The short answer, is that, a cheap phone, will drop more calls, and will die sooner than good phones....

• The sales person will try to sell you a cheap phone, because they have more profit and get incentives, to sell those phones.
• Never! Go to a wireless phone store, before doing research, on what phone and service provider, you may want (expected cost)!

Which plan? Find out what your plan includes...

One that covers the areas, that you normally go (travel to)!

Ask you, friends and co-workers, who thay have for thare service; What kind of phone, and do thay like them?

How many Minutes do you need?

• Most wireless provides, mislead, the peak minutes, by bundling all the minutes together (example: 1100 Minutes, means 100 Pk, 1000 minutes weekends). Ask, check, what is the peak minutes, usually 8 AM to 8 PM...
• Most Men, usually, don't talk too much, need about, 200 (minimum) Minutes of peak time.
• Woman, usually talk a lot, need at least 400 Minutes (minimum).
• I like to talk. I use about, 350 Pk Min, and 200 Off Pk& Wk Ends Minutes (inc. in-network minutes)...
• Why dose this mater?  When you go over your plans allotted plan minuets, you will be billed extra ($0.35-1.50 per min). Its' not uncommon, for someone to go over the allotted minutes, and have a bill that, is double the normal amount. If they went over, and was roaming, a bill of, $500-1000, is also not to uncommon.

Get a plan that covers where you live, you commutes to, travel for work, and take vacations, too (roaming is expensive, even if done once a year (assuming you make a lot of calls, or use a lot of minutes). When you roam, thay charge you, $.50-1.50, plus long distance, per minute...

The Usually Free extras:

Get a plan that has free, long distance, usually it's included and is free.

Get a plan that has free, after hours (off Peak) minutes, Usually is free, and is, 500-2000 Minutes.

Get a plan that has free, "Mobile-to-mobile" ("In-Calling."). Usually is free, unlimited or 1000-2000 Minutes.

Get a plan that stays the same cost throughout. Price, available minutes, etc., doesn't change...

Its normal to have the bill be about $5-15 more, from Taxes...

The Insurance is a good idea (If you lose your phone, and don't have the insurance (and your in contract), you have to buy at full price ($200-500) new phone. You can't just quit paying the bill, because you lost (or is broken) the phone. Thay will continue to bill you, for up to a year, even thought you got, no services. And, they will report you to the creditors.)...

Cheap ($19.95 - $24.95) rate plans, usually don't include, the free extras, listed above...