Confusion About Cell Phone Roaming Charges

Cell phone roaming is, in my mind, one of the most complicated and expensive aspects of cellular service. I can understand minutes, I can understand long distance, I just haven’t grasped how cell phone roaming works and, more importantly, how I’m charged for it.

After doing a little Internet research on cellular roaming, I learned that roaming is the act my phone commits when it finds itself out of range of it’s friendly home service. It will frantically begin searching the airwaves for another cellular service that will send it a signal. It’s the equivalent of electronic hitch hiking, with one exception. When the network picks up the signal from my little roaming phone, it says “Sure I’ll give you’re a ride, but it will cost you.”

My phone seems to drift in and out of these roaming relationships as I travel down the highway. My cell phone provider tells me if I studied my home service area map I’d understand why phones cell phones roam. I don’t want to understand really; I just don’t want to pay for it! Thankfully two options now make that possible.

If you are a Sprint PCS customer, you can use the Call Guard feature on your phone. This prevents your phone from making or receiving roaming calls. When Call Guard is on, it will prevent cell phones from roaming and force your phone to look for an in-network provider or simply read “no signal.”

The second, and easiest option is to choose a service provider who offers free roaming. That way there will be no extra charges on the bill. That, I can understand.

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Also See: free cellular phones.

About The Author:

Wendy Whittaker is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com. A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.

	Cell Phones Roaming
Confusion About Cell Phone Roaming Charges