Wireless Phone Shopping Tips Make Holiday Buying Easier

Wireless Phone Shopping Tips Make Holiday Buying Easier

November 14, 1997

ORANGEBURG, N.Y. -- If a wireless phone is on your holiday shopping

list this year -- whether it's for someone you love or a gift to

yourself -- knowing what to look for can make your shopping experience

easier and help you make the right selection.

With dozens of choices available in phones, features and pricing,

Bell Atlantic Mobile offers five simple tips to help consumers

understand what's most important when buying a wireless phone.

Before heading out to the nearest mall, read the tips below and

you'll be a savvy shopper armed with all the information you need to

make the wireless purchase that's right for you this holiday season.

Know How The Phone Will Be Used

How you'll use the phone is important because it will determine

all the other decisions you'll need to make about pricing plans,

equipment and special features. Will you rely on the phone to keep in

touch with the kids while you're at work? Will the phone be used

mostly for emergencies?

Will it be the backbone of a mobile office that you use with a

laptop computer or mobile fax machine?

Whatever your wireless communications needs may be, it's important

to think about the phone's purpose right from the start.

Ask About Coverage

Coverage is the geographic area where a wireless carrier provides

service. Look for a provider with the most expansive coverage over a

high quality network to be sure the phone will work wherever you need

it. Bottom line: Make sure the carrier you choose provides reliable

service in all the areas where you will make and receive calls.

Choose A Price Plan Based On Your Usage

Shoppers should discuss how and where the phone will be used with

a sales representative to select a price plan that matches their

needs. Also, be sure to ask about additional charges. Does the plan

include a detailed bill? How much does it cost to use the phone when

roaming outside the home area? Do charges vary based on whether

calls are made during peak and off-peak hours?

Bell Atlantic Mobile uses a simple chart to help customers choose

a price plan that will best fit their needs. And, if their usage

differs from what they initially expected, the company's 'round the

clock Customer Service Department can help them change to a plan that

is better suited for their usage.

At the top of many gift lists this year will be the company's

newest product, MobileMinutes^SM, a phone and wireless calling card

that lets you pay for wireless calls in advance. The wireless phone

and service can be purchased all-in-one and are ready to use

instantly.

Many shoppers this season will find Bell Atlantic Mobile's EZ

MAX^SM service a perfect gift . Price plans begin at just $18.99

per month and include free caller ID, free voice-activated dialing

and the first minute free for all incoming calls in New York and New

Jersey.

DigitalChoice^SM is another popular service for those who want

superior call quality, dramatically increased battery life and lots

of high-tech features. DigitalChoice plans start at $24.99 per

month. What's more, if you sign up for DigitalChoice or other select

price plans through December 31, 1997, you'll receive 100 anytime

home bonus minutes a month for one year.

Select A Phone That Fits Your Needs

You'll have a huge selection of wireless phone models to choose

from in a wide variety of price ranges, and features will vary

depending on the model you select. Again, when choosing a phone,

keep in mind how you'll use it. How much talk time will you need?

Will you rely on voice mail to prevent missed calls? Is Caller ID

important to you? How many phone numbers will you store in memory?

Do you want a phone that offers short messaging, like a pager? The

answers can help individuals and businesses decide between a digital

or analog phone, and then determine which model is right for their

use.

Most people opt for the small, lightweight, portable phones that

fit easily in a purse or pocket. This season's newest models include

sleek, high-fashion wireless phones that come in five colors: red,

blue, hunter green, bright yellow and black. Priced at $19.99 and

$49.99 when you sign an annual agreement, they're available

exclusively through Bell Atlantic Mobile EZ MAX service.

Know Where To Shop

Look for retailers with the most knowledgeable staffs and the

greatest selection of equipment and pricing plans for the best

wireless buy. Carriers like Bell Atlantic Mobile own and operate

their own wireless retail centers. Bell Atlantic Mobile has more than

40 retail locations throughout the New York/New Jersey metro area

where shoppers can "try on" the latest wireless equipment and

services. Each store is staffed by experienced wireless consultants

who can help you select the phones and price plans that fit your

needs.

For more information or to shop by phone call 1-800-255-BELL.

Bell Atlantic Mobile is the largest wireless service provider on the East

Coast and the second largest in the United States. The company owns

and operates the most extensive network in the East, covering 111,000

square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets offering a full

range of wireless personal communications services, including voice,

data and paging. Based in Bedminster, N.J., Bell Atlantic Mobile has

more than 5 million customers and 7,000 employees in the Northeast,

mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and, through a separate subsidiary, in the

Southwest. The company is the chief wireless subsidiary of the new

Bell Atlantic, formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX

corporations.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Product photographs available upon request.

Company News On Call: Bell Atlantic Mobile press releases are

available at no charge through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call fax

service and on PRN's Web Site. For a menu of Bell Atlantic Mobile

press releases or to retrieve a specific release, call 800-758-5804,

extension 094251, or http://www.prnewswire.com on the Internet.