About a decade ago, choosing a favorable mobile phone plan was not the daunting task it is today. Just considering the main factors such as price, the number of minutes of talk time you required and the call reception quality were enough. However, there are just a heap of things to take into consideration in this day and age. This is the Smartphone era and thus SMS communication, online chats and internet usage has been on the rise more than ever. Whether you’re on seemingly never-ending hunt for the cheapest cellphone plans or no contract cell phone plans, cell phone comparisons are your new friend when trying to find the best cellphone plan for you.
Cell phone companies
Before you officially agree to a cellphone plan, you might want to research into the different cellphone companies available in your area to find the best cell phone plans for you. To get the ball rolling for your research, here are a few ideas: If you’re looking for the “biggest” name companies, Rogers, Telus, and Bell are strong contenders. These companies have proven themselves to be reliable consistently, though they are on the pricier side. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, and use a lot of data, carriers like Wind, Mobilicity, Fido, Virgin Mobile, or Koodo may be better options for your needs and budget. Keep in mind that the network for these companies may not be the best, however. Check out this cellphone plan comparison from PlanHub here to find the cheapest cell phone plan for you.
Source: iPhone in Canada
Seniors’ cell phone plans
You may also be able to score certain discounts with some companies, so be sure to factor that in when you’re doing for research. For instance, there are some senior citizen cell phone plans specifically to target the older adults’ needs (e.g. pay per use data and unlimited calling). Not only will your be able to save on the plan, but also on the phone itself! You might even luck out be able to score yourself a no contract cell phone in this case.
Considerations before you buy
As such you have to consider the number of text messages (whether a fixed SMS amount or unlimited) you require monthly, the amount of data you need (whether a fixed amount in GBs or unlimited internet connectivity) and most importantly, the type of network your phone and telecom service provider operates on, whether 4G or 3G. When it comes to the best way to find the best smartphone plan for you, the experience can be daunting, especially considering that you have piles of other matters to worry about with your business and social life. However, it doesn’t have to be that stressful if you can get online and do some findings.
Source: Car People Marketing
GSM or CDMA
When it comes to network selection in your bid to find a favorable Smartphone plan, there are two types of mobile communications systems used by the various telecommunication companies. These include Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA).
The major difference between these is that GSM has a global coverage while CDMA doesn’t. The signal strength may also vary between the two, where CDMA networks tend to have stronger reception in the remotest of areas where GSM may be weaker. Before choosing a Smartphone plan for you, weigh out these two options. If you are a frequent traveler overseas, then GSM network providers may favor you more, unlike in cases where most of your operations are domestic; in which case a CDMA carrier may have a better deal.
The best fit for your cellular needs
The other important thing to look at is when, and how often you use your phone. While some people may be on the phone all day conversing with business associates and friends, others may be more inclined to texting and chatting online on social networks. Some even use their phone mainly for entertainment, for listening to music or playing addicting phone games. This being the case, mobile network providers may have different offers to their target market, and if you are a frequent user of your phone online more than calling, then the better deal will be the carrier who has more to offer when it comes to data bundles that will meet your daily or monthly needs.
Source: FreeMoneyWisdom
Keeping your phone bill at a minimum
There is another scenario, where you may want to save as much as possible on phone bills. One way to do so is to find a Smartphone plan that that will favor your needs is to consider how frequent of a user you are. If you are a rare user, going for a prepaid plan or a family plan if applicable can be a great way of minimizing expenditure on one bill.
Unlimited data plan
However, the bottom-line is that as a Smartphone user, you need a Smartphone plan that will meet your internet data requirements. Your smart device will in most cases have applications that need updating on your phone, emails that need data to load, chats, data sync and much more. The best deal for you in such a case would be to go for an unlimited data plan. However, remember to do a comparative research to choose the most affordable, reliable and convenient for your smart gadget and wallet at the same time.
What PHONE is for you?
This is also another really important consideration, as phones are frequently part of a phone plan. Find out if the plan or company you are leaning towards offers the phone you want. Ask yourself if you’d be willing to settle for another phone if they don’t have the one you’ve had your eye on for a while. Or maybe you’re impartial and you’ll be happy with any phone – good for you, makes things a lot easier!
According to Forbes, here are the top 5 most popular cellphones, to help you with your decision:
- Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
- Sony Xperia Z5 Premium
- iPhone 6S Plus
- Samsung Galaxy Note 5
The original list goes onto the 15th best phone, but in summary, Samsung cellphones seem to be leading the way in 2016, closely followed by Sony and Apple.
Source: gsmarena.com
Sourced from: Dugout
Photo by Esther Vargas / CC by