Learning About Wireless Services Wireless ED www wireless
Learning About Wireless Services Wireless. ED www. wireless. ED. org Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by © Consumer Action 2011
Wireless Service • Devices that use wireless service: phones, PDAs, tablets, other electronics • Service types: voice, text and data – Voice is measured in minutes of talk time – Data is measured in “bytes” • 1, 024 kilobytes=1 megabyte • 1, 024 megabytes=1 gigabyte • What activities use data? Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 2
How much data does it take…? 1. To watch one minute of a You. Tube video? a. 800 KB b. 100 MB c. 2 MB 2. To upload a photo to your Facebook page? a. 7 MB b. 500 KB c. 1 GB Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 3
Data Estimates for Common Smartphone Activities Activity/Function Send/receive 1 text-only email Send/receive 1 photo email Send/receive 1 email w/doc attachment View 1 Web page Data Used Activity/Function Data used 20 KB Stream 1 minute of music 500 KB 350 KB Stream 1 minute of standard-quality video 2 MB 300 KB Download 1 app, game or song 4 MB 180 KB Upload/download 1 file to/from social media 500 KB Based on the data calculator from AT&T Mobility. Actual data used per activity can vary significantly. Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 4
Estimating Your Service Needs • Important to estimate service needs accurately! • Calculating voice, text and data service needs – Past bills – Carrier and third-party tools – Phone tracking function • Why data requirements vary for same activity: quality, device type and network speed Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 5
Wireless Service Plans I • Contract plan – – requires one- to two-year commitment a monthly service allowance (buckets) for a set price typically better rates for voice and data may include free night/weekend minutes, free minutes to certain phones, and rollover minutes • Prepaid – no contract, no credit check, no early termination fee – May have higher per-unit rates (though not always) no free minutes, and service not used expires – no unexpectedly high bill Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 6
Wireless Service Plans II • Unlimited – best for heavy users – may not be most economical choice for lighter users • Tiered service – allowances (buckets) to use during billing cycle – higher per-unit rates on “overages” – best for consistent users (little fluctuation month to month) • Per-use – In some cases could have higher rates; sensible only for very limited use Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 7
Wireless Service Plans III • Individual – single-line account • Family – two or more lines on the same account – allowances can be shared – Calls, and sometimes texts, between family members may be free (depending on carrier) – parental controls available to limit children’s usage and activities Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 8
Wireless Service Plans IV • Local – Smallest region; not widely available • Regional – Metro area, state, or group of states – Roaming charges applied for use outside the region • Nationwide – no long distance charges anywhere in continental U. S. – may include Canada, Mexico or other non-continental U. S. areas • Long-distance and International Calling – lower rates for calling or texting numbers outside the area or in other countries • International roaming – Lower rates for calling, texting or using data while outside the U. S. Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 9
Additional Costs • • • Activation fee Overage charges Taxes and surcharges Daily access fees (prepaid service) Early termination fee (if customer terminates service before the end of the contract term) • Long distance (only on local and regional plans) • Roaming (only on local and regional plans) Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 10
International Roaming • What is international roaming and why do you need to know about it? • International roaming service plans • Minimizing data usage while roaming • Lower-cost options when traveling – Internet calling – Prepaid calling card used from landline – Local SIM card – Wi-Fi Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 11
ACTIVITY: Navigate Your Service Statement • Refer to the sample wireless statement to answer the questions. Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 12
Food for Thought • U. S. wireless consumers used more than 2. 3 trillion minutes in the 12 months ending June 2010 (or 6. 3 billion per day). • During the same period, more than 1. 8 trillion text messages were sent and received (or 4. 9 billion per day). • More than 89% of the handsets operating on wireless carriers’ networks are capable of browsing the Web. • As of May 2010, more than 240, 000 applications (“apps”) were available from 7 stores on 7 different platforms. • Approximately one-third of children ages 13 to 17 said that it was “absolutely essential/very important” or “important” to have the latest and greatest cell phone for their purposes. Source: CTIA, wireless telecommunications industry association Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 13
Choosing a Carrier • • • Coverage/reception GSM vs CDMA Plan options, features, cost Phone selection Customer service What else you should know about choosing a carrier Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 14
Choosing a Wireless Device • What makes smartphones so smart? • Assessing your phone needs (design, features, performance, price) • Where to buy your phone (carrier, non-carrier retail, online, used) • What else you should know about buying and owning a wireless device Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 15
Monitoring and Managing Usage • Avoid overages! • How to monitor and manage usage: – Carrier tools – Built-in handset/OS tools – Apps and widgets – Parental controls Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 16
Reducing Your Wireless Costs • • Choose the right plan Voice service: Know your minutes Keep text messages short Budget for apps Set parental controls Use Wi-Fi Consider prepaid service (no overages!) Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 17
ACTIVITY: Case Studies • Use what you’ve learned so far today to determine what choices the consumers in the scenarios should make now, or should have made before. • Give tips that will help the consumer manage their usage and reduce or avoid additional charges. Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 18
Wireless Privacy and Security • • • Threats to your wireless privacy Tips/tools for better privacy and security Protecting the personal info on your phone Protecting your service records If your phone is lost or stolen Cell phone fraud Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 19
Congratulations! You’ve completed the Wireless Services training! Visit us at www. wireless. ED. org Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 20
About Consumer Action www. consumer-action. org • Consumer Action empowers low to moderate income and limited-English-speaking consumers nationwide to financially prosper through education and advocacy. • Call us: 415 -777 -9648 / 213 -624 -4631 • Consumer Assistance Hotline: 415 -777 -9635 • Assistance Email: hotline@consumer-action. org (English, Spanish and Chinese spoken) Wireless. ED: Created by Consumer Action. Sponsored by AT&T © Consumer Action 2011 21
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