Released: July 11, 2006

Regional carriers’ wireless alternatives

Source: By Marguerite Reardon, CNETNews.com

Many Americans may have more choices than they realize when it comes to choosing a mobile phone carrier. The big four cell phone carriers--Cingular Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless- are well-known throughout the country thanks to expensive marketing campaigns. “Can you hear me now?” has become synonymous with Verizon Wireless, while Catherine Zeta Jones is the face of T-Mobile.

But in some parts of the country, especially outside of large cities, wireless customers also can choose from regional cell phone carriers that offer comparable services that often match or beat the big carriers in terms of overall value.

“Regional carriers are competing by differentiating on price or offering features that the big companies don’t,” said Todd Rethemeier, a senior research analyst at Sur Terre/Soleil Securities.

For example, Leap Wireless’ Cricket and MetroPCS both offer low-cost, flat-rate services to consumers and business customers without contracts. Cricket’s service costs $30 per month for unlimited local calling within its 21-state region. For $45 a month, consumers can get an unlimited plan that offers local and long-distance calling within the Cricket region. MetroPCS offers a $30 all-you-can-talk local phone calling plan in its five-state region, and a $40-a-month plan for unlimited local and long-distance calling within the region.

SunCom Wireless, which operates in five southeastern states, also offers unlimited, contract-free plans. But its service is much pricier than what’s offered by the other two companies. SunCom’s unlimited in-region plan, which includes local and long-distance calling, is priced at $60 per month. 

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