The best mobile phone handset with all the bells and whistles won’t be worth much unless you’re connected to a good network with good coverage in your area.
Choosing the right network isn’t a straight foward process that's the same for everyone, either. There are a number of factors, mostly dependant on how, where and when you use you mobile.
Consider the costs
The cost of your mobile tariff is made up of several different parts, and it can get confusing when you try to add it up. Here’s an easy breakdown.
- Line rental
You’ll pay a monthly fee to rent your line. The line rental can vary with each plan that’s offered by the carrier, depending on what you get with it. You may pay less per month if you choose a longer contract term, and you’ll pay more for more free minutes and additional perks.
- How much do you pay for calls?
Your calls are measured by minutes. Your mobile plan will specify how many minutes are included with your plan, usually broken into peak and off-peak minutes. Generally, you’ll have far more off-peak minutes included with your plan. If you exceed you allotted number of minutes in a month, you’ll pay a premium per minute.
- Roaming costs
If you travel abroad, you may be subject to roaming costs, which tacks an additional premium onto your calls for each minute. If you use your mobile abroad often, you’ll want to find a carrier that charges a minimal amount for roaming charges.
- How much will you pay for your handset?
When you sign on with a carrier, you’ll also get a handset to use with your plan. Most carriers offer special prices on handsets when you sign up for longer term contracts, and often offer a handset free. Check the deals offered by the various carriers to choose the one that gives you the most for your money – but don’t base your decision strictly on whether or not they offer a deal with your favorite handset.
Other features for which you will pay include:
- Text messages – like minutes, you’ll often get a number of free texts with your plan
- WAP and web-access
- Downloading – how much will it cost you per megabyte?
- Will you be paying for voicemails? Many carriers charge a per message cost to retrieve your voicemail
- How much will it cost to make video calls?
- Is handset insurance included with your plan or do you have to pay extra for it?
Consider the quality of the service
How good is the service that you’ll be paying for? Again, there are a number of factors that play into quality. When deciding on carriers, be sure to look at the following factors:
- Network coverage
Does the carrier have coverage in the areas where you’ll be making calls? Most major carriers have coverage throughout the UK, but be sure to check for coverage in the areas you want to travel.
- Network performance
What’s the company’s reputation for performance? Ask around among your friends and acquaintances to get a baseline for the different carriers. Search online for the carrier’s name and read independent and consumer reviews on several different web sites.
- Customer service
How responsive is the company to customer requests and needs? Again, your best source of information is friends, family and online.
Other factors to consider:
- Do they offer the handsets that you like?
- Do they have a friends and family plan, and are they used by your friends and family, or those that you call the most? If so, you could save money by signing up with the same network.
