Choosing a Calling Plan

Confusing and frustrating may bethe best way to describe choosing a cellphone plan. Free minutes, anytime minutes,roaming—it's hard to know whata plan really offers. Comparing plans ispractically impossible. You can findhelp at Get Connected (800-775-2506;www.getconnected.com), but beforeyou check out the Web site, figure outwhat kind of cell phone user you are. Ifall you want is a phone you can use inemergencies, you probably should lookinto a pay-as-you-go plan, which usuallycosts anywhere from $0.15 to $0.50a minute. If you plan to use the phone alot, get an unlimited plan, which typicallycosts $99.99 to $149.99 a monthfor 1000 to 4000 minutes. If you're inbetween those two extremes, a monthlyfee of $30 to $40 will put you in a planthat gives you anywhere from 200 to600 free minutes.