ViewSonic VB730 User Manual download pdf (Page 24)

36 consumer reports JANUARY 

COVER STORY SMART PHONES

Ratings Cell-phone service

Summary Ratings, reﬂecting all cities surveyed, in order of overall

score. Dierences in score of fewer than ﬁve points are not meaningful.

Overview

Standard cell-phone service, involving a

bill at the end of the month, offers smart

phones at a lower price but usually requires

a contract. Prepaid service, either pay-as-

you-go or with a monthly allocation, is

usually contract-free but offers a more

limited, and generally pricier, selection of

smart phones.

TOP CHOICE FOR SMART PHONES

A Verizon Wireless

Among the major carriers, this was the most

satisfying overall and the standout for data

service, an important consideration when

using a smart phone. However, most new

smart phones from major carriers now

connect to highspeed G networks, and

AT &T A offered the least problematic G

service; that makes the carrier worth

considering for a G phone, despite a worse

overall track record than A.

CONSIDER IF AVAILABLE TO YOU

A U.S. Cellular

This carrier has a coverage map that’s

nationwide, but it’s available only to

customers in  mostly Midwestern states.

But it is a standout in almost every respect.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE OPTION

A Credo Mobile

This carrier donates to social causes and

offers satisfying enough service. It has

relatively high prices but got stellar

customersupport scores.

BEST CHOICES FOR BASIC NEEDS

A Consumer Cellular

B TracFone

These carriers specialize in nofrills cell

phones and service. A is a nocontract

standard carrier aimed at seniors that offers

standout customer service. B is a prepaid

carrier that offers very inexpensive plans for

minimal phone users. Both had voice service

that was above average.

BUDGET SMARTPHONE STANDOUTS

B Straight Talk

B Virgin Mobile

These nocontract carriers had solid scores.

You’ll generally pay more upfront for the

phone with them than with a standard

carrier, but they offer lowercost unlimited,

voice, text, and data plans and earned high

marks for data.

Think twice about buying that new model early. Upgrading can cost you, especially

if you can’t wait until your two-year contract runs out. Here’s what the big four cell

carriers charge to upgrade to a Samsung Galaxy S III (16GB) halfway through the

contract and at the end of the term. Totals below are for the cost of the phone, typically

with a new two-year contract, plus upgrade fees and penalties.

Can’t wait for that musthave phone?

SEE OUR SMART

PHONES VIDEO

Use your smart phone to

download the RedLaser or

ShopSavvy app and scan

the code for video.

Provider Reader score Survey results Support

0 100

Value

Voice

Text

Data

Phone

Staff knowledge

Issue resolved

A STANDARD

1 Consumer Cellular*

&X &X &X &Z

—

&Z &Z &Z

2 U.S. Cellular

&X &Z &Z &Z

—

&Z &Z &Z

3 Credo Mobile

&C &C &C &X

—

&Z &Z &Z

4 Verizon Wireless

&V &X &C &X &C &V &X &X

5 Sprint

&V &B &V &C &V &V &C &C

6 T-Mobile

&V &B &V &C &C &V &C &C

7 AT&T

&B &B &V &V &X &B &C &C

B PREPAID

1 TracFone

&X &X &X

— —

&B &V &C

2 Straight Talk

&X &C &X &X

—

&B &B &C

3 T-Mobile

&X &C &C &C

—

&B &V &V

4 Verizon Wireless

&C &X &X

— — —

&C &C

5 Net10

&C &C

— — — — — —

6 Virgin Mobile

&X &C &C &X

—

&V &C &X

7 MetroPCS

&C &C &B &C

— — — —

8 AT&T GoPhone

&V &C &C &V

— —

&V &V

*Offers no-contract service, but bills monthly like standard carriers.

Provider Upgrade after Upgrade after

month  month 

AT&T  

Sprint  

TMobile  

Verizon  

Better Worse

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