industries thrive and Tampa will be rocking.

Tributary 8 – Dallas/Fort Worth

Construction, real estate, and the financial world grease the wheels of industry in this city. Many of today’s hottest jobs will have postings here, now and in the next decade of growth. With main industry growth you must have all the secondary industry jobs that must be filled to make the wheels turn properly. The employment market in this part of the country is hot, hot, hot!

Tributary 9 – Charlotte

The booming financial services in Charlotte continue to drive employment in Charlotte. With all the run-down secondary industry jobs produced this area of the country will be hopping, growth in expected to continue well past 2014. A great place to live and work, you should check Charlotte out.

Tributary 10 – Atlanta

Banking and financial services are strong in Atlanta. With all the software start-ups boosting demand for programmers, network specialists and administrators this city is one of the best for technology professionals. With the need for all the secondary jobs to help keep the main industries moving along, Atlanta will be one of the employment stops you should check out.

Well that’s it for the ten best cities in America to find one of the ten hottest jobs in America, the jobs that will have the greatest demand up until 2014, after that well have to do another hub. Keep close because in the coming weeks we will be adding content to our employment hubs, we will bring you information on the companies in the ten cities above that are hiring people in the ten hottest jobs in America, information on the ten hottest schools in America that teach the knowledge and skills you will need to compete with your competition in any of these ten hottest jobs in America and much more information to help streamline your trip along the employment streams of America.

Happy paddling!