I'd like to have a lesson on how to choose a cell phone and cell phone calling plan.

Here are just a few of my questions:
1. Would you recommend one brand of cell phone over another (Nokia, Samsung, Motorola)?

2. What features should I make sure my phone has?

3. Is there any advantage to buying through a local cell phone service provider, as opposed to online? For example, what benefit would I receive subscribing to AT&T's calling plan at a local business, rather than at AT&T's website? Better service???

4. What "fine print" should I look out for while evaluating different calling plans? I've noticed many of their "selling points" don't pan out when I read the fine print.

Thanks.

My parents and I all have Nokia 5100 series phones, (mine is a 5185, and I'm not sure what theirs are...) and while they're not the fanciest phones out there, they serve their purpose--that is, if you're just going to use the phone for only (gasp) calling people. Although, while I was eBaying, I did find a Yankees faceplate for the 5100 series phone... (You can remove and replace the faceplates to customize them)

I pretty much use my phone only for emergencies or every once in a while making a quick phone call to a friend, and I have service through Tracfone/Verizon. I wouldn't recommend it if you're going to talk a whole lot, because the per-minute rate isn't terribly cheap. But it's a prepaid service, so you can buy as much airtime as you need. Prices start at about $7-8 for 10 minutes. You can buy airtime cards at Walmart or Radio Shack, and you call in or use their website to enter your minutes in to your phone. My phone has voice mail (which I finally figured out) and text messaging (except with Tracfone, you can't send messages, but you can receive them). They aren't free though; they will take away your minutes if you use the services.

Also, I found that with Tracfone, long distance calls are relatively inexpensive. I used my phone a lot while I was up in Seattle to call back home and tell my friends about Mariner sightings ("AAAAH, AUTUMN, JEFF CIRILLO IS IN THE RESTAURANT!"). John Halama also talked on my phone (did I tell you that story?!). If it's good enough for Mariners LHP John Halama, it's good enough for me.

Kirby, thanks for giving such an informative answer. You did a great job explaining prepaid cell phones.

I looked at Wal-Mart's site to find out even more. It does seem like that's the way to go if a person is only going to make short, local calls. AT&T also has a prepaid service called Free2Go, with comparable rates.

The thing is, I was thinking it would be nice to begin using a cell phone as my primary phone. In that case, I'd need the best long-distance rate, such as AT&T's Digital Advantage -- $29.99 per month with a total of 350 minutes (long distance included). A 60-minute TracFone card (long distance included) would be $23.74 at Wal-Mart.

Right now, I'm thinking I'll go with the AT&T plan I mentioned above, with a Nokia 3360 phone. That phone has email capability, along with text messaging. I'm not sure if I'd use that much, but it still might be nice to have on occasion.

Thanks again for all the info. Now, about John Halama...
details, Kirby, details!
Next time you're at a Yankee/Mariner game, please dial my number and throw the phone in the Yankee dugout...I'll talk to any of them, even El Duque (he doesn't speak English!)!

don't get the prepaid cell phones. each time you use it it rounds up to the next minute regardless if your only 1 second into the next minute. Why pay $49.99 for 60 minute phone cards when you get pay Verizon wireless $24.99 a month for 1200 anytime minutes, 500 long distance minutes, and free weekends.