LA JOLLA, Calif.—Consumer cell phone service rates have fallen to about 10 cents per anytime minute over the past six months, according to a recent study by ARS Inc.
The study showed that overall per-minute fees for all plans decreased 13 percent from about 11.68 cents in August 2001 to 10.11 cents in March 2002. In addition, overall monthly prices have decreased 10 percent from $85.05 to $76.03 during the same time period.
The study also showed that national plans saw the largest decrease in pricing, with cost per anytime minute falling 22 percent and monthly service fees falling 10 percent. Regional service plans also decreased, with cost per anytime minute falling 20 percent and monthly service plans falling 4 percent.
In addition, ARS said it found that VoiceStream Wireless currently offers the cheapest service with respect to average cost per anytime minute at 8 cents, followed by Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless, who all offer service at 10 cents per anytime minute. AT&T Wireless and Nextel followed at 11 cents and 12 cents respectively. Of these six carriers, only AT&T Wireless did not lower its overall cost per anytime minute, while Cingular and Nextel offered the largest decreases (both were down 3 cents) in average cost per anytime minute.
