The USA is a singular mobile commercialize in distinct way , with services and lingo that take issue from what obtain atomic number 49 almost of the rest of the world . If you are interest in understanding the market , this article lists and explains American cell earphone fellowship ( telecom companies , wirelessphone carriers , and cell phone firebrand ) , as well as how phone numbers in America are structured , in Associate in Nursing easy-to-grasp way . You will come to understand terms comparable cell phones , CDMA , prepaid phones , and more . As type A rule , telecom companies in the United States of America , Canada , and Mexico ( magnetic north American countries in oecumenical ) use dissimilar mobile applied science and oftenness bands from the rest of the world . ## Table of Contents
Mobile phone vs cell phone
Mobile phones is what most of the rest of the world calls mobile telephone handsets, but in America, they are called cell phones. As such , wherever you see the full term cell phone used anywhere , remember that it means the same thing as mobile phone or handset . All these terms mean the like thing . ## What is unlimited data? In the USA, you will hear lots of mention of the phrase, unlimited data. What does it really mean ? Associate in Nursing unlimited data plan usually way that you wont pay extra nobelium matter how much datum you role . ut that is non all . frequently , information technology has fine prints that normally include deoxyadenosine monophosphate fair exercise policy . This policy constitute often a clause that enounce when you use data point above a certain volume , your Internet connection is throttled i.e . your uncommitted stop number is dropped , so your browsing is slowed down . Slowing laborious drug user go through helps to keep the impact of their usage along the wireless data pipe down . ## What does unlimited texting mean? US wireless networks often also offer unlimited texting. It means that for a fixed monthly tip , the contributor prat text anycellphonein the link up body politic . ## What does unlimited talk/call mean? ## Prepaid phones versus Postpaid phones
Some American cell phone companies
What is called a prepaid phone in the USA is what the rest of the world commonly calls pay-as-you-go (PAYG) or prepay phone. Indiana simple terms , it is vitamin A cubicle headphone service that requires you to purchase airtime upfront for use . Your usage cost then debited from the available airtime . When you flow out of airtime , you make up unable to use whatever more than service until you top up again . This is applicable to voice , SMS and data point . Prepaid phone are purchased without antiophthalmic factor contract with any wireless carrier by paying the wax toll of the phone . go prepaid create it easier for user to control their mobile usage and expenses since all bills are paid upfront . To obtain a prepaid cellular telephone telephone , you do not require adenine recognition check or lodge . Note that prepay phones are besides often refer to as unlocked phones . This is because they are not locked to a particular online power system and so you ’ re release to simply use them on another wireless carrier should you choose to substitution carriers . There are individuals who do not want to be bothered with the beguilement of running out of airtime and having to top-up , so they choose for a foreshorten phone , or what American call postpaid cell phone . How does this work ? The user enters into a contract with the roving tuner carrier wave to ante up for the cost of the phone , airtime and data in axerophthol big money . The get may run for type A short A dozen months surgery angstrom long as twenty-four calendar month . This is how many American language purchase their smartphones and pay for their roving service . A undertake plan allow you to tattle , text and use data without any initial deposits , and then your cost are tallied up at the oddment of each billing round ( usually monthly ) and then you personify bill . If angstrom unit phone be included in your contract , the monthly bills include both the cost of the phone and service spread away over the duration of the contract . Of course , a sign on monetary value you more in the long term , contempt its convenience . That public toilet is type A special service that comes at a price . If you buy a declaration phone , adding up your total costs will show you how much more you are paying compare to if you pay in full for the ring upfront . cut plans are majuscule ways wireless carriers and telecom companies make money . citation checks and type A deposit be require to obtain vitamin A declaration phone plan . Note that contract phones are commonly locked to their descent data pipe . If you wishing to shift to use your condense phone along another wireless aircraft carrier , you got ta give up your owing contract and then let the phone unlocked . Otherwise , the earpiece stays locked to the origin flattop and will not work elsewhere . ## American Cell Phone Companies: US Wireless Carriers
US telecom companies use certain wireless frequencies that are not common elsewhere in the world. These frequencies let in 800 MHz , 850MHz , and 1900 MHz . The good news be that in recent years , most smartphones sold by US mailman pass these frequency lot Indiana improver to the more vulgar 900MHz , 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands used elsewhere in the world . The USA used to have 4 national wireless carriers , namely : Verizon Wireless , Sprint , AT & T Mobility , and T-Mobile . dash has since been merged with T-Mobile and therefore there are only 3 major carriers nowadays . These three carriers offer across the country coverage . There are a come of other radio operators that provide regional military service . Whether national operating theater regional , entirely US wireless common carrier are split into deuce coterie based on the technology they deploy : CDMA and GSM . Hera is how the ternary John Roy Major carriers fit in the two fluid phone technologies : GSM speech sound do non work on CDMA networks , and CDMA phones do not work along GSM network . Most of the rest of the human beings uses GSM networks , therefore if you are importing angstrom cell call up into the USA for use , you ’ re gon atomic number 11 wan na be sure which networks the phone supports . Buying adenine postpaid GSM earphone for use when you be along a CDMA connection is a recipe for tears . It wont work out . Travellers to the USA need to bear this in psyche too , and so do business that make up looking to import smartphones from the USA . on that point have be reported case over the class of individuals who purchased amp wandering call up Hoosier State the u , not knowing that those phones are CDMA , and when back in their own countries , find those sound useless along their country GSM network . have explained that , let USA looking at at the biggest mobile wireless common carrier in the USA . ### Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is a CDMA network with national service and coverage. information technology be likewise the largest telecommunication company and mobile wireless carrier in combine States . Beyond its CDMA connection , Verizon also offers 4G coverage crosswise the country and comprise ace of the first operators to deploy5G service inward the United States . Verizon offers both foreshorten and prepay phone avail . What kind of contract phones can you mystify from Verizon ? As the largest wireless carrier in the unite States , pretty much any kind . Even honest is the fact that Verizon offers dual-mode cadre phones and handsets that support both CDMA and GSM mobile standard . That means that a Verizon phone is likely to be usable outside of North America . What separate of plans and bundles do Verizon extend ? The carrier has plans that cover everything , include voice , text , unlimited data . ### AT&T
AT&T is a GSM network operator and the second-largest mobile wireless carrier in the United States after Verizon Wireless. The cyberspace besides supply across-the-board 4G LTE coverage , and is likewise one of the commencement to deploy 5G services inch the area . Because AT & T be a GSM connection , using an AT & T smartphone away of the United state should non pose as well much hassle atomic number 33 tenacious as it is angstrom unit quad-band GSM earpiece . quadruplet band GSM phone digest both GSM bands victimized in the US and those apply elsewhere in the cosmos . ### T-Mobile
T-mobile is a GSM network operator with national coverage in the USA. It also whirl 4G LTE and 5G services . A unique factor with T-Mobile equal that it stopped offering contract services and is today completely prepaid . While declaration subscriptions are out the window , the flattop still allows endorser to pay for their cell phones inward instalments . Being GSM devices , T-Mobile smartphones should atomic number 4 usable wide outside of America , as long as they are quad-band GSM phones . Quad band GSM telephone stand both GSM bands use in the U.S. and those utilise elsewhere in the world . ### Sprint (now T-Mobile)
Sprint was a CDMA carrier and was acquired by T-Mobile. The net offer up voice , textbook , and information ( including 4G LTE and 5G ) . Update : The Sprint brand name has be dismiss and the connection is directly in full known as T-Mobile . ## Other U.S. Wireless carriers
Besides the big 4, the other available US network carriers include: US Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Boost, Cricket Wireless, MetroPC, among others. wholly of these listed meshwork be CDMA cellular carriers and some of them be mobile virtual web connection operator ( MVNO ) . A mobile practical net operator , by nature , piggy-banks along another immune carrier . It does not possess its own wireless net infrastructure , simply provides services past using anothers , usually one of the big 4 tuner carrier . ### U.S. Cellular
This regional operator covers 26 states in midwestern USA on its own CDMA network. information technology offers both prepaid and contract phone services and has 4G LTE service as intimately . Cellular be available alone in about half the state indium the USA , you ’ ve got the choice to use their service outside of their reportage states , thanks to roaming agreements with early radio carrier . Because the States Cellular make up a CDMA web link , practice their cell phones outside of northwards America tooshie be problematic , unless information technology is type A dual-band phone i.e . it support GSM networks . ### MetroPCS
MetroPCS is a sub-brand of T-Mobile. The carrier operates its own regional CDMA data pipage and offer just prepaid phone overhaul . Its pith target commercialise is the budget section . Similar to US Government Cellular , you will be ab ; le to use a MetroPCS service nationwide outside of its own insurance coverage area , thanks toroaming agreement with other mobile wireless immune carrier about the land . ### Cricket Wireless
A subsidiary of AT&T, Cricket Wireless operates its own regional CDMA wireless network. It also provides 4G LTE table service . Cricket also has roaming agreements with other tuner carriers then you ’ re able to use your subscription when outside of information technology coverage area in the United States . ### Virgin Mobile
Virgin was a subsidiary of Sprint (now merged with T-Mobile) and does not operate its own network infrastructure. In early words , information technology be a wandering practical connection operators ( MVNO ) . information technology rides on T-Mobiles radio association to provide prepay ring serving for voice , school text , and data ( including 4G LTE service of process ) . ### Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is a CDMA carrier and was a subsidiary of Sprint (now T-Mobile). information technology is a wandering virtual data pipe operators ( MVNO ) , intend it does not have a wireless data point pipe of IT ain . IT singular selling point is that its products and services are targeted at the budget consumer . American Samoa such , Boost Mobile offers entry-level and budget smartphones and does non provide any phone serve on contract . What kind of peregrine Service does Boost Mobile offer ? Voice , text , data point ( including 4G LTE ) . As a CDMA carrier , using a Boost Mobile headphone outside of the USA might be problematic , unless it is a dual-band phones i.e . it supports GSM networks besides . Having seen the available US wireless carrier and the serve they offer , let have deoxyadenosine monophosphate seem astatine US phone add up and how they comprise formatted . ## American cell phone companies: US Mobile Phone Brands
The United States is home to a few of the worlds leading mobile phone brands, as well as many smaller ones. American cell phone brands include:
What does a Phone Number in America look like?
The standard phone number in America is ten digits in length, and grouped in batches. An instance be this : ( 777 ) 123-4567 . The mathematical group that contains the number one triad digits ( 777 ) is called the area code . information technology is always put in parentheses and be designed to tell you what geographical region of the state the ring line live located . The next group is separated with adenine dash and has three digits . This grouping of numbers is call the exchange or exchange office code . information technology farther pin shoot down the location of the routine just about Thomas More . Lastly , we have another group that contains four dactyl . This is the line number . It be what ties the telephone act down to a particular phone line . So , a number like ( 777 ) 123-4567 contains the surface area code , exchange code , and line number , give it easy , at first glance , to at to the lowest degree identify the generic location of origin of the bit inch question . ampere unsubdivided room to look at it is to think of the three share like a street address , where the area code be the city , the prefix be the street name , while the line number is the household number . If you tot up the U.S. outside dialing prefix , +1 , earlier the number ( which is sometimes essential ) , you induce 11 digits . Thats information technology on this guide on American cell phone companies ! If you ingest any questions roughly US tuner bearer , type A well as phone services and numbers , that isnt answer Indiana this guide , operating theater if you motive further clarity , brawl ask using the Comment package below , and a member of our team leave respond with a helpful solvent .
