WirelessEDwww.wirelessED.org

Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by© Consumer Action 2011

Learning About Wireless Services

Wireless Service

• Devices that use wireless service: phones, PDAs, tablets, other electronics

• Service types: voice, text and data– Voice is measured in minutes of talk time– Data is measured in “bytes” • 1,024 kilobytes=1 megabyte• 1,024 megabytes=1 gigabyte

• What activities use data?

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How much data does it take…?

1. To watch one minute of a YouTube video?a. 800 KBb. 100 MBc. 2 MB

2. To upload a photo to your Facebook page?a. 7 MBb. 500 KBc. 1 GB

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Data Estimates for Common Smartphone Activities

Activity/Function Data Used Activity/Function Data used

Send/receive 1 text-only email 20 KB

Stream 1 minute of music 500 KB

Send/receive 1 photo email 350 KB

Stream 1 minute of standard-quality video 2 MB

Send/receive 1 email w/doc attachment 300 KB

Download 1 app, game or song 4 MB

View 1 Web page 180 KBUpload/download 1 file

to/from social media 500 KB

Based on the data calculator from AT&T Mobility. Actual data used per activity can vary significantly.

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Estimating Your Service Needs

• Important to estimate service needs accurately!• Calculating voice, text and data service needs– Past bills– Carrier and third-party tools– Phone tracking function

• Why data requirements vary for same activity: quality, device type and network speed

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Wireless Service Plans I

• Contract plan– requires one- to two-year commitment– a monthly service allowance (buckets) for a set price– typically better rates for voice and data– may include free night/weekend minutes, free minutes to

certain phones, and rollover minutes • Prepaid– no contract, no credit check, no early termination fee– May have higher per-unit rates (though not always) no free

minutes, and service not used expires– no unexpectedly high bill

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Wireless Service Plans II

• Unlimited– best for heavy users– may not be most economical choice for lighter users

• Tiered service– allowances (buckets) to use during billing cycle– higher per-unit rates on “overages”– best for consistent users (little fluctuation month to

month)• Per-use– In some cases could have higher rates; sensible only

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Wireless Service Plans III

• Individual– single-line account

• Family– two or more lines on the same account– allowances can be shared– Calls, and sometimes texts, between family

members may be free (depending on carrier)– parental controls available to limit children’s usage

and activities

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Wireless Service Plans IV

• Local – Smallest region; not widely available

• Regional– Metro area, state, or group of states– Roaming charges applied for use outside the region

• Nationwide– no long distance charges anywhere in continental U.S.– may include Canada, Mexico or other non-continental U.S. areas

• Long-distance and International Calling– lower rates for calling or texting numbers outside the area or in other

countries• International roaming

– Lower rates for calling, texting or using data while outside the U.S.

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Additional Costs

• Activation fee• Overage charges• Taxes and surcharges• Daily access fees (prepaid service)

• Early termination fee (if customer terminates service before the end of the contract term)

• Long distance (only on local and regional plans)

• Roaming (only on local and regional plans)

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International Roaming

• What is international roaming and why do you need to know about it?

• International roaming service plans• Minimizing data usage while roaming• Lower-cost options when traveling– Internet calling– Prepaid calling card used from landline– Local SIM card– Wi-Fi

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ACTIVITY: Navigate Your Service Statement

• Refer to the sample wireless statement to answer the questions.

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Food for Thought

• U.S. wireless consumers used more than 2.3 trillion minutes in the 12 months ending June 2010 (or 6.3 billion per day).

• During the same period, more than 1.8 trillion text messages were sent and received (or 4.9 billion per day).

• More than 89% of the handsets operating on wireless carriers’ networks are capable of browsing the Web.

• As of May 2010, more than 240,000 applications (“apps”) were available from 7 stores on 7 different platforms.

• Approximately one-third of children ages 13 to 17 said that it was “absolutely essential/very important” or “important” to have the latest and greatest cell phone for their purposes.

Source: CTIA, wireless telecommunications industry association

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Choosing a Carrier

• Coverage/reception• GSM vs CDMA• Plan options, features, cost• Phone selection• Customer service• What else you should know about choosing a

carrier

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Choosing a Wireless Device

• What makes smartphones so smart?• Assessing your phone needs (design, features,

performance, price)• Where to buy your phone (carrier, non-carrier

retail, online, used)• What else you should know about buying and

owning a wireless device

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Monitoring and Managing Usage

• Avoid overages! • How to monitor and manage usage:– Carrier tools– Built-in handset/OS tools– Apps and widgets– Parental controls

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Reducing Your Wireless Costs

• Choose the right plan• Voice service: Know your minutes • Keep text messages short• Budget for apps• Set parental controls• Use Wi-Fi• Consider prepaid service (no overages!)

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ACTIVITY: Case Studies

• Use what you’ve learned so far today to determine what choices the consumers in the scenarios should make now, or should have made before.

• Give tips that will help the consumer manage their usage and reduce or avoid additional charges.

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Wireless Privacy and Security

• Threats to your wireless privacy• Tips/tools for better privacy and security• Protecting the personal info on your phone• Protecting your service records• If your phone is lost or stolen• Cell phone fraud

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Congratulations!

You’ve completed theWireless Services training!

Visit us at www.wirelessED.org

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About Consumer Actionwww.consumer-action.org

• Consumer Action empowers low to moderate income and limited-English-speaking consumers nationwide to financially prosper through education and advocacy.

• Call us: 415-777-9648 / 213-624-4631• Consumer Assistance Hotline: 415-777-9635• Assistance Email: hotline@consumer-action.org

(English, Spanish and Chinese spoken)

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