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Best Cell Phone Plans
At times some features prove to be simply irresistible on a cell phone plan, although the plan might not be strictly the best “most-minutes-to-$$$” value. Some plan offers might be the best because of the value of the add-on services, so that the value of the overall package is outstanding. Or, it could be that freebies with the cell phone offer are extraordinary valuable. Also, when structuring the offers, some companies are more ingenious than others are. For example, Nextel has a plans that allow walkie-talkie style calls that by-pass the cellular network. Or T-Mobile offers three-day weekend plans. Another example of innovation are the “rollover minute” plans from Cingular, which are the current overall pick for the best cellular phone plans. In addition to Cingular’s rollover minute plans, below are current picks for best cell phone plans offering greatest value for money for each price category under $100.Best Cell Phone Plans Under $100These best cellular phone plans are compiled by searching for plans that offer the most anytime minutes for the monthly fee. Price/company/anytime minutes/night & weekend minutes/plan type * $19.99/T-Mobile/60/500 weekend minutes/national plan * $29.99/T-Mobile/300/unlimited/national plan * $39.99/T-Mobile/1,000/no/national plan * $49.99/T-Mobile/3,000/no/local plan * $59.99/AT&T/1,050/unlimited/local plan * $69.99/Nextel/1,200/unlimited/national plan * $79.99/T-Mobile/1,500/unlimited/national plan * $99.99/T-Mobile/2,500/unlimited/national plan Comments: As a way to increase radically their market share, T-Mobile has had deep discounts on anytime minutes for many price categories for a long time. Lately, other companies have also been aggressively slashing prices across the board for anytime minutes as well.Best Cell Phone Plans for Overall Value - CingularThe current pick for the best cell phone plans offering greatest overall value goes to Cingular (and with the merger of AT&T Wireless and Cingular from AT&T Wireless as well) and the company’s “rollover minutes” plans. “Rollover minutes” were actually introduced by BellSouth as early as 2000, but they have been slow to catch on with any other cell phone company besides Cingular. Cingular, as you might know, is a joint venture between BellSouth and SBC Communications. According to research firm J.D. Power, it is common that cell phone users leave hundreds of anytime minutes unused every month, and the rollover minute feature seems like a perfect solution for this waste (in addition to getting a more targeted plan to begin with).Rollover Minutes with Best Cell Phone PlansRollover minutes apply only to Cingular’s plans that are specifically designed to have the feature. The rollover minutes expire in two circumstances: 1. after 12 months 2. immediately upon default or if customer changes rate plans to a non-rollover plan Rolled over minutes are not redeemable for cash or credit and are not transferable. Minutes will not roll over until after the first month’s billing. Rollover does not apply to night and weekend minutes. Below is a current list of the best cell phone plans - rollover plans with monthly fees. These approximate prices were checked for zip code 10001, and plans and prices are not available everywhere. Best Cell Phone Plans - National Plans Cingular Nation Plans with Rollover * Nation 250 - w/ rollover - $29.99 /month * Nation 450 - w/ rollover - $39.99 /month * Nation 1000 - w/ rollover - price varies, but usually around $39.99 /month (lots of marketing around this package, so price/package minutes may change at any time) * Nation 600 - w/ rollover - $49.99 /month * Nation 850 - w/ rollover - $59.99 /month * Nation 1250 - w/ rollover - $79.99 /month * Nation 2000 - w/ rollover - $99.99 /month * Nation 3000 - w/ rollover - $149.99 /month * Nation 4000 - w/ rollover - $199.99 /month * Nation 6000 - w/ rollover - $249.99 /month Comments: Cingular’s best cell phone plans titled “Cingular Nation” offer good value on coast-to-coast calling rates. Best Cell Phone Plans - Regional Plans Cingular Region Plans with Rollover * Region 600 - w/ rollover - $39.99 /month * Region 800 - w/ rollover - $49.99 /month * Region 1000 - w/ rollover - $59.99 /month * Region 1500 - w/ rollover - $79.99 /month Comments: These are the “original” rollover minute plans and still offer great value for regional/local calls. Also, these plans are most widely available of the Cingular’s rollover offers. Best Cell Phone Plans - National Family Plans Cingular Nation FamilyTalk Plans with Rollover * Nation 450 w/ rollover - $39.99 /month * Nation 600 w/ rollover - $49.99 /month * Nation 850 w/ rollover - $59.99 /month * Nation 1250 w/ rollover - $79.99 /month * Nation 2000 w/ rollover - $99.99 /month * Nation 3000 w/ rollover - $149.99 /month * Nation 4000 w/ rollover - $199.99 /month * Nation 6000 w/ rollover - $249.99 /month Best Cell Phone Plans - Regional Family Plans Cingular Regional FamilyTalk Plans with Rollover * FamilyTalk Region 600 w/ rollover - $39.99 /month * FamilyTalk Region 800 w/ rollover - $49.99 /month * FamilyTalk Region 1000 w/ rollover - $59.99 /month * FamilyTalk Region 1500 w/ rollover - $79.99 /month
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