Cell Phone Family Plans

Despite the convenience and potential cost savings, family cell phone plans can present certain difficulties:

Difficulty tracking usage of allotted minutes; with multiple people using the minutes, it's easier to lose track of the time and exceed the plan allotment, incurring the higher per minute charge of the additional minutes

Difficulty tracking usage of text messaging features; again it is easier to exceed any limits with multiple people using the plan. This is especially true with kids.

To avoid the problems of exceeding the cell phone plan limits that can occur as a result of multiple people using it, there are a few things to do and know before signing up:

Know how all of the phones will be used. Get a good estimate of how many minutes will be used and when they will be used. Be sure to account for nights, weekends, long distance, international calls, and so forth. A prospective plan should allot enough minutes to cover regular use so that the owner doesn't get smacked with the higher charges associated with exceeding the plan limits.

Know what special features the family might need and and how much they will be used. Know how much text messaging, internet access, downloading, picture messaging, and so forth will be used. Thinking through these special needs will allow owners to match their use to the cell phone family plan that they need.

Know exactly what the plan covers. When are roaming charges incurred, do unused minutes roll over form month to month, and who is considered "family" within the plan? Does the plans' definition include kids moving away to college?

Educate kids about any rules: limits on calling, texting limits, restrictions on downloads, and so forth.

Some families may want to consider the parental controls available in some cell phone family plans that restrict usage. See AT&T Smart Limits as an example.

If you want to learn more about selecting cell phones and plans that are great for kids visit Best Cell Phones for Kids.

For families who use a lot of talk time, most cellular providers now offer unlimited calling plans.

Here are a few of the Unlimited Calling Plans available for families:

AT&T Family Unlimited Nation Plan This plan offers nationwide coverage with a 2 year committment. It features unlimited shared minutes, unlimited nights and weekends, and free long distance for $119.99 per month and charges $49.99 per additional line.

T-Mobile Family Talk Plans: The Even More Plus plan gives families unlimited nationwide calling for $79.99 with no contract and two lines. The Even More plan offers the same features with a 2 year contract and a cost of $99.99. Texting can be added for approximately $20 per month.

Sprint Simply Everything Family Plan: Families get unlimited data, messaging, and talk for a cost of $189.98 for 1-2 lines

Verizon Nationwide Family SharePlans Verizon offers a plan for talk only at $119.99/month or users can add unlimited text for $149.99/month. The cost for additional lines is $49.99/month.

Some prepaid cellular services do offer cell phone family plans. The advantages of these are that you have to make no committment and are therefore free to switch without cancellation fees at anytime. In addition, some of these plans allow you to keep a tight cap on your budget.

Tracfone for instance has their Family Value Plan. It provides the first line for $9.99/month with 50 minutes and subsequent phones for $5.99/month with 30 minutes. Additional talk time is 20 cents per minute. Obviously this plan would be most economical for those who don't talk a great deal. Shoppers would need to merely make a good estimate of their usage to see if this pay-as-you-go type plan would be good for them. Such a plan can also work well for those who want to cap usage, since they would have to physically buy additional minutes if they exceed what was originally purchased.

Another contract free option comes through MetroPCS. Their Family Unlimited Plans are good for those who talk and text a great deal but don't want to sign a contract. Currently, 4 family members can get unlimited talking, picture and text messaging as well as web access for $100/month. You can learn more on their website.

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Photo Credits
Introduction: compujeramey.
What to Look For in Choosing a Cell Phone Family Plan: trekkandy.
How to Avoid Problems with Your Family Cell Phone Plan: masochismtango.
Prepaid Family Cell Phone Plans: Rainer Ebert.