How to Choose a Wireless Phone Company

Wireless Local Number Portability Explained

What is the Difference Between Analog and Digital Cellular Phone Technologies?

A Brief Early History of Cell Phones

Ringtones: What they are and where to get them

Ringtones are the sounds your phone makes when there is an incoming call or message. The shorter sound used to signal an SMS text, email or voice mail message is sometimes called an alert tone. Today, cellular phones can be set-up to make just about any noise you want to signal a call. And, different sounds can be used to signal different callers. Which begs the question; Why all the hype about changing your cell phone's ringtone? We are all familiar with the everyday sound of a ringing landline phone, and that hasn't changed too much over the years, yet we still know when someone is calling.

Why are there now so many options for the ring on your mobile phone?

1. Because its possible. Today's wireless phones are actually very sophisitacted computers with lots of processing power and memory. It is a small effort to add a few ringing options. And, if that makes the phones more appealing to buyers, manufactures will add it.
2. They're fun. Yes, the regular ringtone does its job, but it is a little boring. Many people are just get a kick out of hearing the little tune they picked out for their phone.
3. Identification. How many times have you seen everybody in the vicinty of a ringing cell phone reach for their own phone? If you have a distictive ringtone, you know when it is YOUR cellphone and not somebody else's.

Wireless phone ringtones primarily come in two different types; monophonic ringtones and polyphonic ringtones.

Monophonic Ringtones

Presently these are the tones played by the majority of cellular phones. Monophnonic tones sound like the beeping of a computer. The tunes are simple because the phone can only produce one sound (beep) at a time. The tune of the ringtone is made up of a series of sequential beeps at different frequencies.

Polyphonic Ringtones

Phones that play polyphonic ringtones have the ability to produce 16 separate sounds at once. This makes for music that is much richer and the tunes sound more like the music you know. If you are used to monophonic ringtones, the first time you hear a polyphonic tone on someone's phone, your reaction is; What the @!#%$ is that! The difference between the two types is significant. With further advances, ringtones will soon sound like CD quality music.

A polyphonic ringtone doesn't necessarily have to be music at all, they can be any kind of sound, including voices. Often, to be able to add polyphonic ringtones to your phone, you need an internet capable phone and a plan with your wireless carrier that allows internet access.

So, you want to have a nifty new ringing for your wireless phone? First, check your phone. Not all wireless phones in use today have the ability to play ringtones. Nokias have had ringtones for several years. Most of the newer phones from manufactures such as Motorola, Samsung, Siemens, Sony-Ericsson, LG, Sanyo, Panasonic, Audiovox and Kyocera now have ringtone capabilities. You also might already have a few different tunes pre-loaded in the phone. See your owner's manual on how to find and select your cellphone's ringtone. If you are ready to find something new, you will need to download some ringtones, or in the case of monophonic tones, have it sent to you phone in the form of a text message. The most prevelant way of getting ringtones into your cellular phone is over the wireless system, but it is also possible by way of a data cable.

Where can you get ringtones for your cell phone?

The first place to look is your own wireless carrier. Often they have a special web site set up for downloading all kinds of goodies for your phone such as ringtones, graphics and games. Their web sites are the easiest to use because they make it clear wether or not you have a compatible phone and supply you with simple instructions for getting the ringtones.

Some example ringtone sites from the major wireless providers are:

• T-Mobile: t-zone service
• Sprint PCS: PCS Vision
• Verizon Wireless: getitNOW

Generally, on these sites, they will offer a few free examples and then charge anywhere from 50 cents to 2 dollars for each ringtone download. To find the web sites of carriers serving your area, enter your ZIP code in the search box on the right side of this page and click on your carrier's web site link in the list of results.

Ringtone Web Sites

Another place to find cellular ringtones are the many web sites that have sprung up on the web for this purpose. Some are free sites and other sites charge for ringtones. When using these sites, it is important to keep a few things in mind:

1. Due to the soaring popularity of ringtones around the world, many of the ringtone sites you will find are based outside the U.S. If you want to download ringtones from any site, be sure, first that they will work with your specific phone model and, second that they can be delivered over your phone company's network. Most ringtone sites have a list of compatible phones and wireless networks. Many of the non-U.S. sites will NOT work with your phone and/or wireless provider.
2. Just like all other music, ringtones are protected by copyrights. Meaning, unless the copyright is expired, the original artist is due a royalty for use of their work. If you are going to download ringtones, check to be sure the web site has secured all the necessary rights to be able to distribute the music in the form of a ringtone. Ringtone sites that pirate music are now a big target for music industry lawsuits.

These third party sites will also usually offer a set of ringtones you can download for free and then charge 50 cents to 2 dollars per ringtone. Be sure you know exactly what each costs before you hit the download button!

Here are a few sites offering ringtones for a monthly fee:

• Thumbplay
• Flycell

Compose Your Own Ringtones

Another option for ringtones is to compose your own. Several phone models have a feature where you can program a ringtone with a series of buttons pressed. For other phones you can get software for your computer that will allow you to compose ringtones and then download them to your phone via a data cable. There is also software available that will help you convert music from CD, MP3 or WMA into ringtones.

Ringtones can be a great way to make your wireless phone more personal. They are inexpensive and easy to get - go ahead and give it a try. If you make your own, they will be unique to your phone.

For more information, see our wireless discussion forums here:

Ringtones | Graphics | Software | Mods Forum

Ringtones are a very popular topic there and our users can help you find the latest sources of information. You can use the search button to find ringtone topics.

The WirelessAdvisor.com Team

Relax!

Its not at all difficult to find a wireless phone service you will be happy with; whether it is Cellular, PCS, or whatever else they want to call it. And, WirelessAdvisor.com will help make the experience much easier and less stressful.

WirelessAdvisor.com operates on the principle that the more knowledge you have when you decide to buy something, the more comfortable you will be at the time of purchase and the more satisfied you will be with the service you receive.

WirelessAdvisor.com is here to supply you with all the knowledge you need to find the best wireless communications plan for your unique calling needs.

Let's make one thing clear before we get down to the process --

That is the most important point to remember when looking for a wireless phone company. Don't just pick the wireless carrier with the most ads, pick the one that will best fill your needs.

Do you know that there may be as many as ten or more different companies who can provide you with wireless communications in your area?! If you're like most people, you can probably name only about two or three of them. We're not talking about ten different neighborhood cellular stores named something like 'Fred's Cellular Barn' - we're talking about ten large companies like the one that sends you a 'regular' phone bill every month. Each of these companies offer different calling plans, rates, phones and features. It may sound a bit confusing at first, but this situation is all really to your advantage. Each of these companies is competing against all the others for your business! If you can manage to cut through the confusion, you can find a great deal on cellular phone service and be confident with your purchase.

WirelessAdvisor.com was built to cut through the confusion and get you all the information you need to be a confident and satisfied buyer of wireless service.

OK, enough about what we can do for you - if we could do it all we would, but that is just not possible - yet! Now that you know what WirelessAdvisor.com can do for you, here is what you need to do for yourself - THINK!

The process of selecting a wireless phone service carrier and getting signed up for service can be broken down into six simple steps. The first of these steps involve a little thinking on your part - don't worry, it won't be too difficult. It's just like buying a car or anything for that matter, you wouldn't go buy a car without thinking about how you are going to use it and how much you want to spend - would you?

Lets take a look at the steps to consider when shopping for wireless service.

The Six Steps of Shopping for a Wireless Service

1. Think about Where, How and When you will use your wireless phone.
2. Think about how much you want to spend each month for wireless service.
3. Determine which companies provide wireless service in your area.
4. Investigate each carrier's calling plans, rates, features and phones.
5. Match a plan to your needs and budget.
6. Sign-up for service.

Let's look at each step in more detail...

Where, How and When --

Probably the most important of these questions is WHERE you will use your wireless phone, so we'll start with that. Is there a particular area from which you will make most of your calls - home, work, in transit? One way to think about this is to relate it your transportation. Where do you travel most? Your local area? Other states? Different countries? Also think about specifically where in these areas you might make calls: Along particular highways? In specific buildings? On a bus or a train?

Keeping in mind where you will make calls from will make it easy to know what you need from a wireless service in terms of:

• The size and shape of local toll-free calling area
• System coverage area
• Roaming needs
• The effect of obstructions, buildings, valleys and mountains on your service

The next thing to think about is HOW you will use your wireless phone. Think about your regular old land line phone services. Are there features of those services that you really like or need? Do you like having voice mail, caller ID, call waiting, etc? Are you hooked on your pager or email?

Keeping in mind how you will use your wireless phone and how important special features are to you will make it easy to determine you needs in terms of:Voice mail

• Caller ID, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, etc.
• Test Messaging and IMs
• Email
• Other special features and their costs

Another very important issue is WHEN and for how long you will use your wireless phone. While you probably want to have it on hand ready to use anytime, there is likely a certain part of the day or certain days of the week when most of your calls will occur. When you use the wireless phone, goes hand in hand with where. If you have determined that you will make most of your calls during your commute, that in turn also narrows down the time of day that you will make most of your calls. Most people make their calls during regular working hours on regular work days. That's why most carriers define these hours as peak time.

Keeping in mind when you will use your wireless phone and the length of the calls you will make, helps you easily determine you needs in terms of:

• Peak/Off-peak minutes
• Weekend/weekday usage
• Emergency usage
  

How much you would like to spend each month for wireless service --

Sure - you want to use your phone everywhere, have every feature available and use the phone constantly. You can do that - but you'll have to pay for it.

Most people love their wireless service... until they get an unexpectedly huge . This isn't your plain old telephone service. Even if you get a great deal, wireless is more expensive than regular phone service.

Only you can say how much you want to spend for your wireless service, but no matter how much it is you want to get the most value for your money. Obviously, to get a rough idea of how much wireless service will cost, you need to think about how much you are going to be talking on the phone; this will be a much easier task for experienced cell phone users.

Here are a few points to remember when estimating your costs for service:

• The monthly fee, which generally includes a certain number of free minutes, is charged whether you talk on the phone or not. (Those free minutes are not really free, just included in the package)
• Generally, the more minutes you sign up for, the lower the cost per minute.
• You may pay for calls both made and received.
• Long distance calls may cost more on some plans.
• Calls made outside your home coverage area, called roaming, cost more.
• Watch out for extra fees.
• Email, texting and data will add to your costs.
• If the wireless company requires an activation fee to start the service, divide that fee by the number of months in the service contract(if any) and add it to the monthly fee to figure out your true monthly cost.
• There are also a number of taxes and fees that are added to your monthly bill by government entities.

Moving right along...

Find out which companies provide wireless service in your area --

A moment ago we told you that there could be as many as ten or more different large companies offering wireless service in your area and that you probably only know the names of two or three of them. The truth is it is very confusing right now, but its very important that you investigate all of your options. It is well worth the effort - especially since WirelessAdvisor.com is going to make it so easy to do!

How do I find out which companies serve my area????

The WirelessAdvisor.com web site was build to answer that difficult question with ease and without the sales pitch of a dealer. After entering your ZIP code into our search engine, WirelessAdvisor.com will search out the specific group of companies, out of the hundreds serving the U.S., licensed to sell you wireless service.

If you haven't already done it, why don't you give the WirelessAdvisor.com search engine a try now, and then come back to find out what to do with all this new information.

Take a look at the names of the companies listed for your ZIP code. You may have never heard of many of these companies, but that's OK - now you know who they are. Two quick notes about the list of companies; 1) The list produced by the ZIP code search is comprehensive, but some of the companies may not yet actually be providing service to your area. We thought it would be best if we gave you all the names anyway because sometimes the new carriers offer great deals as soon as they turn on the service, 2) Also very important - we always recommended that you contact a carrier directly to get the most up-to-date and accurate information about their service and coverage.

On to the next step...

Investigate each carrier's service plans and phones --

How do you do that you might ask...?

While WirelessAdvisor.com itself does not maintain information about every carrier's rates and phone offerings, we are the best way to get in touch with each company to get the freshest information straight from the horse's mouth. Most of these companies maintain very detailed and user friendly Web sites. We have found that each carrier's own web site is the best and only place on the web to get up-to-date rates. If any company you are interested in has provided a link FROM the WirelessAdvisor.com, just click and go. If there is no direct link, there may be a customer service, toll-free phone number listed, or if all else fails just look in your local telephone directory.

Once you have the list, here are some points to remember when looking more closely at each company's offerings.

• Don't dismiss any of the carriers simply because they are new, or simply because they have been around awhile and you think you know them. You may have some misconceptions about either the upstarts or the familiar names on the list, don't! - ALL of the companies on the list are very eager for your wireless calling business - take a look at what they all have to offer.
• Do some other research on the web. Take a look at our list of links for some other great sources of information, particularly if you are looking for wireless service outside the United States.
• Ask friends, or anyone you know with wireless phone service, what they think about the company they are signed up with.
• Ask strangers - even people you will never meet can be very helpful when deciding on a wireless service. One of the best ways to get other peoples opinions is to check out our Discussion Forums. There you can read through other's questions and answers or post your own.
• Check with WirelessAdvisor.com often! The growth and changes that occur daily in wireless telecommunications is truly staggering. There are always new deals, specials and features to make your wireless service more valuable. WirelessAdvisor.com will always be able to direct you to the most up-to-date information. And, if you like, if you give us an email address and a ZIP code and we will automatically notify you as soon as things change.

What's next...?

Match a plan to your needs and budget --

By now you have a lot of information in front of you, and you are a much more educated consumer. Hopefully WirelessAdvisor.com has helped you find deals you would never have known existed. We're not saying this step is easy, but now you know what you need in a wireless service, and you know what everybody is offering. You can now make an intelligent choice. Always remember that these wireless companies want your business very badly, so look and ask for special promotions that may not be widely advertised.

And now the final step...

Sign-up for service --

If you have done a little thinking and have used the WirelessAdvisor.com to help you, you should be pretty confident that you have found the service that fits you best. Read the contract before you sign it!

And, if you signed up with the first wireless carrier you looked at and become unhappy, we'll be here to help you find another. Most wireless phone companies offer a 14 to 30 day trial period during which you can cancel your service with a termination fee.

Have fun with your wireless service!

The WirelessAdvisor.com Team

Accolades about a 100% digital network scream from the TV. Print advertisements' black ink blare the magic of "digital" wireless services. More and more wireless services are touting the benefits of an all digital network. So what exactly is the big deal with digital and how does it compare to analog cellular technology? Here's a look at where digital-- and its predecessor cellular technology--came from and where's it going.

All of the national wireless service providers have converted their networks to digital technologies. The reason for the change from analog to digital is that digital presents many advantages over cellular. The main benefits of digital include better quality of service, more security for the customer, more overall system capacity, and the ability to support next-generation services.

Digital is known to up the efficiency in the network, meaning an operator can fit more information into each transmission; that's why so many are now converting their systems to digital. For a wireless operator, this means that they can get more bang for their buck, or more juice from their network. Operators using digital would also be able to supply their customers with the hottest new services.

Digital offers a better quality of sound. Proponents of digital claimed too that because digital scrambled up the signals into bursts, it was more secure than analog and can help thwart "cloning," an act of grabbing phone account information over the air in order to copy then resell that information for piracy purposes. By some industry estimates, close to $650 million in wireless services has been coveted by these big-eared crooks, which only adds onto the operator's bottom line a cost that is eventually passed on to the customer. Digital has stronger battery life than analog, and for the most part, better, more modern features on the phones.

However, digital has its detractors as well. Roaming may be more difficult using a digital based phone than an analog, some say. Since today there is no single accepted industry standard in digital technology and the technologies are incompatible, roaming--or using another wireless operator's network while traveling--may be difficult.

As you've probably noticed, price wars have already kicked off involving all wireless operators. In fact, in some areas, wireless operators are offering pricing plans that rival even landline services. The average monthly bill of a wireless customer has been slashed in half in the past decade, just shy of $40 from $95, according to the CTIA, and the cost per minute has dropped to an average of less than 20 cents from 60 cents 15 years ago. PCS operators may offer lower and lower prices because with more than five operators in some markets the competition in each market is steep. A digital phone itself, however, may cost more--be prepared to shell out close to $150 unless there's a promotion--or the upstart fees involved in digital service may be more than analog.

In the end, the customer must choose what will work best for his or her needs. But it's important to remember that the wireless company has just as big an incentive to keep you as you have in choosing them. With that in mind, it's still necessary to ascertain what future plans for wireless communication that customer has. If he or she will require data services, and if voice quality and security is of utmost importance, than it may be best to invest in a digital phone service plan. To cover all bases, inquire about dual-mode phones that talk digital but can offer service, via roaming, when out of digital territory--which may be pretty frequent. Most of those that have evaluated the two services say PCS services work especially well within a built-up metropolitan area and in pockets across the United States. Right now, cellular providers already have established nationwide coverage.

The WirelessAdvisor.com Team

Starting November 24, 2003 wireless phone service subscribers have been granted the freedom to keep their phone number when switching service from one wireless carrier to another wireless carrier. The government agency that regulates the wireless industry, the FCC, has decreed that all subscribers must be able to move their phone number from one carrier to another. This transfer of a phone number is called porting. You will hear the ability to port a number called, 'number portability', 'local number portability', and 'wireless number portability (WLNP)' among other things.

The FCC mandate for number portability includes a few restrictions and a time line for its implementation. Briefly, subscribers with billing addresses in the top 100 U.S. population centers (called MSAs) are be able to take their numbers with them after November 24, 2003. People in the rest of the U.S. have this freedom six months later after May 24, 2004.

All US wireless customers are now eligible to take their phone number to another wireless carrier. You can enter your ZIP code in our ZIP code search function on our home page or in the right column of this page. If you search from those places, we will give you a list of wireless carriers licensed to serve your area. You can find more information about these number portability availability dates in publications from the FCC and the wireless industry. See the end of this article for links to those resources.

Aside from two deadlines, there are a few other restrictions that may prevent you from porting your number to a new wireless company. The first and most important is that the number must remain in the same market. That is why it is called local number portability. As an example, you can't take a phone from New York, move to LA and then request that your number be moved to a new carrier with your new address in LA. Additionally, since local landline phone numbers have been portable for years, the FCC has ruled that those numbers must also be portable to wireless phone services.

One thing you might be asking is 'Why all the fuss over keeping your number?' It is a good question because it may not really be an important freedom to some, while very important to others. For example, business people who use their cellular phones extensively may have built up a valuable network of contacts who know that cell phone number. Such people may have a significant investment in business cards, stationary, signs and advertising; all linked to one cellular phone number. If they had to change phone numbers, they would incur high costs both in time and money. Another important point, is that unlike wireline (landline) phone numbers, wireless companies do not provide a 'this number has been changed to' type recording to direct callers to an alternate number. The recording on an unused wireless number usually just says that it is not in service; that is a dead end for people who do not have the new number. Some people are just attached to their numbers because they are easy to remember or spell words. There are clearly some good reasons to want to keep your number. On the other hand, if you really don't have any attachments to your old number, just let it go and get a new one.

Porting your phone number

If you have decided you want to keep your number and switch to a new wireless company, here is some advice to make it go smoothly. The number one piece thing to remember is DO NOT CANCEL YOUR PLAN WITH THE CARRIER YOU WILL BE LEAVING. If you cancel, and then decide you want to keep the number, it is too late - the number is gone. Follow the time line below and you will be in good shape.

Check your current wireless service contract

You need to know when your current contract expires. If you cancel the contract before the end date, you will be liable for the termination fee. The amount of the termination fee will be detailed on your contract for wireless service. Porting your number to another carrier is considered canceling your contract, so now may not be the best time to switch carriers.

Double check and clean up your customer information

Go over a copy of your last wireless bill to be sure all the contact information is correct. In order for the number transfer to go smoothly, the information you give to sign up with the new carrier, must match exactly what the old carrier has on file. Seemingly trivial items like middle initials in your name, or other abbreviations not matching, can cause delays.

Research your options and sign up with a new carrier

Now, as long as you are thinking of switching, take some time to research your options. Things change every month in the wireless industry. With the onset of number portability, most carriers have begun offering plans to keep their old customers and attract new ones. Do some research before you make a decision. Call your current wireless carrier's customer service number to find out what they are offering to keep you as a customer. These 'customer retention' deals are unadvertised and often extremely attractive. Once you sign with new carrier and request that your number be ported, it will be too late to take advantage of a retention program.

If you are set on switching, we suggest that you take full advantage of the tools here at WirelessAdvisor.com to help you find and research your options. Just enter your ZIP code in our search box and we can provide a list of wireless carriers for your area. If you want to get some opinions about the wireless carriers in your area, see our regional discussion forums.

After you have found a company that will serve your needs and budget, then tell new carrier you want to transfer a phone number over from another carrier. The representative from the new carrier will initiate and handle the porting process. An important point here is that only the account holder is authorized initiate a request to move a phone number to another carrier. If you know someone that needs assistance with this sort of thing, have that person nearby or accompany them to request the switch in person.

What to expect

When you do switch carriers, the chances are very good that you will need to get a new phone. Most carriers' wireless networks are not compatible with other carriers' networks. Even in the unlikely event that you can use your old phone, it is probably better to get a new one. Your old phone is likely already a year old and by the time your new contract expires it will then be two years old. In the world of wireless handsets today, that is already on the verge of obsolescence! Switching carriers is a great time to take advantage of the sign-up deals being offered by your new carrier and get a nice new phone. You can keep the old phone in your car to dial 911 in an emergency, or give it to someone else for that purpose, or donate to a number of charities that will find a good purpose for it. See the end of this article for places to donate old phones.

How long does it take?

The wireless industry has agreed on a time frame of two and a half hours from when a porting request is sent to the old carrier to the number being functional on the new carrier's network. The FCC has not set a regulated time, so it could possibly take longer. In the case of a wireline to wireless port, it may take several days to complete. It is a good idea to ask up front how long it will take to transfer your number.

Function of the old and new phones

Once the porting request has been made, you may experience an hour or two when you can make calls on the new phone, but incoming calls go to the old phone. This brief situation could be a problem with calls to 911. The problem is that if an emergency call gets disconnected, the 911 operator may not be able to call you back. This limbo period should be very brief, and if you keep both phones with you, it should not be an issue.

Potential Problems

The porting of your number to a new wireless carrier should all go very smoothly, but there are a few things that can complicate the process and slow things down. We already mentioned that problems can occur if your contact records don't match with old and new carriers. Another problem can arise if you owe the previous carrier money. If you owe unpaid bills, or if you try to skip out on the termination fee, the old carrier can NOT stop you from taking your number to another carrier; like it or not, they must let you go. However, they will report any unpaid obligations to credit bureaus and credit databases. And, you can be sure the new carrier will check your credit report before signing you up for service (credit checks are not done for pre-paid services). You can easily image, that if one wireless company sees that you already stiffed another wireless company, they will not be eager to have you as a customer.

Fees

Carriers are allowed to charge a fee at the time of the transfer to cover their costs, however the charge may not exceed their costs. Carriers have also been permitted to charge a monthly fee to all of their customers to recover costs associated with making WLNP an available option. You can probably already find this fee on your recent wireless bills.

Delays and glitches

In the early stages of portability, all wireless carriers might not have all the behind-the-scenes systems worked out to perfection. Some carriers may be better than others. If you want to read about some other peoples' experiences, see our number portability discussion forum: WirelessAdvisor.com Number Portability Forums

If you do run into extraordinary problems in trying to take your number, you can file a complaint with the FCC. There is a link to the FCC complaint area at the end of this article.

And finally, once you have your number working on another carrier…

You didn't think the new wireless company would be perfect did you? The cliché, "The grass is always greener on the other side" very much applies with wireless carriers. Wireless service is not perfect with any company; they all have their pros and cons. You may now get good service where you did not before, but you are still going to find some spots with poor service. That is just the nature of wireless service as it exists today. If your new service is much worse than your old service, use the trial period and take your number somewhere else. Enjoy your freedom!

Resources

WLNP Pages of Wireless Carriers

• Alltel
• Centennial Wireless
• Cingular Wireless
• Nextel
• Southern LINC
• Sprint PCS
• SunCom
• T-Mobile
• US Cellular
• Verizon Wireless

FCC Links

• Wireless Local Number Portability - Checklist and FAQ
• FCC Complaint Contacts or Call: 1-888-CALL-FCC
• FCC Consumer Facts

Wireless Industry Links

• Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association(CTIA) WLNP Site
• Wireless: The New Recyclable

 

The WirelessAdvisor.com Team