Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998 | 10:06 a.m.
Choosing a cellular phone is getting more difficult all the time.
As a woman who frequently goes out alone at night, I consider a cell phone a must. It's no longer a luxury.
When cellular (wireless) phones first came on the market they were big, clunky things that were heavy to tote. Today's cellular phones can weigh as little as four ounces.
Prices were heavy, too.
When Motorola introduced its small (for the time) flip model, the debut price was around $2,500. A few years later, when I bought the same model, the price was an affordable $125 and I got a great deal on the air time.
Of course, I didn't buy a flip model until it had been on the market for some time, but a cardinal rule with these types of phones is to remember that the early buyer does not get the coveted worm -- he/she pays the highest price.
It's hard to resist some of the new technology. Digital wireless gives the clearest sound, but the phones cost more than the more common analog phone. Unless you're a big-time caller, when you factor in the cost of the phone with the cost of the length of service contract, the price per minute gets higher.
Where's the best place to buy a cell phone and which is the best one to buy? That's the hard part.
Clifford Diamond, owner of the Cellular Center on West Flamingo and Arville, is an authorized dealer for Alltel (formerly Cellular One). He had no easy answers for consumers, but he did say that with more cellular carriers than ever and with less compatibility between them, the consumer must become more informed.
It is vital, he said, for an individual to understand what are his or her needs in order to choose the right carrier and phone.
John Bischoff, area vice president for Sprint PCS (Personal Communication System), a new digital service recently unveiled nationally, says that "Las Vegas is one of the most sophisticated wireless markets in the country."
Maybe so, but I know I'm not alone in being confused about this latest technology.
Wireless or cell phones all start at a cellular site. In essence, digital is not different from analog; it's just a different mode of transporting a conversation, Diamond said. Digital is clearer and air time is less expensive, but the phones I priced were more expensive than the analogs.
"Sprint PCS does not require any long-term, cellular-style contract commitment," Bischoff said. "Our service plans," he continued, "are affordable and generally priced less than comparable service offerings from conventional cellular or wireless programs."
Not having to buy a service contract is an especially good feature. If I end my current service contract before the end I'll have to pay a heavy penalty. Of course, I am guaranteed the same price for the duration of the contract.
The basic Sprint PCS packages start at $16.99 per month and include, at no extra charge: voicemail, first incoming minute free, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling, detailed billing and more. There is no service activation fee or separate interconnection fee.
Alltel has one-year service packages starting at $15 monthly. Included are call waiting and call detail.
Sprint PCS service, phones and accessories are available at several locations, including Sprint Communications Stores and Sprint PCS Retail Centers. Sprint PCS and Sprint have an agreement with RadioShack that allows the sale of Sprint PCS phones and related products at all RadioShack stores in Las Vegas. The full range of Sprint-branded communication services are also available.
Sprint PCS phones are also sold at Best Buy, Circuit City, The Good Guys, Kit's Cameras, Office Depot, Office Max and Ritz Cameras.
The Cellular Center mentioned here is an authorized Alltel store. Some of its packages include a free phone, but not the desirable, small Motorola StarTac that fits into a pocket or a handbag. It weighs less than my compact.
Before the advent of digital cellular phones, the choice was limited to one of two cellular companies, each offering the same analog technology. Service, for the most part, was identical. With the arrival of the digital wireless phones, options have been greatly expanded, but the consumer still has to do some homework before making a choice, a Sprint PCS spokesperson said.
First consider how you plan to use your phone and how much you can afford to spend monthly. If your primary concern is safety and you only want a wireless phone in the car in case of emergencies, a basic monthly service plan will probably do.
If you plan to use the phone for more than emergencies, make a personal calling inventory, then find a plan that best fits your calling habits. Watch out for long-term contracts and extra charges, such as an activation charge. The newer digital wireless carriers usually waive such fees and do not require an annual contract.
If you plan to roam -- to use your wireless phone outside of your home area -- make certain you know exactly where you can make and receive calls and how much the calls cost. With most wireless carriers who have roaming agreements with other carriers, customers pay per-minute roaming charges and applicable long distance charges. Such nationwide carriers as Sprint PCS, and some regional carriers, offer service packages that eliminate roaming fees, and in some cases don't even charge for calls made from anywhere on its networks. Customers pay only the local air time rates.
Conversations are more secure on the new digital phones. That's because digital transmissions can be encoded to prevent eavesdropping or the electronic theft of phone numbers.
Check out the dual-band wireless phones that work on both digital and analog systems. They're more expensive, but provide access to areas that may not be covered by your carrier.
Take the time to shop around for the plan and phone that best suits your needs. In this crowded wireless marketplace, there is no substitute for common sense.
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