These days, there are countless cheap mobile subscriptions to choose from. Long gone are the days of a single company holding a monopoly over a certain area. Consumers have the ability to choose from multiple providers, each trying their hardest to get and retain customers. With each company offering multiple different plans and data packages, it can be hard to narrow it down to the best mobile subscription service. Hopefully, this guide will offer a quick and easy way to narrow your choices and pick the best service for you.
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Understanding Mobile Subscriptions
Before picking a plan, it’s important that you understand the basics of mobile subscriptions. A mobile subscription is a service offered by a network provider that lets you send texts, make phone calls, and access the internet all from your mobile phone. You typically pay per month with a contract period to boot, but some services are month-to-month or even based on a set amount of data or minutes.
When you go to pick a mobile subscription, you need to consider a variety of factors ranging from the provider’s coverage, call and data caps and other features like roaming or the ability to create a WiFi hotspot. Once you know what you’re looking to get out of your mobile subscription, you can easily narrow your options down and find one that suits your specific needs.
You’re also going to want to consider your budget. Mobile subscriptions can vary significantly in price, so make sure you have a number in mind that you are willing to spend each month. A cheap mobile subscription can save you more money upfront, but they also tend to lack a lot of services or fast internet speeds.
Comparing Mobile Plans
Now that you have a clear idea of your mobile subscription needs, it’s time to compare all of the different plans available in your area. Start off by researching the different providers in your region. Take a good look at their coverage maps, or ask friends who they have and what their coverage looks like. Coverage maps can sometimes be deceiving, so it’s better to get first-hand reviews. You want to make sure that the mobile provider you go with has reliable coverage in the areas you frequent—your home, work, gym and anywhere else you commonly find yourself.
Once you’ve narrowed it down a bit by coverage, look at each provider’s call, text and data allowances, as well as any other perks that they might offer. Some mobile providers offer free streaming services or bundles, but this isn’t always the case. Think back to your mobile subscription needs and compare it to the plans available. Some things to consider are unlimited calls and text, unlimited internet and roaming packages. If you constantly find yourself scrolling social media or streaming from your mobile device, you should seriously consider unlimited internet unless you can regularly find WiFi. The best mobile subscription services tend to offer unlimited calls, text, and internet, but these plans can be pricey.
Exploring International Roaming
It’s already been mentioned a few times, but international roaming deserves its own section if you find yourself constantly travelling. Roaming is the ability to use your mobile device to make calls, send texts and access the internet while outside of the typical area your provider services. A cheap mobile subscription generally offers little to no roaming services and will often charge you outrageous amounts to use your phone outside of their network.
On the other hand, the best mobile subscription will generally allow you to use your mobile device while outside their network—within reason. Most providers limit your speeds and enforce data caps. It’s important that you clarify any sort of international roaming charges or services with your mobile subscription provider ahead of time. While it is a convenient way to stay connected while travelling, you might find yourself with a hefty bill if you misinterpret your provider’s terms of use.
Tips for Negotiating the Best Deal
Now that you have a network provider in your sights, it’s time to seal the deal. While you could just sign up online or visit one of their stores, don’t be afraid to give their customer service department a call and see if there are any discounts or perks you can qualify for. Since new customers are extremely important to network providers, they will often bend over backwards to get people to sign up. Some providers are even willing to negotiate deals and custom packages.
Just remember, before negotiating, do your research and compare prices offered by other providers in the area. It can be a good tactic to bring up other, cheaper services as a means to negotiate the price down or get some additional perks like more data. Always be polite yet firm—and never be afraid to walk away if you’re not satisfied.
Remember, choosing the right mobile subscription service is a personal decision that depends on your individual needs. Do your research, identify your needs and don’t be afraid to negotiate. Following these quick and simple tips will be sure to get you the best mobile services around.
