Cellular Telephones

Hirocon

I want to finally enter the nineties and get a cell phone. I basically need one because I'm applying for jobs now, and I want potential employers to be able to contact me anywhere.

I don't expect to use this a lot. I'd prefer a basic cheap phone with a pre-paid plan, particularly a plan where the pre-paid minutes don't expire if they go unused.

How do I do this? How do I find the right phone and the right plan, and get the two working together? I know some phones like the iPhone require you to use a specific provider... If I just go into a tech shop and buy a phone, how do I know it will work with the plan I want?

Hold my hand and walk me through it, internet.

FirstComradeStalin

For what you want, it's probably going to be best to get a pay-as-you-go phone. Most providers have phones like this where they'd give you a phone for dirt cheap (it'd be rather basic, mainly only good for phone calls and light text messaging), and you then select a plan that designates how you pay for your prepaid minutes. Some plans charge a small daily fee (only on days you use your phone) along with cheap minutes, while some plans have slightly more expensive minutes but no fee. Just go to the stores or websites of a specific provider (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Nextel, etc.) and shop around for plans that work for you. Talk to people you know about who has the best coverage in your area, so you'll always be available.

Steel Angel

Hirocon wrote: »

I want to finally enter the nineties and get a cell phone. I basically need one because I'm applying for jobs now, and I want potential employers to be able to contact me anywhere.

I don't expect to use this a lot. I'd prefer a basic cheap phone with a pre-paid plan, particularly a plan where the pre-paid minutes don't expire if they go unused.

How do I do this? How do I find the right phone and the right plan, and get the two working together? I know some phones like the iPhone require you to use a specific provider... If I just go into a tech shop and buy a phone, how do I know it will work with the plan I want?

Hold my hand and walk me through it, internet.

I only recently got into this as well, though I went with a standard plan due to employee discounting.

Find a plan that's to your liking first, then look through a list of phones they offer/support.

You'll want to look at how well different providers cover the areas you expect to spend time in and choose based on that, then choose one of the rate plans they offer based on what you think you'll need.

Choosing a phone itself is going to be one of the later steps.