Save Money with Secret Cell Phone Plans- Negotiate Yours Now!

When I first started selling cell phones as an authorized agent, we offered plans as low as $19.99 per month with only 30 minutes included. Our average customer was a housewife who only wanted the phone for emergencies. At the time, this particular provider also offered a 200 minute plan for $29.99 and a 300 minute plan for $39.99. All plans $29.99 and up also included "Free Nights and Weekends."

At the time the idea of a "regular" person having a cellular phone was relatively new. It was still mostly viewed as a way for the wealthy and certain professionals to have a "car phone" for business and emergencies. Teenagers were using pagers and pay phones to return the calls. Therefore, low entry level service plans and "penny phones" were required to appeal to the general public. Suddenly, anyone with good credit and a penny could sign-up for a wireless phone plan.

Now that cell phones are ubiquitous providers no longer have to offer such modest service plans. Many people use their cell as their main phone and take advantage of features such as text messaging and web browsing. Economy level plans have crept up from $19.99 to as much as $39 to $59 per month for many carriers.

The first Family Plan I ever had was only $39.98 and included 2 phones. The plan was $29.99 plus $9.99 for " Add-a-line." Even though we only had 200 minutes to share, the unlimited nights and weekends kept us under our minutes. Later when unlimited Mobile to Mobile calling and carrier specific programs like "IN" calling were added, there was little use for any "regular minutes" at all.

Over time, my personal plan has crept up to $39 for 400 minutes. Last month I used 104 minutes. With email, instant messaging, and wireless text messaging, there is little use for day time calling. I have the lowest advertised individual plan. There is also little incentive to sign-up for a "Family Plan" unless you need at least 3 phones. There is no option to "Add a Line" to an individual phone for $10. Most carriers require at least a $69/mo. plan for 2 or more phones.

My friend and his wife have carried a $69 a month Family Share Plan with a major carrier for several years. They have recently found they were using very few minutes at all. He called up customer service after emailing produced no results. He was able to switch to a "secret" unadvertised family plan and save $10 per month. They "lost" a few hundred minutes from their plan allowance, but they did not need them anyway. Several wireless carriers and other providers of various services offer rates that are not advertised. They make you go through a little more to get there, but if you can get the right person on the phone you may be able to save some money.

If your plan isn't doing all you need it to do for the right price, give your provider a call. You may also want to make sure you have the best current offers for text messaging rates, promotional minutes, and anything else you may use. For example, you may be paying 5 cents per text while the going rate is 2 cents. Or you may have a $5 for 200 text bundle even though your carrier offers a package with twice the value. Everything is negotiable, and if they don' want you as a customer someone else probably will. This bit of advice can also work for other services including cable, internet, home phone, and credit card rates.

Wireless Communications Products- One Size Does Not Fit All

Buying a product like a cell phone seems easy enough. Most people probably just find a handset model that "looks cool." They go to their local cellular agent, sign a contract for whatever plan they can afford, and take their new phone home.

Over the years I have found there is more to be said about finding the right service provider AND the right equipment. This applies not just to wireless but other subscriptions and communication tools like home phone, business phone systems, internet, security, and more. Not a lot of thought is put into matching services to the individual user's need.

To me the most important features of any service plan and related equipment are function, reliability, and value.

The equipment should function properly to do what you need it to do. Your needs will vary for many reasons. Do you text message frequently? Do you need big buttons? Does your business or job require Smartphone functions?

Your service needs to be RELIABLE. A lot of people still use cell phones primarily for emergencies. If you are broken down on a back road somewhere late at night, will your phone get reception? Others depend on communication devices for basic and advanced business functions. Your business may not be able to afford missing an important call or having your internet down for several hours. It's not worth saving a dollar to lose thousands.

Reliable service and needed functions at the right price create value. An individual who doesn't use text or web functions probably doesn't need a smart phone with a 1500 minute plan w/ text and data bundle. He might not even need a 400 minute plan or a contract plan at all.

On the other hand, if your business depends on it and has heavy usage, spending twenty or thirty bucks a month for wireless web and data is probably money well spent.

Upcoming articles will explore the available providers of wireless services, what they have to offer, and who should consider purchasing them.

Wireless Plan Providers Blog

This Blog will be about the wide selection of cellular providers and wireless phones available on the market. News, Views, and reviews of providers, manufacturers, plans, and equipment.