Nowadays, it’s almost impossible to imagine a day without your mobile phone, either for business or private purposes or purely for fun. Although half a century has passed since the discovery of these portable devices, their mass use started only in the mid-80s, and the real boom came in the nineties. Since then, the bond people have with their cell phones has been unbreakable.
Back in the days when cell phones were a luxury, there were only a few network providers on the market. Their choice of services was limited, and some things we use today, like mobile data, were unimaginable. With the advancement of technology, phones have become more affordable, and that has given the green light to many carriers to enter this market. More on the history of cell phones read here.
So today, we have many providers that offer different mobile subscriptions for every need and budget. Some people want a large amount of mobile data, while others prefer free calls within the network. Choosing a mobile subscription can be a slippery field if you don’t know what to pay attention to. We give you a hand with this.
Assess Your Needs
As with any purchase, the first thing you should consider is your needs. Each of us has different habits when it comes to using a mobile phone, and that’s the main reason why there are so many mobile plans on the market. So, for starters, think of how you use your phone most of the time.
If you need a mobile phone for work, you must have enough minutes for business calls and stable Internet for accessing emails and other apps for chatting, working, etc., on the go. For people who often communicate with business partners and clients abroad, packages with free minutes for international calls will work best.
If you use your phone to, for example, play games, you’ll strive for a large amount of mobile data. Some carriers even offer unlimited free data after you spend the amount from your package, which is a good deal if you use the Internet non-stop.
Prepaid or Postpaid
There are two types of mobile plans operators offer, prepaid or pay-as-you-go and postpaid. They differ in the way of paying for used services, that is, calls, texts, and mobile data. In general, prepaid means topping up your bill before calling or using data. Vice versa, postpaid allows you to use all that and pay all charges at the end of the month.
The advantages of prepaid packages are that you can always have an insight into the consumption, so they are a good choice for those on a budget, such as students and job seekers. Of course, it doesn’t mean that postpaid is a more expensive option. They’re just more beneficial for users who use the phone frequently and want the security of calling, texting, and accessing the Internet at any time.
The disadvantage of a prepaid plan is that you can often spend more than you planned. For example, you need a smaller amount of Internet, but you cannot buy a package smaller than 1 GB. Unused data goes to waste, so you spend more money for nothing. With postpaid, you can choose the contract that best suits your spending and habits and thus get the best bang for your buck.
Think of Your Budget
Your budget is a critical factor when choosing a mobile subscription, as you have to work out how much you can pay each month. It depends on how you use your phone and in what circumstances.
For example, if you plan to travel abroad for a month or two, you don’t have to choose a postpaid plan. Instead, keep your costs low with a pay-as-you-go subscription. If you travel to Norway, visit https://mobilabonnement.com/ for a list of the best carriers.
In case you use your phone for business and personal needs, you can enjoy most perks with unlimited postpaid plans. These subscriptions come with fixed monthly costs, so you don’t have to worry about extra charges or topping up your phone every once in a while.
Check Coverage
A large selection of mobile carriers means you can find good packages at acceptable prices. But that doesn’t mean that every provider will be a good choice. You must keep in mind the location where you live, work, and most often stay because you need to find out if the operator covers those areas. Coverages and signal quality in certain locations may differ from carrier to carrier.
Good coverage means a stable signal without interruption in case of bad weather or some other disruptions. Most providers have a list of so-called “black spots,” that is, locations where the signal is irretrievably bad. You have to ensure you’re not in one of them. Check if the coverage of your location is good, and this information is usually available on the carrier’s website.
Don’t worry even if you have chosen the wrong carrier or the quality of their service has dropped. You can change these providers whenever you want, and whether it will always be feasible depends on the reason for the change and your current mobile plan.
Carrier Reputation
All of the above are features of mobile subscriptions you’ll use to compare them. You can do that with plans within a single carrier or compare packages from different carriers. In any case, you could use more info about these providers to determine their professionalism and quality of service.
Be sure to read the experiences of previous users when choosing a carrier. Thus, you can find some details that aren’t available on the carrier’s websites, which can make or break your decision on mobile subscriptions. Pay special attention to the transparency of subscription pricing, contract terms, coverage, and the quality of customer support.
Mobile phones have changed the world, bringing many good things that make communication, shopping, work, leisure, and many other aspects of life much easier. To put your phone to the best use, choose a mobile subscription wisely. Weigh in all the mentioned factors and make a decision that fits your needs and budget/
