Are you tired of being trapped by your mobile carrier and want to turn the tables so that you call the shots? Tired of being enslaved by the carrier overlords just because you were lured into a two-year sentence with the promise of the latest must-have device that is about to be outdated? Well, fret no more. What follows are the steps to your mobile freedom.
First: buy your own device. The truth that the carriers don't want you to know is that when you subsidize a phone you are paying up to one and a half times what the phone is actually worth. So when you get that brand new top of the line device for $200 down with a two year contract, you will end up paying considerably more than it’s value via inflated monthly service fees by the time your lengthy commitment is done. It's also why the carriers are so willing to give away "free phones." One way or another, you will pay for that phone, handsomely! And because your new phone is purchased from and locked by your carrier, they also have the ability to:
- Block you from tethering your tablet or laptop to your phone’s internet connection or charge you a fee for the privilege.
- Pre-load your phone with non-removable applications
- Void your warranty if you opt to “root” your phone for added customization
- Block your ability to use “Google Voice” as your preferred voicemail client
You may be thinking that it would be a lot of money to shell out up front, however there are many reasonably priced phones that have very decent specs. These phones usually range in price from $179 (for the Motorola “moto G") to $400 (for the Motorola"Moto X" and the LG "Nexus 5"), however those are just a few options out of the many available today. By purchasing your own unlocked phone you can utilize tethering, be free of “bloatware”, and pay less overall for your device. You're paying full price for your phone regardless, so why overpay by essentially leasing it?
Second: Pick a prepaid wireless company. Prepaid companies are no longer the carriers that you once knew. Forget all the views that you may have held in the past, such as prepaid services are for people with bad credit or people who can't afford the “better” carriers. The truth is, prepaid companies are often owned by the bigger wireless companies and use the same towers thus making them an affordable and attractive alternative. These companies don't require a two-year contract, so you can cancel anytime, for any reason. Now is that freedom or what?
Currently, most of these carriers have similar deals, usually around 5gb for $50-60 a month. All offer unlimited calling and texting. All you need to do is research what company has the best service in your area, and go with the compatible prepaid service.
Third: Use Google Voice for your voicemail client. Although this may seem like an unnecessary step, it offers several advantages. When you use Google Voice, your voice mail doesn't have to change just because you switch to a different carrier, nor do you have to bother with the dreaded “call in” to get your messages. Simply open the app on your phone or tablet or even your laptop and listen to or even read a transcript of your messages, even forward the messages in the form of an email. You can also opt to port your phone number over to Google for a one time fee (currently $9.99). This way you will also be able to retain your number without the hassle of having to port it over to the next carrier. And the best part of Google Voicemail is, you guessed it, it's free!
So there you have it. Follow these few simple steps and you will live a life where the carrier no longer has the upper hand, a life where you call the shots! A life of mobile freedom!
