Question

Why is it beneficial to buyers to have more than one major cell phone carrier?

Answer 1

As we write this tip sheet, the government just approved the merger of Sprint and T-Mobile, which are two of the four biggest cell phone carriers. If Sprint and T-Mobile complete the merger, there will be three major carriers—AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile (which is what the combined Sprint and T-Mobile will be called). These carriers provide the best coverage and are the main players in the industry. Their coverage and plans differ from each other, so you’ll want to do some research to see which one provides the best coverage in your area, and which one offers the data plans that best meet your needs. But these are not the only options. There are other, smaller carriers that may provide coverage in your area, and offer plans that cost a lot less than the plans offered by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. How do you find these other carriers? Try Googling for information on carriers and plans from reputable sources like Consumer Reports. Here’s a link to a 2019 Consumer Reports guide to low-cost cell-phone plans. Consumer Reports updates this information yearly. You can also get good information about plans from Whistle Out