Choosing Unlimited Cellular for Long Distance
Finding a cheap long distance plan doesn't present the same problem it once did. That's because most phone carriers now offer unlimited long distance with standard calling plans. So instead of counting the minutes and figuring out how much you owe, you can just sign up for a standard long distance plan and talk all you want for the same flat rate.
If this sounds familiar, it's because the model comes from cellular phone services. When they became popular in the late 90s and early 2000s, one selling point was free long distance. It didn't matter if you were calling next door or cross-country. It all cost the same price. When cable carriers started offering VoIP service, landline carriers had to react. And so they now charge that flat rate for long distance.
Even still, more and more customers are ditching their landlines every day. Some go to VoIP, but some are going to cellular-only plans. While that works for some, it doesn't for everyone. Typically, cell phones offer a bucket of minutes every month. While those minutes work for long distance calls, there is a set limit. For heavier talkers who want to cut the landline and avoid paying two phone bills, there is one viable option: unlimited prepaid.
A number of carriers offer unlimited calling, including long distance, for a flat rate. MetroPCS and Cricket are two carriers that have done this the longest. They've been around since the mid-2000s, but they offer service only in specific regions of the country. They do, however, offer many different plans that can fit different types of callers. Cricket, for instance, offers a basic plan for $35 per month, while MetroPCS has one for $40. If either of these services is available in your area, they can be excellent choices for an unlimited cellular experience.
Other carriers have picked up on the unlimited calling idea and have run with it. Boost Mobile has an unlimited talk and text message plan (plus data) for $50 per month. Even better, for every six months customers pay on time they get a $5 per month discount, for a total discount of up to $15. After 18 months of on-time payments, then, Boost's unlimited service costs just $35 per month. Boost is a division of Sprint, so they have big-name backing.
There are plenty of options, indeed, for anyone who wants to make the switch to unlimited cellular with long distance. Customers should not only familiarize themselves with plans from these carriers, but also with the phones -- particularly any information about energy efficiency. Cutting the cord means running on a battery, so battery life is of great importance to a cell-only user. For many, it's far more important than a phone's other features. It's also important to see whether you can port your landline number to the cell phone. After all, you wouldn't want to make everyone learn a new number.
In the past many people have remained connected with their landlines, because cellular service just wasn't right. But now with unlimited cellular plans that include long distance, the time might be right. It allows users to talk as long as they want, whenever they want, for the same flat monthly rate. That gives everyone a chance to cut the cord and pay only once for phone services.
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