By Christiana Varda
Collegian Staff Writer

More students are opting for cell phones over landlines because of the mobility and prices wireless services offer.

«It’s like carrying your home phone around with you. It’s more convenient,» said Tom Houck, manager of Immix, 134 W. College Ave.

Cell phone packages are becoming more reasonable and appealing, one reason more students and local residents are using only cell phones, Houck said.

«The [rates] are comparable to having a home phone. They have the same features, but you get to have it with you all the time,» Houck said. «It’s finally to a point where the value is there and you can replace the landline.»

Students are most interested in using cell phones because of their flexibility, said Rebecca Noah, AT&T Wireless spokeswoman.

«They’re benefiting because they’re such a mobile group,» she said.

The popularity of sending text messages has also accelerated this trend, Noah said.

«Younger students text message all the time. It seems to be the instant messaging of the cell phone generation,» Burt Thomas (graduate-geosciences) said.

A lot of students are away from home and the free long-distance minutes in cell phone plans makes them a better deal, Amy Schimmel (senior-architecture) said.

«There’s no sense in having two bills,» she said.

Schimmel said some students who have both use the landline because cell phones can run out of minutes that are already included in the price of their plan.

«You can have whoever is calling you on the cell phone call the landline and that doesn’t cost you anything,» she said.

Steve Trapnell, D&E Communications spokesman, said having a landline could offset the usage of cell phone minutes on local calls.

«If you have a cell phone and you have a package with a certain number of minutes and you’re just making local calls, you’re using those cell phone minutes,» Trapnell said. «If you had a landline you could make an unlimited amount of local calls.»

Some students also keep landlines because of security concerns, MCI spokeswoman Natasha Haubold said. Not all cell phones give the exact location when dialing 911 and landlines are not affected during power outages, she said.

«We have seen an additional use of cell phones. There are some pros and cons and consumers need to determine which solution meets their needs,» she said.

Trapnell said he could not attribute any drop in sales to the increased use of cell phones; however, he sees the trend as an added benefit for customers.

The increasing popularity of cell phones was one of the reasons Penn State did not renew the contract with the AT&T College and University Solutions calling plan at the end of the spring semester. The on-campus plan allowed students to make long-distance calls from their rooms, said Linda Witt, manager of long distance programs.

«Usage declined to less than 10 percent of students using the long-distance plan,» she said.

Thomas shares a family plan with his roommate because he said it is cheaper. He said the cell phone trend is certainly emerging among students.

«I think [it will increase] as soon as people start to think that cell phones are not just a luxury but a way of communication,» he said.

Collegian staff writer Ann Doyle contributed to this report.

Ken Vander Meeden
Better Business Bureau

Many consumers in the Grand Rapids area are discovering a new convenience: prepaid cell phones. If you need a cellular phone, but don’t want to sign a multi-year contract, these may be a good option for you. With prepaid cellular phone plans, users prepay for the airtime much like they buy prepaid long distance phone cards. There are usually no credit check, activation, monthly or early termination fees to pay.

A prepaid cellular phone comes with a specified number of airtime minutes. You can then purchase more or «recharge» your minutes online or by calling the toll-free number on your prepaid phone. With most plans, you receive an automatic warning when you need to buy more airtime minutes. Once your minutes run out, you can no longer make or receive calls.

While prepaid cell phones can be great for occasional use, the Better Business Bureau suggests you keep the following in mind:

* Be aware of the cost of a call. Calls can be more expensive on a per-minute basis with a prepaid phone plan. Some long distance calls cost twice as much with a prepaid plan compared to a monthly plan. Check the plan’s details before buying.

* Not all services are included. You may not be able to get features such as call waiting or caller ID, and you may not be able to surf the wireless Web or use your phone in an analog area. Ask your service provider about these extra features.

* Pay attention to your expiration date. Know how often you must load new minutes. Most plans require you to use your airtime or purchase additional airtime within a specific timeframe, usually 30 to 90 days. You purchase airtime in 30, 60 or 90 increment minutes. If you don’t recharge your airtime before the expiration date, your service may be deactivated. Read your carrier’s policies carefully.

* Ask the service provider about their coverage area. What good is a cell phone with a small area or poor call sound quality?

* Be aware that incoming calls and voicemail messages can deplete your minutes.

* Ask if you will be charged for incoming or outgoing calls that are not answered.

Before deciding on a service provider, be sure to check the company out with the Better Business Bureau. Visit our Web site, www.grandrapids.bbb.org, or call us 24 hours a day at 1 (800) 6 THE BBB. If you have problems, use our Web site complaint form or mail details to us at: BBB, 40 Pearl, N.W., Suite 354, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Our office serves Ottawa and Allegan counties.

Ken Vander Meeden is president of the Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan.