Cell Phone Rates: Which are the Best?

There are as many different cell phone rates as there are cell phone providers; in fact, far more than that, since each service provider offers a wide variety of service plans, each with differing cell phone rates. To make a comparison, you have to evaluate your needs for a cell phone plan - how many minutes you’ll need, text messaging and so on. Depending where you live, not all providers may be an option for you, so take this into account as well.

One of the most popular cellular service providers is Alltel, which is available in most regions. Alltel offers the My Circle program, which gives you free unlimited calling to any network. The rate for an individual plan in one case was $49.99 per month, including 750 anytime minutes with .40 for minutes used over that limit. Unlimited night and weekend calling is included, as well as mobile-to-mobile minutes. This plan included up to five people.

A similar plan from Sprint provides 700 anytime minutes for $69.99 per month. This plan includes unlimited direct connect nationwide along with unlimited weekend and nighttime calling. Mobile-to-mobile is also included - minutes over your monthly limit are charged at .45 per minute.

The very popular cell phone service provider T-mobile offers a plan giving the customer 600 minutes for a monthly fee of $49.99. Unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling is offered along with unlimited night and weekend calling. T-Mobile also has MyFaves unlimited minutes - this plan is much like Alltel’s My Circle plan, with unlimited minutes for calls to five people of your choosing. Minutes over and beyond those provided for by your plan are charged at .20 per minute.

Verizon was the stingiest provider we looked at, offering only 450 minutes for their individual plan at a rate of $39.99 per month. This plan includes free weekend and nighttime calling, but mobile-to-mobile calling is billed normally. Verizon also charges for text messaging and minutes over your limit are charged at .45 per minute.

Alltel offers another individual plan with 900 anytime minutes for $59.99, with 10 people allowed in My Circle. Other details of the plan are the same as their other individual plans. Sprint has a 900 minute plan for $69.99 and T-Mobile offers a 1000 minute plan for $59.99 - in the case of both of these plans, the details of the plans are the same aside from the higher anytime minutes. Verizon also has a 900 minute plan for $99.99, with additional minutes being charged at .40/minute instead of .45.

On the high end, Alltel has a plan featuring 6000 anytime minutes for $199.99 a month. In this plan, My Circle can be expanded to 20 people and minutes over your limit are charged only .20 per minute.

Sprint has a 4000 minute plan for $199.99 a month. There is a .40 per minute charge for additional minutes; otherwise, it is the same as their other plans.
T-Mobile’s 5000 minute plan costs $139.99 a month, with the rest of the plan being the same as their lower end plans.

Verizon has an unlimited plan, offering unlimited calling anytime to anyone, so there are no extra charges for additional minutes. This plan also includes unlimited text messaging.

A comparison of the rates above reveals that Alltel is probably the best choice for a regular individual plan, but if you really need a lot of minutes, Verizon may be the choice for you. Consider your needs and choose wisely.

wonderfulcell.com