Cell phone service providers are a dime a dozen these days. There are some that offer pre-paid plans, while there are others that require you to be locked down in a two-year plan. Some give you free phones every time you renew or sign up a new contract, while others may give you five free phones and headsets to boot. The sheer number of service plans out there can make finding the right one a confounding chore. Unless, of course, you have the dirt on all the major providers.
First, consider Cingular Wireless. Their recent buyout of AT&T Wireless makes them one of the largest and most competitive providers on the market. Some of their best features include roll-over, which allows you to keep your unused minutes from one month to the next. On the other hand, Cingular gets a bad rap for confusing roaming charges.
Nextel Communications is one of the largest cell phone service providers for businesses. It offers a variety of useful and economical data plans, such as those that include free incoming calls. Businesses also flock to Nextel because it is a leader in walkie-talkie service. For typical everyday consumers, though, these specials may not be nearly as attractive. For individuals, they may be too confining and costly.