Chapter 5

Service Providers And How To Choose One:

There are many service providers, large and small and using different types of systems, offering ever more different handsets and service plans and trying to make a choice of who to go with is difficult. Here are some guidelines that may help.

Types of Service Providers:

Dual Band Provider- these providers started at the onset of cellular service, built out and or purchased smaller cellular band providers and subsequently purchased PCS licenses from the FCC and deployed PCS in urban areas. This group of providers includes Cingular, Verizon, and AT&T. They are the largest and generally have the largest footprint that covers large geographic areas of America . Typically they also have more roaming agreements with other small and large providers.

Cellular Band Only Provider- these providers started at the onset of cellular service and includes most of the rural area service providers. These providers typically offer home service in the original Cellular Band but they offer dual band handsets with analog capability that allow their subscribers access to roaming partners networks when they are out of the home service area.

PCS Band With Dual Band Handset- this category includes Sprint. The Sprint home network is PCS only and is primarily deployed in cities and major highways. Sprint typically offers their subscribers lower priced rate plans when the phone is used on their home network, but provides dual band handsets that are capable of using another provider’s digital or analog network (roaming) at an added cost.

PCS Band Only Provider- this type of provider is mostly urban-centric. An example of a PCS only provider is T-Mobile. They offer service and phones that work in only one frequency and one mode GSM. This type of provider will have their own service areas and also have roaming agreements with other providers that operate GSM systems in the PCS band. Typically coverage is in cities and some major highways. This type of system and handset will have coverage in fewer geographic areas than a dual band.

Iden Provider- Nextel, Southern Linc and Mike are the only users of this system in North America . This system works on its own frequency and has no capability of connecting to other cellular systems around the land. It is often used by business that has a need for the two-way radio capability it offers, however coverage is only available in its home networks and coverage is more limited than a dual band provider.

Which Service To Choose:

Urban user near work and home- If you use have a cell phone for use around your local area where you live and work, then choose a provider who has good coverage in that area and a plan that suits your needs. Coverage will probably be very good no matter which provider is chosen and the need for external antennas or boosters is not likely. The choice of handset is also less critical and you may not need a handset that has dual band or analog capability.

Urban Traveler- If you are a user who travels from city to city either by air or major highway, then your choices of provider and handset are plentiful because most urban areas are well covered by most service providers and even if you travel to an area where your service provider does not have coverage, it is likely that they have a roaming agreement with a provider that covers that area. The need for external antennas or boosters is not likely. Mostly any provider and handset should be acceptable, but find out if coverage exists on your route if you are going to choose a PCS only service provider.

Rural user near work and home- In rural areas coverage may be less reliable than urban areas and use of external antennas or boosters may be required but it is a good idea to get a handset that has dual band and analog capability because there are still many rural areas where analog is prevalent; also make sure to pick a cellular provider that covers all of your local area.