Experts say you should consider the following when looking for cell phone service.

Choose a service first, then choose a phone. Specific phones work with individual carriers' networks, so your choice of phones will be limited greatly by the plan you choose. In the end, experts say network functionality and customer service is a bigger issue than whether or not your phone has a speakerphone or fifty fancy ring tones.

Decide whether you want local, regional or national coverage. Although most carriers are now including long distance and roaming charges in their highest-profile plans, you can save some money if you will primarily be making and receiving calls within your area. Be sure to confirm whether roaming or long distance charges apply to your plan.

Slightly overestimate the number of minutes you need. Reviewers say it's better to have a cushion of minutes than to pay extra per-minute charges, which can quickly outpace the cost of an initially more expensive plan. If you already have a phone, you'll have a good idea how many minutes you'll need. Keep in mind that you will be using up your minutes both on outgoing and incoming calls.

Check the coverage area. Carriers have coverage maps on their Web sites. Especially if you live in a more rural area, check for network coverage. Some carriers are better distributed than others in states such as Wyoming or West Virginia. That may further limit your choice of carrier.

Consider a prepaid plan. If you only want a phone for emergencies, or if you want to spend less than the $30 or $35 base price for a cell plan, a prepaid card is a good option.

Ask around. Do your own informal poll of people in your area. Those who live and work in your neighborhood can tell you how frequently they experience outages, busy networks or dropped calls.