IN THIS REPORT
•	Cell phones: Overview
	•	CR Quick Recommendations
	•	Ratings
	•	How much phone do you need?
	•	Design details
	•	GSM network troubles
•	Calling plans: Overview
	•	The bottom line
	•	Cost, then minutes

The bottom line on calling plans

We asked TeleBright Corp., a leading source of information on telephone service, to select representative plans from each of the major national carriers and calculate the cost for three types of user:

• The casual user who uses 300 minutes of calling time a month, half at peak times and half on nights and weekends; the usage includes 45 minutes of long-distance and 6 minutes of roaming.

• The frequent user who uses 1,200 minutes a month, with 840 peak minutes; we also assumed 84 minutes of long-distance and 36 minutes of roaming.

• A family of four who together use 1,800 minutes, 1,080 of which are on nights and weekends. Roaming accounts for 18 minutes; long-distance, for 144 minutes.

The plans shown here were available in the Chicago area in late November 2003. They’re meant only as examples, not as Ratings. Given the intense competition that exists among carriers as a result of number portability, you can expect to see other special deals and new calling plans frequently.


How to use the table

• If you’re trying to find a calling plan for the first time, the table gives you an idea of the monthly cost you can expect. If you think your usage may fall between what we’ve estimated for casual and frequent use, be generous. Choose a plan with more peak minutes than you think you’ll need, to minimize extra-minute charges.

• If you want to change carriers, use the table to gauge how competitive the new carrier’s plan is likely to be.

• If you know that your usage comes close to our examples, then you can begin your quest for an economical calling plan with the ones we've selected or use the interactive plan selector on www.ConsumerReports.org to help choose a plan.

Within types, in order of estimated monthly cost.

Plan name	Estimated monthly cost	Basic fee	Included minutes		Extra-minute cost	Roaming	Long- distance	National plans
			Peak	Off-peak
Casual User
T-Mobile Basic Plus	$33	$30	300	Unlimited	40¢	49¢	-	•
AT&T Wireless mLife Local $29.99	34	30	250	Unlimited	45	69	-
AT&T Wireless mLife National $29.99	34	30	200	Unlimited	45	69	-	•
Cingular SuperHome 300	35	30	300	5,000	45	79	-
Cingular Nation GSM 250	35	30	250	5,000	45	79	-	•
Sprint PCS Free and Clear Nationwide 300	38	35	300	Unlimited	40	50	-	•
Verizon Wireless America's Choice 300	39	35	300	Unlimited	45	69	-	•
Sprint Free and Clear Area-Wide	48	45	1,000	Unlimited	50	50	-
Nextel National Instant Connect 500	50	50	500	Unlimited	40	-	-	•
T-Mobile Get More 300	62	50	3,000	-	35	49	20¢
Frequent User
Sprint Free and Clear Area-Wide	63	45	1,000	Unlimited	50	50	-
Nextel National Instant Connect 1000	70	70	1,000	Unlimited	40	-	-	•
T-Mobile Get More Plus	78	60	1,000	Unlimited	40	49	-	•
Cingular SuperHome 900 w/ Rollover	78	50	900	5,000	39	79	-
Sprint PCS Free and Clear Nationwide 1000	83	65	1,000	Unlimited	40	50	-	•
Sprint PCS Free and Clear Nationwide 1000	84	50	3,000	-	35	49	20
T-Mobile Get More 3000	85	60	1,050	Unlimited	40	69	-
AT&T Wireless mLife Local $59.99	85	60	850	Unlimited	35	69	-	•
AT&T Wireless mLife National $59.99	93	60	700	Unlimited	40	69	-	•
Verizon Wireless America's Choice 700	98	70	1,000	5,000	39	79	-	•
FAMILY OF FOUR
T-Mobile FamilyTime Plan (includes 2 lines; $10 per extra line)	99	70	800	Unlimited	35	49	-	•
Cingular Nation GSM FamilyTalk 700 w/Rollover ($10 per extra line)	102	50	700	5,000	39	79	-	•
Sprint PCS Free and Clear Nationwide 700 ($20 per extra line)	127	50	700	Unlimited	40	50	-	•
AT&T Wireless mLife Family National $49.99 ($20 per extra line)	128	50	700	Unlimited	40	69	-	•
Verizon Wireless America's Choice FamilyShare 700 ($20 per extra line)	140	60	700	Unlimited	40	69	-	•
Nextel National Get Connected More 600 ($20 per extra line)	164	56	600	Unlimited	40	-	-	•

For more information on this topic and many others, subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.

Copyright © 2004 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.