2torial #0639:
Learn2 Choose a Pager (continued)

Calculate how much you'll use it

Most of the time, pager service plans extend over a period of a few months to a year. They usually include a certain number of pages per month, measured either in terms of actual pages or blocks of characters (or both). Once you exceed that amount, you're charged for additional usage.

While pager overcharges don't tend to add up as alarmingly as those for wireless phones, it's still a good idea to estimate the number of pages you expect to receive in a month (and their length, if you want text messaging). Service providers usually offer several plans, with varying numbers of messages permitted. Ask if you're allowed to switch plans or add messages: If so, and the price to change is low, start out with a conservative number of pages.

Prepaid pages. Some companies offer prepaid blocks of pages or characters that are usable over a period of several months. If you haven't used a pager before and really have no idea what your use patterns will be, this more flexible option may help you get your feet wet--but per-page costs are considerably higher. If you choose this method, make sure the provider has contract plans, too, so you can switch later if you want to.