Cell phones are practically indispensable to today's truck drivers. The days of stopping at a truckstop just to find a payphone and call your dispatcher or your family are almost gone. Cell phone convenience is a big time saver, and in trucking, time is money.
Selecting a Carrier
If you're an over-the-road driver, try to find a good nationwide plan. The best cellular service providers (Verizon, AT&T, Cingular, T-Mobile, and Sprint are a few of the biggest ones) have service which covers the widest areas. When you're outside the area, you'll pay extra for roaming.
Most plans now offer free unlimited weekend and nighttime usage, and some have free calls to another phone with the same service. For example, if your spouse has an additional phone signed on with the same cellular service provider, those calls will be free.
If you plan to talk a lot and often, then you should get a plan with a significant amount of minutes, because if you go over your allotted minutes, then you'll be charged a much higher amount ($.30 or more per minute). It all adds up very quickly if you're not careful. For example, if you talk 30 peak minutes (daytime, not free nighttime or weekend minutes as with most plans) a day, that adds up to over 1200 minutes a month. It's important to keep track of your minutes used for the month. Set a budget for your cell phone expense along with your other expenses (although this will be a fixed expense as long as you don't go over your minutes).
You'll probably have to sign up for a year or two of cellular service. If you cancel early, you could owe them extra money for the early cancellation, so read the fine print when you sign up for service.
Credit Considerations
If you have good credit, there are many companies who'll give you a free or discounted phone with cellular service activation. If you don't have good credit, you can pay a one-time deposit (could be $300 to $500, typically refundable after 1 year). Another option is the T-Mobile "Pay As You Go" plan, which features: no annual contract, no credit check, and no monthly bills.
Number Portability
As of May 24, 2004, the FCC passed a mandate which requires all cell phone carriers to allow "Wireless Local Number Portability". This allows cell phone users to keep their existing cell phone numbers while switching to another carrier. Remember, this only applies to switching to another carrier in the same local area.
For more helpful information about cell phone essentials, carriers, and buying a cell phone, check out this one-page, cell phone buying guide.
About Unlocked and GSM Cell Phones
What Is a GSM Phone?
A GSM Phone is a mobile phone which uses the Global System for Mobile Communications for sending and receiving phone calls. It's also considered a "world phone" and is the most common network world-wide.
The GSM phone uses a SIM card, or "Subscriber Identification Module". This is a chip which you insert into the back of a GSM phone. It provides all of the user's personal info...identification, contacts, calender info, etc. This enables you to remove the SIM card, insert it into a new phone, and receive calls to the same phone number as before. Also, you won't have to re-enter your personal information again.
GSM carriers have roaming contracts with other GSM carriers, enabling them to cover more rural areas without additional roaming charges. This is obviously an advantage to the over-the-road trucker. The only GSM carriers in the U.S. are Cingular/AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile U.S.A. Verizon, Sprint and Nextel operate on the CDMA and iDEN networks, which do not use SIM cards. All phones through these networks are only available from their carriers/service providers.
What is an Unlocked Cell Phone?
Carriers, like Verizon or Sprint, "lock" cell phones to keep phones (and customers) "loyal" to one carrier. A locked phone will only accept and recognize a SIM card from a particular carrier. When you upgrade and activate a new cell phone, the old locked phone becomes useless.
If the cell phone is unlocked, it will recognize a SIM card from any carrier (as mentioned above, this is only possible with a GSM phone). You can just go ahead and purchase any unlocked GSM phone, then choose a carrier/service plan, who provides you with a SIM card to insert into your new phone.
To get an "unlocked" cell phone, you'll have to purchase one from a third-party vendor (see below for phones). There are many advantages to having an unlocked phone, but you'll have to pay more because the phone won't be subsidized by a carrier (carriers subsidize - or discount the price of a phone - in order to secure you as one of their monthly paying customers, and therefore won't allow you to use that phone with another carrier). However, an unlocked phone in good condition can still be sold for a good price, where a locked (non-GSM) phone, as previously mentioned, is useless (locked GSM phones can be unlocked).
Smartphones and Camera Phones
What is a Smartphone?
A smartphone is any electronic handheld device that combines the uses of a mobile cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other information device. This can either be done by adding telephone functionality to an existing PDA or putting "smart" capabilities, such as PDA functions, into a cellular phone.
The Treo 650 Smartphone from Palm makes it easier than ever to stay connected. It simplifies your life by combining a compact mobile phone with email, an organizer, messaging, and web access. There's also Bluetooth® technology so you can connect wirelessly to other Bluetooth devices. Not to mention an MP3 player, a digital camera that captures video, and a vibrant color screen that brings everything to life... all in a device that's still small enough to fit in your pocket. Retail prices vary based on carriers and commitment plans and typically range from $449 USD to $699 for the unlocked GSM model. Check below for the lowest prices on the Treo 650.
Talking on the phone while you're driving is more than a distraction issue. There is a lot of controversy today over the use of cell phones while driving. Some detractors say that talking on a cell phone while you're driving is too distracting (in New York City, for example, the police can give tickets out for talking on a cell phone while driving).
Yes, talking on the cell phone while you're driving can be a distraction. But if distraction is the main issue, then you shouldn't be able to talk to anyone who's in your vehicle or listen to your radio while you're driving. So obviously, since most people seem to be doing OK with those distractions, then it must be more of a hands-free issue. This is why I suggest that all truckers (ALL drivers, for that matter) get a hands-free device for their cell phone, and use it. Drivers, especially truck drivers, need to be able to keep their hands on the wheel and on the gearshift.
Many drivers seem reluctant to go hands-free. They may feel that it's too expensive, or too much of a hassle to put on each time they need to use it. Some drivers just like to be seen using the cell phone... it's become a status symbol. But it's only a matter of time before more people catch on, and switch to hands-free devices.
A small earpiece/microphone, or bluetooth enabled device is comfortable, easy to put on and off, and relatively inexpensive. See below for more information and any special offers.
Bluetooth Headsets
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is the standard which enables different types of electronics —like computers, keyboards, stereos, cellphones, and headsets—to communicate with each other wirelessly.
So, a cell phone with Bluetooth technology can interact with a bluetooth headset. All you need is to have your cell phone nearby in the truck or on your belt, and a bluetooth headset comfortably on your ear. No more wires to worry about as you're drinking coffee, shifting gears, or eating food in the truckstop. It's a whole new world with Bluetooth.
Motorola HS850 Bluetooth Headset No wires. No limits. Designed to enhance the experience of any Bluetooth technology enabled phone, the Motorola Wireless Headset HS850 also stores information and wirelessly interacts with up to eight different Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2 compliant devices, including handsets, PDAs and computers.
Whether you have poor credit, don't want a long term commitment, or just don't plan to use a cell phone much, a prepaid phone might be what you need. This operates like a prepaid phone card, except with a personal cell phone. Some providers now offer free phones with a minimum number of prepaid minutes.
The following phones are from T-Mobile's "Pay As You Go" plan. This is possibly the best bet for anyone with poor credit, or who doesn't want a long term contract.
Even if you have a cell phone, you can use a card instead when you're in the truckstop or restaurant with a phone at the table. This will help you conserve cell phone minutes, and save them for the road.
No wires. No limits. Designed to enhance the experience of any Bluetooth technology enabled phone, the Motorola Wireless Headset HS850 also stores information and wirelessly interacts with up to eight different Bluetooth 1.1 and 1.2 compliant devices, including handsets, PDAs and computers.
