Maybe you'll need the phone in a defined area most of the time, but want to know your options for taking the phone on family vacations or occasional trips. The answers to these questions will help you establish the local service area you'll require for your phone service. Your coverage-area needs help you narrow down the list of possible service providers . Once you've purchased your phone from a cellular phone store, retail outlet, an online service or some other source, you'll need to establish a service agreement , sometimes referred to as a calling plan. The service agreement will outline the costs for your phone service features and talk time .
Most service providers offer several service agreement options.
For example, one calling plan may offer a low monthly base rate that provides for a low number of calling minutes plus per-minute charges for minutes over the minimum. This may be the perfect plan for someone that doesn't intend to use a cellular phone a lot. On the other hand, a heavy user might be better served by a higher monthly base rate offering more minutes in the base plan. Using the worksheet we've provided, you can estimate your monthly costs based on several service providers' fee structures to determine the best service agreement for you. In addition to base rates and per-minute charges that will determine your monthly costs, consider the area covered in the base rate.