Top Ten Cell Phone Resolutions for 2004

It’s a new year, and the FCC’s “portability” is finally here – allowing consumers to change cell carriers without losing their phone numbers. For those planning to make the switch in 04, below are some helpful tips:

1. Make the switch. When "portability" was introduced in big cities last Thanksgiving, those who wanted to change carriers and keep their numbers may have run into a snafu or two. Since then, however, a lot of the bugs are out -- and by late May portability will reach the entire country.



2. Go cross country. National plans are only slightly more expensive than local plans, so unless you never travel, these might be your best bets.



3. Read the fine print. Promotions can save you big if you find one that fits your needs, however, choosing a plan based on short-term savings can cost you more over the life of your contract.



4. Don't commit. Since prices continue to fall, it is better to avoid contracts for more than one year.



5. Take it for a spin. If you're not sure you’re going to get the coverage you need, all major carriers now give you a 2 week trial without termination penalties.



6. Sit, rollover. If you have trouble staying within your minutes, overages can cost you as much as 49 cents per minute! Purchase a plan with more minutes or that will "rollover" unused minutes to the next month.



7. Phone home. While there will be more aggressive incentives to abandon your land line for just your cell, the reception may not always be reliable and it may end up being more expensive if you make a lot of calls. And, as of now, 911 may not know your location in an emergency.



8. Think outside the phone. If you want to use your phone for more than just chit chat, it is more important than ever to balance the price of the phone with newer features such as cameras, color screens, Internet, PDA or the growing walkie-talkie service.



9. Sell your cell. At least 45 millon people will change wireless carriers in 2004 and abandon their old phones. That's a lot of paperweights! Consider cashing in or donating your old phone to charities like "Call to Protect", for domestic violence victims.



10. Go surfing. Carriers, retailers and independent sites have dramatically improved content over the last few months, making it much easier to comparison shop from your desktop.

More information is available on www.myrateplan.com