Wireless Companies and Providers

Wireless companies can provide customers with many mobile electric services, including cell phone service, personal communication services (PCS) and Internet service. In addition, wireless companies can provide you with wireless devices, including cell phones, PDAs and more.

If you're looking for a wireless company to provide you with service for your cellular phone, you'll want to research several of the top providers before making a decision or signing a contract. Here, we offer a breakdown of some of the most well-known and popular wireless companies.

Top Wireless Companies

Here's a rundown of the top wireless companies and the services they offer their cellular phone customers:

• Cingular/AT&T: Cingular is owned by AT&T and was selected in a recent survey as America's best wireless phone company. Cingular sells exclusive phones such as the SYNC, the Samsung BlackJack and even the iPhone. It also offers customers plans that feature rollover minutes, unlimited calling and cutting-edge technology for fast access to music, streaming video and the Internet. Also, the company offers customers excellent reception.
• Firefly Mobile: Are you looking for a wireless company to provide cellular service to your child? If so, Firefly might be the provider for you.The Firefly mobile phone is designed with children in mind. The phones have only a few buttons and allow children to call only certain numbers. The company's plans allow you to purchase a specified number of minutes per month ($25 and up) or set up a monthly subscription service ($9.99 and up). Those with children who want to save money on a family plan may want to consider Firefly, but family plans are also available from other cell phone providers.
• Sprint/Nextel: Sprint guarantees to have the "most powerful network" and offers customers some of the best indoor voice and data coverage. Sprint works with Nextel to offer many services, including:
  • global positioning
  • picture mail
  • Sprint TV
  • streaming music
  • walkie-talkie.
• T-Mobile: T-Mobile has been given exceptional ratings by its customers and professionals. One of its popular plans is the MyFaves plan, which allows customers to make unlimited calls to five people, no matter what phone provider they use. T-Mobile also has Internet and e-mail options.
• Verizon Wireless: Verizon has some of the best voice and data coverage available, and also has some very exclusive features, including:
  • games
  • mobile Web and e-mail
  • music with V CAST tracks
  • ringtones and ringback tones
  • video clips with V CAST Mobile TV.
• U.S. Cellular: U.S. Cellular is another one of the more popular wireless companies. The company offers many features, including:
  • BlackBerry Wireless Solution plan
  • family plans
  • instant messaging
  • picture messaging
  • three-way calling
  • unlimited night and weekend minutes
  • voice mail
  • wireless phone insurance.

Wireless Internet Providers

Some of the above-mentioned wireless companies, like Verizon and Sprint, are also wireless Internet providers. Some wireless Internet providers offer not only wireless Internet, but cable television as well.

Generally, wireless Internet providers vary within your area. Most of them start with a basic Internet service for a desktop computer. From there, you can purchase a router so the wireless signal can be transmitted throughout your living area to wireless devices.