selecting a carrier
TRANSCRIPT
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Lesson One:Choosing a Wireless
Phone Carrier
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Why do you need a Wireless phone?
• Emergencies
• Convenience of sending or receiving calls from any location.
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
3 Steps to Buying a Wireless Phone
• Select & Evaluate in this order:1. Carrier
2. Phone Plan
3. Wireless Phone– Define your personal needs
• Understand how carrier, plan, and Wireless phone interact.
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Carrier Service & Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction with national carriers (most satisfied to least satisfied)
1. Verizon
2. T-Mobile
3. Sprint
4. Cingular
Source: Consumer Reports Survey ~ February 2005
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Check Coverage with Others
• Does the carrier offer good coverage in your area? Ask:– Family– Friends– People who are in the
same places as you
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Coverage Inside of Buildings
• Coverage maps apply when you are:– Outside– In a Car
• Coverage maps do not apply when you are in:– Buildings / Basements– Parking Garages– Subways / Trains
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Why does my call get dropped?
• Dead zone: a spot where service is not available because the signal between the handset and the cell tower is blocked.
• Caused by:– Hilly terrain– Excessive foliage– Tall buildings
• Report dead zones at: www.deadcellzones.com
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Read the Fine Print
• Carrier maps at retail locations & on web sites.
• Actual coverage may vary. Why?– network changes– traffic volume– service outages– technical limitations– signal strength– your equipment– terrain structures– weather– other conditions
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Compare Unique Features
• Verizon– National IN Calling
• T-Mobile– 1,000 Anytime Minutes
• Sprint– Fair & Flexible
• Cingular– Rollover minutes Check to see if other carriers are
available in your area.
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA)
Carriers• Better coverage in
rural areas because they use cellular frequency of 850 mhz as backup.
• Offered by Verizon and Sprint
Phones• Provides analog
backup• 3-hour, average talk
time
• Network centric• Folding-case Design
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Global System for Mobile(GSM)
Carriers• Worldwide standard• T-Mobile• Cingular
Phones• Do not support analog
– Unless “850 MHz network compatibility”
• World Phones• 5-hour, average talk
time• Device Centric• Innovative Design• SIM card
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Network & Phone Types
• 2 Large, Digital Networks– CDMA (PCS & Cellular)– GSM (PCS)
• Networks & Phones have to be compatible.
• CDMA & GSM phones can call each other.
• However, a GSM phone won’t work on the CDMA network & vice-versa.
© 2005 Consumer Jungle
Evaluating Networks in Your Area
Based upon this information, which network system is best for your area?
CDMA
GSM
Why?