Once the tool of power brokers, cellphones now adorn the pockets of men, women, and teens on the go. Plenty of companies, service plans, and phones vie for your attention. The intense competition can work in your favor. Today Cat offers a few tips to help you pick a plan that's right for you.

Getting started
Pick a cellphone plan to fit your needs. Don't buy a phone because it's free or loaded with options you probably won't use. It's your job to be an educated consumer. Know what you want before you set foot in a store.

"With cellphones, as with cars, you have to do the research up front," says Ken McEldowney, a consumer advocate with Consumer Action. "You have to know exactly what you want before you go into the store so you get that plan and not the plan the sales person wants you to have."

Before you begin your search, answer three simple questions:

1. How many minutes per month will you be using your phone?
2. How much time will you spend talking long distance or traveling?
3. Will you be talking in urban areas, rural areas, or both?

Compare service plans in your area
Ask your family, friends, and neighbors for opinions and recommendations. They'll give you the real scoop about coverage, hidden fees, and customer service. Then head to the Web.

Type your ZIP code into the search box at WirelessAdvisor.com to get an up-to-date list of service plans available in your neck of the woods. From "A Carrier" to "Wi-Fi," the handy alphabetical glossary will help you sort through the jargon that companies use to cinch a cellphone deal. Garner opinions about each service from other customers at the Discussion Forum.

Now go to LetsTalk.com. Compare prices just as you would at WirelessAdvisor.com. LetsTalk.com also offers its own exclusive deals in conjunction with many major cellphone operators. Select a carrier from the drop-down box to see what each carrier has to offer.

Visit the Hot Deals! section to get current information about national and regional promotions. But before you factor a rebate, refund, or discount into the cost of your service plan, read the fine print. Make sure you qualify for the deal. Expect to wait several months for a rebate to arrive in your mailbox.

Choose a phone
Where do you plan to use the phone? Determine if you need a phone with both analog and digital coverage. Digital is the way to go if you will use your phone only in urban areas. If you plan on using your phone in rural locales, you'll need either a phone with dual analog and digital capabilities or an analog phone. The phones with dual signals are more versatile.

Each company sells phone models compatible with its own service plan. Although the average cellphone user probably doesn't need a phone with tons of bells and whistles, gadget gurus will want a phone with more features and games.

Once you choose a service, compare phone specs side-by-side. Select the brands available in the plan and hit Compare.

You can personalize even low-end phones. Click here to learn how to install custom ringtones.

Contracts
First-time buyers or buyers who won't use their phones often may want to consider prepaid plans.

"[Prepaid plans] are for people who want the phone for emergencies or want the phone for a limited number of calls," McEldowney says. "They really don't want to sign up for expensive monthly plans because they don't think they'll be using the phone that much."

If you decide to go with a program with monthly rates, look at the contract carefully. Cellphone companies make the majority of their money from long distance and roaming charges. If you do a lot of traveling, a plan that offers free long distance and roaming but charges a higher monthly fee may save you money in the long run.

It's usually a bad idea to sign long-term service contracts. You never know when a better offer will come along. Plan to re-evaluate your service plan every six to 12 months. It makes more sense to keep your phone through a short-term contract than to pay a steep cancellation fee if you're unhappy. This strategy gives you the freedom to shop around, testing different plans while you develop your cellphone savvy.