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

Shop for a provider

Big national companies tend to offer better coverage and more service options; smaller, regional, or local companies tend to charge less. Call around, and go online if you like, to compare providers and plans.

Here are some things you should look for in any provider:

Reputation. Does the provider have a good reputation among its users for coverage, customer service, technical support, and uptime? Ask your pager-using friends for their picks and pans, and don't hesitate to raise these issues with your salesperson.

Reliability. Is the paging company a stable entity or a fly-by-night operation? If you'll be paying your contract up front, you need to know whether the company will still exist 6 months or a year from now. Proceed with caution if a provider is new, seems to focus on recruiting new users (through too-good-to-be-true promotions), and has a temporary-looking or ill-stocked storefront, or no store at all.

Quality of equipment. It's likely you'll be buying or leasing your pager from your provider. Pagers are configured to work only for the service provider who carries them, and it can be prohibitively expensive to "recrystal," or reconfigure, your existing pager if you switch providers.

That said, do your prospective providers offer high-end, reliable pagers, or Brand X? Ask to see the warranty agreement on the pager itself. This is usually granted through the pager manufacturer, not the provider, but the provider should be able to show you the standard warranty on any pager it offers.

Flexibility. How easy is it to change your service if some aspects of your plan don't suit you, and how much will changes cost? Will the pager company offer you incentives if you need to upgrade or change your equipment?

Price. See Step 6 for a summary of what you can be charged for.