4. WIRELESS SERVICE (match your requirements to lowest cost solutions)

• WIRELESS REQUIREMENTS

• *Gather your present service, features & bill; Analyze historical usage

• *Rely on private (your own) or public WiFi (home wireless router is cheap; saveguard data on public wifi; for smartphone and tablets). Use wireless service data only for emergencies.

  • Stop or lower text message charges: use a chat app like Apple iMessage, WhatsApp, TextFree or TexPlus,...(see "most popular" Google apps)

  • Determine if wireless service coverage map covers the area you live and work (T-Mobile & AT&T do NOT cover my house)

  • Follow these tips (and these tips) (more tips) to reduce wireless bills

• *Drop "Postpaid" wireless carrier ; Go contract-free with your own phone, and prepaid service from an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator).

  • MVNOs buy in bulk at wholesale prices from AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon.

  • Customers of major carriers pay 3.4X as much as customers of MVNOs (2011 data)

• WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS

• TracFone (StraightTalk & Net10 are also part of TracFone) - (phones also sold by WalMart)

• Walmart no-contract voice/data service

• GSM MVNO (with SIM card)

  • AT&T NETWORK: AIO WirelessAirVOice; AT&T Go Phone; Black Wireless; Red Pocket; straighttalk.com ; Consumer Cellular

  • T-MOBILE NETWORK: GoSmart Mobile; Ready SIM; SIMple Mobile; T-Mobile; Ultra Mobile; Straight Talk; net10wireless.com

  CDMA MVNO (no SIM card)

  • VERIZON NETWORK: Page Plus; Verizon Prepay

  • SPRINT NETWORK: Boost; Cricket; EcoMobile; Kajeet; Republic; Ting; Total Call Mobile; Virgin Mobile