Cellular Telephone - Purchasing Procedures Telecommunication Services 7000 Fannin, Suite 1115 Houston, Texas 77030

The following has been prepared to assist you in completing the purchase of a cellular telephone. Important links to required documents/forms are located near the end of this page.  Please read all of the instructions carefully.

In today's market cellular technology and features change faster than Personal Computers so competition is heating up, making the decision of which provider to contract with increasingly difficult.

Shop for a Service Plan that Fits Your Intended Use:  There's a wide variety of plans, some not available in certain contracts.  When contacting cellular providers, ask about current “specials” and the features that “special” includes. Specials are not for everyone.  Features, contract terms, coverage and sound quality are all important.  Question how “roaming” works.  It is essential that you know how this feature operates for travel outside of a provider’s normal coverage area, as well as any fees associated with roaming.  Inquire what other services are provided after the sale (i.e. semi-annual tune up of telephone).  Your pattern of use will tend to dictate the service plan that’s right for you.  Familiarize yourself with:

Contract terms: Be aware of the contract terms.  What are the recurring monthly charges and the per minute charges?  You will need to know these to estimate typical usage.  Are there early cancellation fees if you should end the contract mid term?  Typically, there are three categories of users:

• Safety Buyers - Request the least expensive recurring fee with a higher per minute rate.
• Heavy Users - A higher recurring fee will enable you to get the lowest possible per minute rates.
• Leisure Users - Search for service plans that offer free week-end airtime.

The Equipment:  Picking the right phone is strictly a matter of personal taste.  Many providers will give you a phone, however it may not be the phone of preference.  Phones vary from the smallest portable weighing only a few ounces to a permanently installed car phone.  The cost of a phone can range from free to over $1,000.00.  Remember, no equipment purchases may be charged to the corporate account.  You may use a Procurement Card or pay out of pocket and your department may reimburse you at their discretion.

Accessories:  There are usually additional charges for accessories.  Some accessories you may want to consider include:  Modems - To facilitate laptop connection. Internet access devices.  Mounts and mounting equipment.  Batteries - They come in all sizes and styles: Nickel cadmium, Nickel metal hydride, Lithium ion.  To determine which battery is right for your use, consider the talk time and stand-by time.  Others accessories include battery eliminator, car kits for in car charging, hands-free, 3 watt booster, cigarette lighter adapters.

To place a new cellular phone on the University Corporate account or to transfer an existing personal account to the University Corporate account please refer to the following link:

Should you have any questions regarding this information or anything else related to the acquisition of a cellular telephone, please contact Trish Moore in Telecommunication Services at 713 500-2261.
 

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