| Selecting Cell-Phone Service |
From "Home Tech"
episode HTC-103 |
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Cellular phones are one of the most popular devices for helping people stay connected. When it comes to selecting a cell phone service for your family, the deciding factor will probably come down to the features and benefits included in the cell-phone plan rather than to the phone itself. With cell phones, the phone and plan that's right for one family member may not be right for all. Features and functions should be selected based on the needs of the individual. Following are some terms that are helpful when researching cell-phone services: - PCS (Personal Communications Services) -- A digital service that sends and receives messages through a network of satellites orbiting the earth, and ground-based antennas.
- Analog Services -- The predecessor of PCS, analog service works by sending and receiving messages via radio waves. Analog is not as versatile as digital PCS.
PCS technology has been gradually taking over the cell-phone market, and now all major cellular companies offer PCS services. Some companies are in the process of phasing out their analog service. To decide on use for cell phones within a family, consider having a family meeting to talk about individual phone needs and who may benefit most from having use of a cell phone. Teenagers, for instance, may benefit from a cell phone in the event they need to contact parents for a ride or because of an emergency situation. Digital phone technology like PCS can offer most of the familiar phone features your home phone. Those features might include the following: - Caller i.d.
- Call-waiting
- Voice-mail
- Three-way calling.
Think about which of such features will be beneficial for you, your spouse and your children who might have need of a cell phone. You may consider other service features as well, such as voice-recognition dialing, which allows you to place calls simply by speaking a person's name rather than physically dialing the number. This feature is especially helpful for hands-free calling while driving a car. The recipients and their phone numbers must be programmed into the phone by the user, but a cell phone enabled for this service may store hundreds of individuals' names and numbers. Think about how much long-distance calling each user may do. Some users may need a plan that includes unlimited long distance, while others may just need a local plan. When shopping for a cellular service, look at the coverage map (figure A) showing the service's calling area. Make certain that you're selecting a service with adequate coverage for your family's use. Geographic factors can have an impact on the range and quality of cellular service in a certain area. Cell providers should provide a metropolitan map showing the calling areas they reach. Make certain the plan you select reaches your home, schools, workplaces and other places you or your family members frequently travel within your hometown. Failing to do so could result in lack of cellular access in certain areas, or the prospect of paying costly roaming charges for calling outside your coverage area. Also, when shopping for a service, inquire about any specials the provider may be offering. Companies frequently offer bonus packages such as extra calling minutes or free service features to entice new subscribers. They may not always volunteer that information, however. In the case of the Toturas, DIY's Home Technology project family, Ken opted for a service with a long-distance plan since he travels frequently and needs to call home or his home office. Cama Jo needed only to make local calls, so she went with a local plan. She did, however, select a phone with some extra features such as one-touch speed dialing (figure B). Ken and Cama Jo also considered a basic phone plan for their teenage daughter, Kelsey, since she's beginning to spend a good bit of time away from home with friends and school activities. - Tip: For parents concerned about their children abusing cell-phone privileges and using large amounts of phone time, there is a possible solution. Consider purchasing calling cards with a limited number of minutes. If they are required to use these, children may learn to budget their phone time accordingly and become more aware of costs associated with phone usage.
Note: For more information on cell-phone technology, see the episode titled "The Phone" in DIY's Home Office workshop. (DIY Home Office, episode #103).
RESOURCES :
The Cell Phone Handbook : Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony
Model: 1890154121
Author: Penelope Stetz
published by Aegis Pub. Group
The Cellular Connection: A Guide to Cellular Telephones
Model: 0471316520
Author: Robert Steuernagel
Published by Wiley-Interscience
Cellular Telephones & Pagers: An Overview
Model: 0750696834
Author: Stephen W. Gibson
Butterworth-Heinemann
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