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Student Comparison/Contrast Essay #1 |
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Student Comparison/Contrast Essay #1 |
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With the growing age of technology, it is hard to go somewhere without seeing someone on their cell phone. With all the new cell phones, there is also an increased development of cell phone companies. Cell phone giants all promise the same thing: They will be reasonably cheap, have great service, provide the best phones, and will be very flexible. Today, you will see a match up between Alltel and U.S. Cellular as they go head-to-head in a battle of the companies.
With the declining economy, cost is becoming a bigger issue for everyone. As both companies proudly state, they have the best deals for you and will work to fit your every need. As many promises made by companies, these do not hold up. Alltel’s MyCircle plan is not all its cracked up to be. In fact, if you dig beyond the great promise of “Unlimited Calling to any 5, 10, or 20 numbers,” you will see that they are really saying that you can pick up to 20 people from a network other than Alltel and talk to them unlimitedly. So, if you have more than 20 people in different networks, you get to pay to talk to them. Alltel also charges you every time you receive a text message, as though you can control that. U.S. Cellular, on the other hand, offers unlimited calling to anyone who has a cell phone. They also offer unlimited minutes on nights and weekends. So, if your friend doesn’t have a cell phone, you have to wait until the night or weekend to call them. You also will never get charged if someone calls or texts you, only if you call or text them.
Cell phone giants also promise you that wherever you go, you will have service. Alltel customers are known to complain about their cell phones not having service at random times during the night. U.S. Cellular customers have also been known to have their service randomly not work. Clients from both companies say that they don’t have service everywhere. They have found that in some places their phones will not work. U.S. Cellular customers have found their phones telling them they are roaming or have little service while in their own homes. The service on both of the companies is fair but not all they promise.
Everyone today is more on-the-go than usual. They want more stuff accessible to them immediately. The best way to do that is to put it all on a phone so they can just grab their phone and go. Alltel tends to have the newest phones available to you very fast. They usually have them at a fairly decent price, and they are some of the first to advertise that phone. U.S. Cellular generally has the same phone available to you a week or more after Alltel. Their phones also tend to be more expensive and with more expensive things you can include in the package (such as non-optional internet for a Blackberry for $10 a month.) Alltel’s phones usually last longer and have a low tendency to break down, whereas U.S. Cellular phones break easily.
The best part of a company is knowing that it will be there to help you when you need it. Alltel has a tendency to make deals to help suit your needs such as changing the amount of people you can have in your circle. U.S. Cellular responded to that by getting a family unlimited texting plan. Both companies seem very flexible. U.S. Cellular is a little more flexible by allowing most people to sign up with them. Alltel turns some people away because they are in a bad economic situation. U.S. Cellular will also let you end your plan and get a new phone if your old one breaks close to the expiration of the your contract.
Alltel and U.S. Cellular have been going back and forth trying to keep up with the overwhelming surge of technology. They are well matched up, but the tallies are in. U.S. Cellular won the battle in cost and flexibility. Alltel won with phones. They tied in service. It seems as though US Cellular is the winner this time. After a few updates, Alltel could easily take the lead. That is the end of today’s matchup. You can now go enjoy your cell phone and maybe consider whether or not you are getting the best deal from your company.