Types of Wireless Plans

Most wireless carriers now offer plans that include free long distance and free roaming (making and receiving calls outside your service plan area) in exchange for a slightly higher fee. Carriers refer to these as regional or national plans.

Think about how you expect to use your wireless phone. If the bulk of your calling is going to occur in your hometown and surrounding area, it doesn't make sense to spend extra money on a national or regional calling plan. But if you travel frequently (twice a month or more), a regional or national plan is a good choice. The following plan descriptions will help you choose which plan is right for you:

Local calling plans

Local plans allow you to use your phone in and around your hometown. For instance, if you live in Pittsburgh, you can use your phone in the city and surrounding area without having to pay any extra charges. Use your phone outside of Pittsburgh, and you will have to pay roaming and long-distance charges.

Regional plans

Regional plans offer a wider coverage area for a single price. For instance, a regional plan might give you coverage not only in the Pittsburgh area, but also throughout Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Calls made from or to anywhere in the expanded area do not cost any more than a regular call.

National calling plans

National calling plans are just like regional plans, except they offer nationwide coverage. Whether you are calling from Pittsburgh or Seattle, you will pay only your regular per-minute rate, without being charged for long distance or roaming.

Hybrid plans

Hybrid plans provide free long distance but still charge for roaming. For example, if you plan on staying within Pittsburgh most of the time, but plan to make frequent calls to other areas, your long distance calls will be included. However, if you use your phone in a city other than Pittsburgh to make long distance calls, you will be charged for roaming.

Family shared plans

Family shared cell phone plans are for people who want to share minutes between two or more cell phones. Most cell phone companies offers family cellular phone plans with different number of cellular phones and a variety of cell phone services plans from 200 minutes a month to 2000 minutes on your cellular phone plan. Cellular phones helps us keep in contact with our family at all times and these family shared cellular phone plan really promotes that sort of togetherness. Depending on if your want those phones for an emergency to long conversational types, you will want to choose a different cell phone plan. Here is some information to help you choose the right cell phone plan for your family.