CELLULAR PHONE PLANS, RATES VARY BETWEEN NEEDS, FIRMS

Security plans, convenience plans, free nights and weekend plans, mobile plans and business plans.

Trying to decide which wireless communications plans best fit your needs can seem overwhelming because there are so many plans, rates and features available for cellular users.

The best way to decide, according to those who sell those plans locally, is to visit cellular dealers to see what's available and what's best for your own needs.

The first thing to decide is which of the three types of cellular phones available will best meet your needs, said Don Hinkebein, operations manager at JCS/Tel-Link, an authorized dealer for Ameritech Cellular.

Portable handheld phones are the most popular, accounting for about 80 percent of new activations, he said. These are small, self-contained phones with rechargeable batteries. The advantage of this type of phone is its convenience, because it can fit in a shirt pocket or purse.

The disadvantage is that with just six-tenths of a watt of power, this type of phone might have trouble sending and receiving calls in marginal coverage areas, said Renee Tlapek, regional market manager for Southwestern Bell Wireless for Southeast Missouri.

Transportable or bag phones can be plugged into a car but aren't hardwired there so can be moved from car to car, Hinkebein said. They are not as portable as handheld phones, but they have three watts of power for greater coverage. They also have the option for hands-free operation.

Installed phones are hardwired into automobiles. They offer three watts of power, hands-free option and are ergonomically designed for car use, but they have no portability, Hinkebein said.

Once you pick the phone you want, it's time to pick the plan, which Hinkebein said can range from around $10 a month to $150 a month, depending on your needs and the number of minutes you use your phone.

Hinkebein and Tlapek said representatives at cellular dealers are trained to ask questions to narrow down the plan options. Some typical questions they ask are:

How do you envision using the phone? Some people will only use the phone for calling for help if they have car trouble, Hinkebein said. Others may depend on their phones for business, using it while traveling, during the day, for local and long distance calls.

If you will be using the phone on the road, where will you be traveling? Some plans may have a larger monthly fee but they don't have roaming charges, which can get expensive, Hinkebein said. Theses would make sense for someone who travels a great deal, but not for someone only using the phone locally.

Where will you be calling to? Some plans are more advantageous to those who make a lot of long distance calls, Hinkebein said.

While people should be careful in choosing the plan that's the right type and price for their needs, Tlapek said they can always change the plan if they change the way or amount of time they use their cell phones.

"It often happens that customers use their phones more than they think they will," Hinkebein said.

For those who use their phones a lot, Hinkebein suggests having their plan re-evaluated every quarter to take advantage of new offers and make sure they are getting the best deal.