Considerations for Personal Use

Choosing the Right Area Code

Purchasing a mobile phone with a permanent/home area code could make the mobile phone number a long distance call for anybody located on campus. For those who wish to use their mobile phones to communicate mostly on-campus or in surrounding areas, request a Chicago or Evanston area code from your chosen service provider.

Some companies allow customers to place several phones on the same bill and designate separate area codes for each one. Parents can buy a phone for their use as well as a phone for their student to use at school.

Note: Students will need to provide a school address so carriers can match them with the proper service area.

Coverage Considerations

To identify the most appropriate coverage area, consider how and where mobile phones will be used. Most carriers offer several options.

• A national plan, standard for most carriers, allows you to call between any U.S. locations for the same per-minute price. This eliminates the hassles associated with roaming and long distance fees. Some carriers offer deals allowing customers who have similar plans to call each other without using their minutes.
• Purchase an international plan to make calls around the globe and stay in touch with friends and relatives outside the U.S. If you know where you are likely to travel, check to see whether GSM or CDMA would better suit your needs. GSM is more widely used in Europe, and CDMA is most common in North America and parts of Asia.

Mobile phones come with a variety of features, such as voice mail, text messaging, and caller ID, to help make communication easier. Visit the Mobile Phone Features and Manufacturers page for more information.