selecting a carrier

© 2005 Consumer Jungle

Lesson One:Choosing a Wireless

Phone Carrier


Why do you need a Wireless phone?

• Emergencies

• Convenience of sending or receiving calls from any location.


3 Steps to Buying a Wireless Phone

• Select & Evaluate in this order:1. Carrier

2. Phone Plan

3. Wireless Phone– Define your personal needs

• Understand how carrier, plan, and Wireless phone interact.


Carrier Service & Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction with national carriers (most satisfied to least satisfied)

1. Verizon

2. T-Mobile

3. Sprint

4. Cingular

Source: Consumer Reports Survey ~ February 2005


Check Coverage with Others

• Does the carrier offer good coverage in your area? Ask:– Family– Friends– People who are in the

same places as you


Coverage Inside of Buildings

• Coverage maps apply when you are:– Outside– In a Car

• Coverage maps do not apply when you are in:– Buildings / Basements– Parking Garages– Subways / Trains


Why does my call get dropped?

• Dead zone: a spot where service is not available because the signal between the handset and the cell tower is blocked.

• Caused by:– Hilly terrain– Excessive foliage– Tall buildings

• Report dead zones at: www.deadcellzones.com


Read the Fine Print

• Carrier maps at retail locations & on web sites.

• Actual coverage may vary. Why?– network changes– traffic volume– service outages– technical limitations– signal strength– your equipment– terrain structures– weather– other conditions


Compare Unique Features

• Verizon– National IN Calling

• T-Mobile– 1,000 Anytime Minutes

• Sprint– Fair & Flexible

• Cingular– Rollover minutes Check to see if other carriers are

available in your area.


Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA)

Carriers• Better coverage in

rural areas because they use cellular frequency of 850 mhz as backup.

• Offered by Verizon and Sprint

Phones• Provides analog

backup• 3-hour, average talk

time

• Network centric• Folding-case Design


Global System for Mobile(GSM)

Carriers• Worldwide standard• T-Mobile• Cingular

Phones• Do not support analog

– Unless “850 MHz network compatibility”

• World Phones• 5-hour, average talk

time• Device Centric• Innovative Design• SIM card


Network & Phone Types

• 2 Large, Digital Networks– CDMA (PCS & Cellular)– GSM (PCS)

• Networks & Phones have to be compatible.

• CDMA & GSM phones can call each other.

• However, a GSM phone won’t work on the CDMA network & vice-versa.


Evaluating Networks in Your Area

Based upon this information, which network system is best for your area?

CDMA

GSM

Why?

selecting a carrier

Technology