Google Voice is a free service with great promise for penny-pinchers.

When you sign up for the service, you get a new phone number. That new number rings simultaneously on as many of your existing numbers as you want.

(Editor's note: This service is being rationed out slowly, with groups of new users added from time to time. That's why Clark encourages you to sign up today.)

Google Voice also transcribes voicemails and converts them into text messages. Other features include free call forwarding and conference calling.

But FierceWireless.com recently reported on something that didn't occur to Clark.

Google Voice may allow you to stop paying big bucks for unlimited calling to a select group of "favorite" numbers. You'll be able to route your calls through Google Voice for nada, thereby freeing you up to cut your plan down to the lowest level for unlimited calling. See FierceWireless.com for more details.

Editors's note: This segment originally aired July 2009

David Pogue of The New York Times has unearthed a disturbing phantom fee on some Verizon Wireless bills.

It turns out certain simple keystrokes on Verizon phones will launch web applications that automatically ding your account for $1.99 a pop.

It is possible to have these keystroke features blocked, but a Verizon insider tells Pogue the company is doing what it can to prevent that.

"They have started training us reps that too many data blocks are being put on accounts now," the source wrote to Pogue. "They're actually making us take classes called Alternatives to Data Blocks."

These phony charges reportedly generate $300 million/month in alleged stolen revenue! Clark plans to call Verizon to question them about this and give a spokesperson a chance to come on the air and tell their side of the story.

It seems like every week there's a new price point being set in the telecommunications world.

There's an all-out war going on between the traditional Big 4 wireless carriers -- AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile -- and smaller Tier 2 operators such as Metro PCS, Cricket, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk and others.

The Big 4 have historically pushed expensive "bucket of minutes" business models with 24-month contracts. That's allowed the Tier 2 operators to carve out a market niche by offering cheaper unlimited calling plans with no contracts.

Which would you rather have?

The success of the smaller players is now actually forcing the Big 4 to come around with better deals for customers. That's the point of our new guide to cheap cell phone plans.

Clark wants to keep you updated with the best deals out there so you can have the cheapest possible cell phone bill in your life with the fewest strings attached.

Technology companies love to hook customers into contracts (euphemistically called "agreements") because they're scared of competition.

For example, both Clark and his executive producer Christa are Clear customers for high-speed Internet. Christa signed a contract, while Clark went the non-contract route.

Now Christa can't get a signal in the townhouse where she and her family are temporarily living. So she has to pay $5/month to suspend the service for an anticipated nine or 10 months while flood damage in her main residence is repaired.

Clark, meanwhile, is not getting a decent signal at his house. As a non-contract customer with Clear, all he had to do was cancel his service and go back to a cable or phone provider for high-speed Internet.

In related news, Verizon Wireless has raised its termination fee to $350. That's simply outrageous!

The key rule here is that when you sign up for any service -- cable, satellite, home phone -- you must find out if there's an "agreement." You may have to sort through 40 or more pages of legalese to find out like Clark recently did. Why can't we have a simple, one page plain English disclosure about this stuff?!

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: T-Mobile's Project Black marketing initiative will offer customers basic unlimited calling starting at $49/month. It's yet another nail in the coffin of the "bucket of minutes" model, where you pay for a set number of minutes each billing period.

Unlimited calling is the future of cell phone calling. If new stats that Clark recently saw are to be believed, more people are now signing up for unlimited non-contract plans than for contract plans that offer a bucket of minutes.

We're approaching the day when you'll buy a phone and then be able to bring it to any provider you want. No more being handcuffed to a 24-month contract in return for having your phone subsidized.

AT&T and Verizon will keep pushing contracts hard because they remain central to their business models. However, you as a customer want to be the a free agent and avoid contract plans so you can benefit from the savings to come.

In fact, the new issue of Forbes has a cover story titled The $10 Phone Bill. Metro PCS is being touted as one of the players that may drop your phone bill to this ridiculously low level in the next few years.

Already, it only costs Metro about $16/month to provide phone service for a customer and it's dropping as technology improves.

So, it all means you should be very wary of signing a contract with anybody. Be a free agent and benefit as the price points in the industry change.

AT&T has backed down on preventing customers from using Skype on its network.

There's still no deal on Google, however. AT&T remains under federal investigation for alleged dirty dealings because it won't allow people to use Google Voice on their network.

The use of Google Voice would allow customers to make calls using AT&T's data network, not its voice network. And that would blow up AT&T's standard "bucket of minutes" business model.

In five years, no one will understand those AT&T commercials about rollover. Rollover of minutes is an archaic, Neanderthal notion beloved by monopolies.

Interestingly, Verizon realized this sooner and went to open standards, which means their newest handsets have no restrictions on use. It was a smart move on their part.

Finally, Comcast is reportedly trying to buy a controlling interest in Hulu with an eye toward ending all free TV on the site. This case may require all-out action from citizens to raise a ruckus with elected officials and the FCC to counteract Comcast's alleged designs on Hulu's future.

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: Straight Talk service will be available nationally through Wal-Marts around the country beginning Oct. 18.

For those of you who haven't heard of Straight Talk, the wireless carrier offers plans starting at $30/month for 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts, plus an unlimited plan at $45/month.

It operates on the backbone of the Verizon network, though it is not branded by Verizon in any way.

One drawback of Straight Talk is that the phones are decidedly low-tech. You won't find any compatible smart phones for the network. Some people, however, are doing what's called "flashing" phones, where you take a fancy phone and tweak it to work on the Straight Talk network.

In another boon for cheap cellular service, we're beginning to hear word about something from T-Mobile called Project Black. This cryptically named market thrust will reportedly usher in much lower price points for unlimited service starting at $50/month. But for now, this is just a rumor until it goes public.

The key takeaway for you is that if you're trying to decide whether to sign a new contract with your provider, don't do it. We will have much lower price points around the country coming soon.

Remember, this is the time of year leading up to Christmas when important new pricing initiatives are rolled out. It's a great time to go re-shop your service. The best deals are generally from second-tier providers like Cricket, Metro PCS, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Straight Talk. All of them offer unlimited calling from $30 - $50 per month.

This is the future of cell phones. The "bucket of minutes" business model is going away.

Consumers have flexed their muscle on T-Mobile, effectively shutting down the wireless carrier's plan to charge a monthly fee of $1.50 to get a paper copy of their cell phone bill.

The T-Mobile proposal immediately resulted in threats of legal action upon announcement. The carrier encountered additional interference when the attorney general of New York said T-Mobile would have to negate all customer contracts in order to go through with their plan. Magically, the $1.50 fee proposal disappeared!

"We'll be taking more time to determine the fairest way possible to encourage people to go paperless," T-Mobile said in a statement. But wouldn't it be nice to hear, "Gee, we messed up. We're sorry" just once?!

How often in life do we allow a company to take advantage of us and we roll over and play dead? Well, here's a case of people voicing their unanimous anger and getting a bully to back down. Remember, you have the power if you choose to use it.

For years, there has been a debate about whether cell phones are dangerous. Much of it has centered on the question of whether or not the radiation they emit can cause brain tumors or other health problems.

Late GOP strategist Lee Atwater was one of the early adopters of cell phones. He was often photographed with a cell glued to his ear. When he died of a brain tumor at age 40, many started speculating about the long-term dangers of cellular technology.

What level of radiation does your cell phone emit? The Environmental Working Group has compiled a new list of radiation levels across a variety of phones.

Some phones like the Samsung Impression emit next to no radiation at all. But Clark's T-Mobile G1 emits 1.11 W/kg, according to the list. He's still within the "safe" range, which is capped at 1.6 W/kg.

Check out the list and make a smart choice when you give a cell phone to a child or young adult.

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: Still stuck with one of the Big 4 wireless carriers? AT&T and Sprint are making some new tweaks that may allow you to drop to a cheaper plan without losing touch with the people you call most often.

AT&T will introduce its "A List with Rollover" plan on Sept. 20, 2009. A List allows you unlimited free calling to the 5 numbers you call most -- regardless of whether they're AT&T customers or not. A minimum $59/month calling plan is required.

The ink wasn't dry on the AT&T plan when Sprint came out with its "Any Mobile, Anytime" plan. It offers unlimited calling to any cell phone on any network for $69/month. No need to designate "favorite" numbers or worry about which carrier your friends and family have.

Both the AT&T and the Sprint plans are clearly customer retention efforts. They're trying to preserve headcount without completing discounting to the $40-$50 range offered by Tier 2 providers like Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Straight Talk, Metro PCS and Cricket.

Most important of all, know that you must ask AT&T and Sprint for these plans if you're eligible. They probably won't tell you about them!

New developments in the banking world will make it possible to deposit a check via your smartphone. No more waiting in line at the branch or an ATM!

This service is being offered by USAA, a one-branch bank in Texas that serves military customers all over the world. It is among the 25 largest banks in the country.

Clark's brother is a retired naval officer living in Arizona who has been a USAA customer for decades. A few years ago, he started making his deposits by scanning checks into his computer and e-mailing his deposit, instead of doing it by traditional snail mail.

Once you've received credit for a check that's submitted in this way, you can either file it away or destroy it. Other banks have since followed USAA's lead and adopted similar systems.

Now USAA is experimenting with another groundbreaking deposit option for iPhone users. You can now take a picture and e-mail it in to deposit the money!

Clark loves these kinds of things. They're now possible because of the Check 21 law. Isn't it great to be able to live in one part of the country and use a bank or credit union in another part? This opens up competition to seek better rates or continue banking where you used to live if you wish.

It also opens up the possibility for a "branchless" bank, much like ING Direct.

It seems like every week there's a new price point being set in the telecommunications world. Clark recently told you about the GetPeek.com device for teens that also appealed to small business because it offered unlimited texting and e-mail for $16/month.

Now Kajeet has a September special where you can get unlimited texting and 150 voice minutes for $20/month. (Editor's note: This special is for the month of September 2009 only.)

Kajeet also allows parents to track the movement of their teens with a built-in locator for an additional $10/month.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile is offering 1,000 minutes and unlimited nights/weekends for $39/month in select areas. Check their website for availability.

Finally, Fierce Wireless reports that Verizon has been mistakenly billing some customers for inaccurate data charges of $1.99 listed as a broadband access charge. You must call to complain to have the money refunded. What's up with that?

Half of all children aged 12 and up now have a cell phone, according to global connectivity research outfit Yankee Group.

That means parents have to be especially wary of what are being termed "off deck" deals. That's where the cell phone provider partners with marketers who offer supposedly free ringtones, jokes of the day and other services.

A recent article in The New York Times reported one consumer had a child who responded for a free joke of the day that cost $20!

The cell providers split the money in half with the marketers. Cell providers particularly love those $9.99 add-a-phone offers for kids because the parent accepts responsibility for any charges that are incurred.

It's incumbent on you to teach your kids that they are not to respond to any "free" offers that are being pitched on the cell phone.

If you get hit with "off deck" charges, call up your cell phone company and tell them to remove the charge. Explain that you know they're in cahoots with the marketer.

Our own executive producer Christa got taken in one of these rip-offs. But it was Clark who gets the monthly bill for her cell phone! It took the consumer champ 3 months of bills and calls during each of those months before he finally got the cell phone company to behave.

In addition, be sure to read through your cell bill page by page. Don't get taken advantage of because of how confusing the bills can be.

Meanwhile, The New York Times also reports that some cell providers offer a $60/year service where they agree not to rip you off with all these "off deck" charges. Why should you have to pay a fee to prevent a company from ripping you off as a customer?! That's outrageous.

Google Voice is upsetting the business model of AT&T, Verizon and others by offering free everything!

This service is a real game-changer. Google Voice offers users a single number for their cell, home phone, office phone and more to ring on. Other features include free voicemail, call forwarding and conference calling.

It also offers free unlimited long distance calling in the continental United States and cheap calls overseas. This could be very beneficial for someone with a monopoly landline who has to pay for expensive long distance calls.

In addition, Google Voice has unlimited free text messaging. That means you don't need to pay for it from a cell phone provider. As you might imagine, texting is a massive profit center for the cell providers.

When it emerged that Google Voice was banned from the iPhone, Clark and many others immediately automatically blamed AT&T. Now a recently revealed filing from their contract with Apple proves that assumption correct.

While that's bad enough, what's really troubling is the net neutrality angle. What gives your cell phone carrier the right to be judge, jury and executioner and prevent you from accessing what you want online? And who says they'll stop at your cell phone? Imagine getting internet service through a monopoly company and being told you can't visit a website that they're blocking.

Zer01Mobile announced back in the spring that they would offer an extraordinary plan for wireless phone service. But new details that have emerged about the company suggest it's all too good to be true.

According to NetworkWorld.com, Zer01Mobile is worse than just vaporware; it may be an out-and-out fraud involving multi-level marketing. No word yet on if this allegation is true or not.

One of the company's key players has been in trouble with the law over securities fraud, has filed for bankruptcy and allegedly diverted money that he collected for investments to spend on jewelry.

Clark's advice is be very wary of this company until they prove they're an actual legitimate business. Where there's smoke, there may well be fire.

Meanwhile, in more positive news, people have been signing up for the $45/month unlimited calling and texting plan through StraightTalk.com like gangbusters. This is about a third of the price you'd pay with Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint or AT&T for similar service.

Straight Talk actually uses Verizon's network to place calls. So you can go with Verizon and pay $125/month for unlimited calling and texting or you can go with Straight Talk and use Verizon's infrastructure for $45/month. You do the math.

The biggest complaint about Straight Talk so far? A limited selection of phones.

If you don't need their unlimited plan, they also have a $30 monthly plan with 1,000 minutes and 1,000 text messages. That generous offer has prompted T-Mobile to respond with a similar $39/month offer in many markets.

Are you a talkaholic who wants to save money? Google Voice is a free service with great promise for penny-pinchers.

When you sign up for the service, you get a new phone number. That new number rings simultaneously on as many of your existing numbers as you want.

(Editor's note: This service is being rationed out slowly, with groups of new users added from time to time. That's why Clark encourages you to sign up today.)

Google Voice also transcribes voicemails and converts them into text messages. Other features include free call forwarding and conference calling.

But FierceWireless.com recently reported on something that didn't occur to Clark.

Google Voice may allow you to stop paying big bucks for unlimited calling to a select group of "favorite" numbers. You'll be able to route your calls through Google Voice for nada, thereby freeing you up to cut your plan down to the lowest level for unlimited calling. See FierceWireless.com for more details.

Last month, Clark told you about Straight Talk, a new company offering 1,000 minutes and 1,000 text messages for $30/month.

Now Straight Talk is offering unlimited calling and unlimited texting for $45/month! Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and AT&T all charge between $100-$145/month for their unlimited services.

Interestingly, Straight Talk actually uses Verizon's network to place calls. So you can go with Verizon and pay $125/month for unlimited calling and texting or you can go with Straight Talk and use Verizon's infrastructure for $45/month. You do the math.

However, one drawback with Straight Talk is that it won't support any smart phones.

In related news, Metro PCS customers can pay $5 extra for unlimited international calling.

If you're like most people, chances are you're overpaying for your cell phone service. So Clark has yet another idea to share if you're looking to trim that monthly bill.

Straight Talk offers a new cellular plan for $30/month. You get 1,000 minutes, 1,000 text messages and 30MB of data (web surfing) for that price. No bills. No overage charges. No activation fees.

Very few people use more than 1,000 minutes/month. The typical person clocks in at 790 minutes and pays an average monthly contract bill of $67, according to Nielsen Mobile studies of U.S. adults on individual cell phone contract plans.

What happens if you go over your limit with Straight Talk? They simply shut you off until next month, or you can start your billing cycle early.

Finally, they're owned by the same company that operates Net 10 and Tracfone.

Sometimes eating humble pie is painful but necessary.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson has now admitted that the company's network is not up to snuff with the rollout of all the iPhones. In addition, the honcho has pledged that AT&T will spend billions of dollars to get it together with increased speed and capacity.

This confirms the bevy of complaints Clark has gotten about any smart phone on the AT&T network. Too bad the company was stonewalling for this long.

Stephenson's public about-face likely has to do with the fact that Apple is rumored to be talking to Verizon about offering the iPhone. That would mean AT&T no longer has an exclusive on it.

That's got AT&T scared. So in addition to upping the speed and capacity of their network, AT&T is also set to roll out 4G (fourth generation) data networks much earlier than originally intended. Within 2 years, AT&T's 4G deployment will take place in one city as a trial. Once the bugs are worked out, it will then be rolled out city-by-city.

Looking into the future, the popularity of text, e-mail and IM will gallop past traditional cell calling. For example, Clark's 20 year old almost never talks on her cell; she just uses it to text and visit Facebook.

That shift in usage means that the "bucket of minutes" business model being pushed by T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and AT&T will go away, probably within 12 months.

The dam has burst: suddenly millions of people are dumping their monopoly-company land lines, and going cell-phone only. This is especially true for those under age 45. It's due to the economy: As people look for ways to trim bills, the land line seems the most redundant, and it's becoming one of the first things people choose to cut.

Monopoly phone companies know this. There have been allegations that they've been making it hard for you to port your land line number over to a cell or internet phone service. But the Feds have recently addressed this with a new sanction that requires them to port (transfer) your number over in one business day. Now, this doesn't include weekends -- so here's a tip: don't port your phone number over on a Friday, as you may find yourself without any phone service at all until the following Monday! Port your number early in the week.

Executive Producer Christa dumped her land line this week, which was tied to her DSL modem. She and her family are now cell-only, and chose to get their internet through Clear, a wireless high speed service that's now in the Atlanta area. She said it was fast and easy to make the switch. And bonus? Her download speed is faster than before. Clear is a new 4G Wi-max service that's newer and faster than Clearwire's previous service, but is only offered in some markets right now. You can check Clear.com to see if it's available in your area.

So is dumping your land line right for you? There are some issues to take into consideration when making your decision. Christa was warned by the phone company that 911 service is not always 100% reliable from cell phones. And if you have a home security monitoring, you'd need to switch to a wireless system.

Finally, try to avoid getting into any long-term bundle contracts with your phone company, as there are a lot of options coming just around the corner.

Clark and his wife were recently watching Coming to America on Bravo and he was struck by how much communication has changed in the world since the movie was released in 1988.

In one scene, Arsenio Hall goes to send a wire -- as in a telegram. When was the last time you heard of anyone doing that?! Later in the movie, another actor makes a call from Queens to Manhattan and it's billed at a long distance rate!

During the commercial breaks, Clark saw a few current spots that were just as outdated in their mentality as the movie was in it's portrayal of communications.

AT&T Wireless' commercial was about rollover minutes. An ad from Verizon Wireless, meanwhile, bragged about how you can call friends on their network and it won't count against your minutes.

Both companies are really lost in time. The idea of charging customers per minute to use a cell phone is antiquated. We're very rapidly moving to a world where all you'll be charged for is service such as voice and data.

Do you want to make a clean break from the dinosaurs of the cell phone world?

The consumer champ has frequently recommended no-contract cell phone carriers like Metro PCS and Cricket. He also likes some of the monthly pre-paid unlimited plans such as Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile.

In addition, for those who are still tethered to the major cell phone carriers, T-Mobile's loyalty plan may benefit those who have been customers for 22 months or longer.

Clark has been harshing on AT&T Wireless over a New York Times report that suggested recent changes to the company's terms of service (TOS) will block access to free TV sites like YouTube and Hulu.

Mark Siegel, Executive Director of Media Relations for AT&T Wireless, came on the show today to offer some clarification. Siegel says you can use your AT&T Wireless phone to go anywhere you want on the Internet; there are no restrictions.

There are, however, certain applications that clog bandwidth so they have been banned. These include Slingbox and other services that redirect a TV signal from its source to your wireless phone.

To summarize Siegel's position, this is a capacity issue, and it has nothing to do with AT&T Wireless' desire to violate net neutrality.

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: The second-tier operators in the cell phone industry are in an all-out price war that can directly benefit you.

These include a host of smaller companies all competing against the Big 4 cell carriers by offering great deals with no contracts.

The Big 4 -- AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile -- all have a business model that's based on cowardice. They've developed lousy, stinking, rotten 2-year contracts because they're afraid to compete in the marketplace.

But the scrappy players don't fear the marketplace. Now the latest salvo in the price war has been fired by a second-tier operator called Virgin Mobile.

Virgin Mobile is offering $49.99/month unlimited calling -- no roaming charges and no contract. If you want texting, you'll pay an additional $10/month for unlimited service. If you want high-speed Internet, you'll pay another $10/month for 50 megabytes.

This is a direct response to Boost Mobile with their unlimited $50 plan, which includes everything for one low rate -- even junk fees!

Other second-tier operators include Metro PCS and Cricket.

Compare the Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile plans alongside the offerings from the Big 4. A similar unlimited plan would be $135/month on AT&T or Verizon; $100 on Sprint; or around $115/month on T-Mobile.

Why would anyone want to pay that much money -- other than maybe an iPhone and Gphone user?

Even if you decide to stay with one of the Big 4, Clark recommends at least trying to re-shop your plan with your existing provider. You can often get substantial savings by making that simple tweak. And it generally won't extend your contract. Just double-check to make sure!

Clark is excited to report that he recently read Metro PCS increased its subscriber base by 50% over the past year. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Metro PCS is a no-contract cell phone carrier. All their plans range from $25-$50 and all offer unlimited calling.

The difference in price points is based on how many other features you want -- texting, web surfing, etc. But there are never any contracts or overages.

At a time when people are feeling pinched, companies like Metro PCS, Cricket and Boost Mobile -- all unlimited with no contracts -- are the future of telephoning in the United States.

So that begs the question: Why do you still have a home phone that you don't use that costs you $360 to $600 annually? Why are you with one of the Big 4 cell providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon) who give you a block of minutes and eat you alive if you go over those minutes?

For light cell phone users, there's always Net10.com. No roaming charges, no long distance charges, no monthly fees and a flat 10 cents per minute for calls.

You can see why Clark is pushing you to think outside the box. When your contract with the Big 4 is up, break out of your inertia and examine the alternatives before you sign another 2-year contract.

How would you like to have one device that combines the best features of a GPS, an MP3 player, a digital camera and a smart phone?

That's the scenario currently being enjoyed by 17 million iPhone users, but it comes at a hefty price. What about the rest of us who don't want to pay big bucks every month for the iPhone's AT&T data plan?

Thankfully, 2009 is poised to be the year of the smart phone as Swiss Army knife. They will have functions for just about everything you could want.

A recent Wall Street Journal article detailed what's in store, including the fact that GPS manufacturer Garmin is readying a new line of mobile phones for release later this year.

Elsewhere, Clark also read that Google is getting ready for the second generation of its Gphone.

What a concept. A device that's good for web surfing, e-mailing, as a music player, as a GPS and, by the way, it's a phone too! This will now be affordable for the rest of us non-iPhone users.

After recently harshing on Verizon Wireless over their privacy policy, Clark today heard a rebuttal from Steven Tugentman, the company's SVP/Deputy General Counsel.

Tugentman maintains that Verizon Wireless is not spying on its customers as Clark originally stated. The privacy policy recently sent to customers was done so under federal requirement. Its purpose was to let customers know that the company will share info within its Verizon family of businesses, but you can opt out.

Customer info is not being sold to 3rd parties, nor will the company just designate anyone as an affiliate and then share your info, according to Tugentman.

An example of how Verizon Wireless might use your info is by sharing it with Verizon FiOS for the purpose of pitching Wireless customers on a high-speed Internet bundle.

Clark also discussed the issue of smart phones and triangulation with Tugentman. The consumer champ voiced his reservations that triangulation would allow Verizon to compile dossiers on customer locations.

Tugentman explained that triangulation will only be used to locate a customer for emergency purposes. Other Verizon location-based services -- such as where you can use your GPS to find a restaurant -- require a customer opt in.

Google is beta-testing a new free service called Google Voice that builds on their existing GrandCentral technology.

Google Voice offers one number for all your calls. That means you have one number that rings from all your lines -- no need to give out a home number, an office number, a cell number etc.

In addition, Google Voice offers free calling, voicemail, conferencing and more. There are no monthly fees, no minimums and no sign-up fees. As always, this service is likely to be monetized with ads going forward.

With the voicemail feature, you're also able to listen in as voicemails are being left and pick up in the middle of the call -- just like you would with an answering machine. You can also have voicemails automatically converted into a text message.

But the real market disrupter here is the free conference calling. Companies pay big money for this, and here Google Voice has it for nada!

The service is currently only available to existing GrandCentral customers, but you can also sign up to be notified when Google Voice is fully launched.

Are you a customer of Verizon Wireless, the nation's largest cellular company? If so, heed this special warning…

Verizon Wireless' new privacy policy actually allows them to sell info about your location; who you talk to; how long you talk to them; what websites you log onto when using a smart phone and on and on.

But you don't have to take it. You can opt out online by following these instructions or simply by calling 1-800-333-9956. (Editor's note: Users have reported intermittent problems accessing this link.)

Clark recently went crazy when there was a move to tax motorists based on when they drove; where they drove; and how far. He was upset over the potential invasion of privacy that would result from government snooping around on you to collect taxes.

And you know what? A private industry like Verizon Wireless doing it doesn't make it any better!

There's a fare war going on, but it's not with the airlines. It's with the cell phone carriers!

It all started with Sprint's discount division called Boost Mobile. Boost Mobile offered an unlimited talk/text/web plan for $50/month -- and that includes most of the taxes and junk fees.

The impact on competitors was immediate. Industry reports have suggested that T-Mobile suffered the most defections to Boost Mobile. So T-Mobile has now introduced a loyalty plan to counteract its competitor's pull.

If you've been with T-Mobile for at least 22 months, you're eligible to switch to their all-new $50/month unlimited talk plan. T-Mobile's system supports a lot of great handsets that Clark thinks will appeal to consumers more than Boost Mobile's antiquated hardware. However, T-Mobile charges an additional $20/month for texting and web access vs. Boost Mobile's all-inclusive $50/month deal.

If you're eligible for the T-Mobile loyalty plan, you should see the offer when you log in to your account online. If you don't see it, go to a store and tell them you want to convert.

Verizon and AT&T both have yet to match the $50/month unlimited offers, but Clark thinks loyalty plans should be used industry-wide.

Are you overpaying for your cell phone service? Carriers love to lock customers in contracts because then you're obligated to a much more expensive plan than you typically need.

There are a variety of non-contract plans out in the marketplace that can be a real benefit to consumers.

If you use less than 300 minutes/month, you'd probably do much better with a pre-paid plan where you buy minutes as you need them. Net10.com is one service Clark particularly likes in this arena. There are no roaming charges and Net10 only costs 10 cents/minute.

If you're use more than 300 minutes/month and travel from time to time, you might want to consider Metro PCS or Cricket.

Finally, for heavy cell users, Clark likes Boost Unlimited. They have an all-inclusive $50/month plan that beats many of the big carriers. The only drawback is slightly outdated web surfing capabilities.

Of course, you can port your existing number over from any of the Big 4 carriers -- whether you're currently with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon. Just watch for those early termination fees!

Jitterbug is one company that's had a real corner on the market when it comes to selling senior-friendly cell phones to an aging population. Clark's 85-year-old mother has become a heavy Jitterbug user. Unfortunately, many of their service plans aren't exactly designed with the talkaholic in mind, so it's becoming an expensive habit.

Now there's a new cell phone on the market for seniors that promises to be a more cost-effective option for the heavy user.

Clarity may be expensive at $269, but it allows you to sign up for service -- no contracts necessary -- with T-Mobile or AT&T. (It is not compatible with Sprint or Verizon). If you choose to sign a one-year contract, then the phone only winds up costing you $184.99 out of pocket to purchase.

Clark is going to try the Clarity for his mother (on a T-Mobile plan) because it could very well work out financially for her. The Jitterbug, however, still remains a Clark Smart choice for light-volume calling.

There are so many new products ideas out there for an aging population. It's a real sweet spot in the market that entrepreneurs should be looking to serve.

In another example, LoJack is now making a location-tracking wristband for those with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, dementia and other cognitive disorders. The cost for service is around $20-$30/month.

Clark's HLN producer Scott is a bona fide Blackberry addict. When his Blackberry started running out of power the other day, he had to scramble to look for a compatible charger. He found someone who had just switched over from the Blackberry to an iPhone, but she still had her old charger on her desk.

Fortunately, Scott's crazed search for a compatible charger may soon be a thing of the past. Some of the cell phone industry's major players have agreed to standardize chargers by 2012, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Approximately 50 million chargers end up in landfills each year as people change phones and have to get rid of their old equipment. So that's a massive reduction in e-waste just around the corner!

Meanwhile, a single cell phone charge may soon last for up to two weeks thanks to new processor technology and new display screen technology. That's great news to someone like Christa who travels with two batteries because she uses her smart phone so heavily!

The Better Business Bureau has released its annual tally of consumer complaints for 2008 and one industry stands head-and-shoulders above the rest for stinking it up.

The envelope, please…and it's…the cell phone industry!

How can a competitive industry with four big national players do so lousy? Clark believes the answer is twofold.

First, the stinking two-year contracts that the industry enforces on its customers are the obvious reason for all the complaints. The providers typically call it an "agreement," but it's really a contract. Verizon recently started getting a little bit kinder and gentler by prorating their contracts and that's created some headway in the industry.

Thankfully, there are also a handful of smaller players like Boost Mobile, Cricket and Metro PCS who are all contract-free.

The second reason is more rooted in speculation than fact: You've got to understand that the cell phone industry grew out of regulated monopoly telephone companies. So contempt for customers is practically imprinted on their DNA, according to Clark, as it is in all monopolies.

Looking to get out of your cell phone contract? CellTradeUSA.com offers you the chance. The type of phone you have is very important when you're looking to swap -- that is, the "hotter" your phone, the more likely someone else will want it.

Sprint contracts are typically the hardest to exit. The reason is twofold: First, they have abysmal customer no service. Second, many of their phone choices lack in the coolness factor and that makes them harder to unload. On the flip side, if you're looking to take an existing contract over from someone else, you may have luck with Sprint users.

As always, if you're looking for a new cellular provider, Clark advises people to check out Net 10, a smaller carrier that's been great for those who do minimal talking. Right now, however, Net 10 also offers an unlimited calling plan for $79/month -- that's unlimited calling and unlimited texting. Another possible alternative could be Virgin Mobile USA.

How can Net 10 afford to just throw in unlimited texting while the bigger carriers charge up to 20 cents/text if you're not on an unlimited plan? Because the actual cost of texting is zero; there are no incremental costs, no marginal costs, nada. The technology piggybacks on the existing voice system. In fact, there's currently a Congressional investigation into why the big providers raised the price from 10 cents/text to 20 cents/text.

Finally, Clark suggests trying to go the femtocell route if you're looking to dump your home phone.

MONEY-SAVING MOMENT: Does Clark have a deal for all you talkaholics! A new shot has been fired in the price war over unlimited cell phone plans.

Most of the Big 4 carriers have plans that hover near $100/month. But on Thursday, Jan. 22, Boost Mobile will roll out a nationwide unlimited calling/texting/web plan with no contracts for just $50/month.

There are, however, some downsides. The cell phones available through Boost are antiquated, according to Clark. And they're not subsidized, so be sure to look on eBay or Craigslist for a deal on a used one. In addition, Boost operates on the Nextel network, which doesn't always offer the best call quality.

Clark's hope is that the Boost deal establishes a new competitive price point that will put pressure on the Big 4 to match.

In related news, AT&T actually spammed their own customers with unsolicited texts by the millions telling them to watch American Idol! Thankfully, they didn't charge those customers who weren't on unlimited texting plans, but there's been no formal apology for the spam text as of yet.

Finally, AT&T and Verizon customers looking to stop spam texts will benefit from reading New York Times technology blogger David Pogue's tips.

Clark wants to unveil the results of Consumer Reports' annual survey of the cell phone industry -- just in time for the flurry of activity in December and January when people switch carriers.

We get so many complaints about the nation's cell phone companies. It used to be that our complaints were all about cable, cable, cable. But recent customer satisfaction surveys from the University of Michigan find the cable and cell phone industries neck-in-neck at the bottom of the heap.

Cable providers are monopolies so it's natural for them to specialize in customer no service. But what gives in the cell phone world -- where you have multiple players competing for your business?

Sprint is again rated the lowest on customer satisfaction, dropped calls and customer service. Yet the new survey also finds that middle-of-the-pack AT&T has dropped to low Sprint-like levels for the first time when it comes to customer service.

In another surprise, Alltel has been singled out for great rates and customer service. However, Alltel is only available in certain areas for about 60 million Americans.

T-Mobile holds steady with good customer service and very competitive rates among the national players. And Verizon continues to be the best overall company, but they're very expensive.

Are you in a non-Alltel area and looking for a compromise? Clark suggests T-Mobile -- the only carrier that will work with the Google Phone.

Verizon Wireless has frequently won Clark's praise over the years for having some of the best customer service in the cell phone industry. But that doesn't mean they don't make mistakes from time to time.

The company recently floated a trial balloon that irked Clark and others, concerning plans to charge non-customers 3 cents for every text message they send to a Verizon customer. You'd have no way of knowing that your recipient is a Verizon customer until after the fact.

Ever since the announcement, they've been backing off over the firestorm that has erupted from the public. Verizon is now saying this would only be for businesses that send a text. So for example, if you're a customer of an airline that will text you if your flight is cancelled or delayed, Verizon would want to charge the airline for every incoming text.

In a separate development, Net 10 will now face competition from Boost Mobile. Net 10 has long been praised by Clark as a great option for those cell phone customers who use less than 300 minutes per month. There's no monthly fee and they only charge 10 cents/minute for whatever you use. Boost Mobile, a division of Sprint, is set to match Net 10's rates. Boost will also have a new unlimited calling plan that's yet to be announced. Details on that are still being firmed up.

There's been a lot fuss about the advice Clark gives out to callers who are upside down in their mortgages. For those in an owner-occupied property, Clark suggests a workout -- as is often done in commercial real estate. The reality is that lenders would rather renegotiate the terms of your mortgage than have to foreclose and play property manager.

Now even the FDIC is getting involved in the workout game. After the failure of IndyMac, the FDIC voluntarily contacted the bank's mortgage customers who were upside down with offers of a workout. Why? The federal taxpayer benefits more this way than if the feds have to foreclose, mismanage a property and finally unload it as a distress sale.

So far, the FDIC has lowered monthly mortgage payments for IndyMac customers by $430; they're adhering to a flat 38% of the homeowner's income. Meanwhile, other workouts are being orchestrated by Bank of America for their Countrywide division. For more on that, see Clark's discussion of the topic earlier this month. Simply put, workouts are a smart business move. It's cheaper to cut a deal with a borrower than to put them out on the street.

On the other side of this issue, you have the question of fairness. Is it fair that you pay your mortgage as agreed and get no help? No, it's not fair. Workouts do protect the value of your neighborhood by preventing too many foreclosures. But if you drill down to you as an individual borrower, it's obviously not fair. The world is grey sometimes -- even though we'd prefer it to be black and white.

Have you heard about the Wi-MAX launch in Baltimore? Wi-MAX is a new technology that sends out a blanket high-speed Internet signal to cover an entire metro area. Clark's hope is that it will break the stranglehold that monopoly cable and phone companies have on Internet access. It should also elevate our Internet experience among the world's nations. Following the Baltimore launch, the bugs will be ironed out and Wi-MAX should roll out in more cities over the next 18 months.

When it comes to the world of cell phones, Clark is excited about a new development from competing low-cost carriers Cricket and Metro. Previously, each provider would dominate a single metro area, effectively boxing the other out. But now they've both agreed to let each other's customers roam in their coverage areas, effectively creating a "poor man's" nationwide network.

Clark has a trio of exciting developments to share. First off, Verizon is doing away with contracts under certain conditions. Let's face it, contracts are for cowards. Carriers had to default to them because of the industry's spotty record of customer service. It was their way of preventing you from fleeing.

So here's Verizon's deal: If you already have a phone, you won't have to get locked into a contract. You'll only need a contract if you want Verizon to provide you with a subsidized phone when you sign on as a customer.

Clark applauds Verizon's move and hopes it will prompt the other 3 carriers to eliminate contracts too -- unless you're getting a subsidized phone.

The second development involves T-Mobile's introduction of the G1 -- the first phone based on Google's Android platform. It is essentially a cellular computer that looks like a little mini-computer with both a keyboard and an iPhone-like touch screen.

Finally, the last exciting development involves your credit. Doing a credit freeze online through TransUnion is now completely FREE -- even if your state normally requires a fee! Clark has no idea why they're doing this, but he's happy that they are. (Editor's note: TransUnion began charging for their credit freezes, effective July 24, 2009.)

RIP-OFF ALERT: Cell phone companies have been engaging in a practice that's been ripping you off! It's happening most often to those who have an add-a-phone service (where you add a friend or family member to your plan.) The industry is making huge money doing 3rd-party billing for "services" that other companies claim they've provided you -- services such as ring tones, joke-of-the-day texts, etc. The cell phone company gets such a large commission for doing this kind of billing, that they've been purposely deceptive about the practice. The Cyberfraud Task Force of the State of Florida went after AT&T for billing their customers for services that they'd advertised as being free. The settlement was over $10 million, for Floridians alone.

Clark knows that cell phone bills are impossible to understand. Clark's last cell phone bill was 56 pages long! But Clark goes through it page-by-page each month. About once every four months he'll find something that's not legit. (Most recently, he found a $2.95 charge for a ring tone that the provider's website claimed was free - but they lied.)

The cell phone companies have no incentive to clean up their act, since it's such a cash cow for them. And according to Smart Money magazine, they go out of their way to make these charges hard to find on your bill. Therefore, Clark says he needs YOU to be the cop for your own phone bill. Look for deceptive terms such as "Premium Content", or "Direct Bill Charge" (sometimes referred to as "DBC" on your bill.)

Clark despises monopolies. He has a built-in prejudice that makes him automatically expect bad things from them. One of his least favorite monopolies (one that invariably gets some of the lowest score in customer satisfaction ratings) is the cable industry. Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, is not only raising rates by around 5%, but it's recently begun to put caps on the usage of its Comcast internet service. What's driving this? Clark says to look toward South Korea, which has one of the most advanced internet systems in the world. Younger Koreans no longer subscribe in large numbers to pay television. They watch TV mainly over the internet and on their advanced-technology media phones. Over the next year or two it will become much easier to get internet programming onto your big screen in this country as well. Comcast is very afraid of this trend, and has responded with this cap on internet usage. If you exceed their limit, they'll fire you as a customer. Time Warner Cable is looking at metering internet usage as well.

Even though the US pioneered the web, our internet capacity is now at third world standards. Other countries are much more advanced, and pricing reflects that. For example, Korea's ultra-fast high speed connection costs only about $7 a month - compare that to what you're paying here in the States! You can thank the cable monopolies for that.

Clark has long coveted the iPhone, but he's too cheap to get one. Recently, his wife has been hinting that she'd like one as a present.

But Clark may be able to stave off his wife's iPhone fever thanks to a new website called Kinoma.com. If you have a Palm-based or Windows-based phone, you can use Kinoma's software -- for a onetime fee of $29 -- to enjoy video, audio and pictures on your handset. Kinoma can simulate an iPhone-like user experience on a non-iPhone device.

Cellular technology is advancing so fast that your mobile phone may soon replace your wallet. Clark thinks that within 12 month, we'll begin using our cells to pay for things here in the United States.

It's already the preferred way to buy at vending machines in Japan. In Africa, meanwhile, cells are used to pay for everything via text messaging. In fact, many African currencies are so unstable that people transfer minutes as currency instead!

Clark's new Sprint femtocell has really improved his cell reception at home. He and his wife are now getting 9 bars on their cells! The ads show 5 bars -- who knew you could have 9?!

Sprint's femtocell retails for around $100 and there's a monthly fee of $5 for the service.

It's similar in concept to T-Mobile's HotSpot @ Home, which Clark recently discussed on the show.

With the T-Mobile solution, you can ditch your landline, transfer it to T-Mobile and get home phone service via your cell with your pre-existing number.

Now let's take a closer look at prices. With Sprint, you have to pay an additional $10 for unlimited calling -- and that's just for one cell. So if you're a family with 2 cell phones, you could wind up paying $25/month ($5 monthly fee + $20 for 2 numbers) vs. $10 for unlimited calling from HotSpot @ Home.

In related news, Clark routinely trashes "add-a-cell" plans because of the danger they pose to your wallet. Watch out if you're a parent and you add a teen to your plan. Thankfully, both Verizon and T-Mobile now are setting up parental usage controls online. They can be used to prevent your teen from subscribing to costly 3rd party text messaging services.

Sprint may not be beloved for its customer service, but Clark thinks they've done a good job of embracing cutting-edge technology in the mobile world. He's now able to get live TV on his Sprint cell phone -- much to the joy of his 9-year-old daughter who loves to watch Hannah Montana!

The only drawback is that Clark finds he's constantly in need of his charger because the TV function drains his battery.

Last year, Clark revealed how Sprint was experimenting with "femtocells" in select cities. Femtocells are essentially tiny cell towers you can put in your home to improve reception.

They should not be confused with "fembots" from Austin Powers!

Sprint now is readying a national rollout of a new femtocell product called Airave for around $100. Think of it as a home-based cell tower that -- for a connectivity fee of $4.99/month -- will use your broadband connection to deliver a reliable, crystal-clear connection. This should help Sprint customers who have spotty reception at their homes.

And it's just the next step in the evolution of the cell phone destroying the need for an antiquated landline!

People love their cell phones, but hate their cell phone providers. The Better Business Bureau now reports that the cell phone business has received more complaints than any other industry for 3 consecutive years. There are now 22 states with bills in various stages of consideration or adoption all seeking to establish a cell phone users' bill of rights. The response of the cell carriers has been to spend millions to fund lobbyists who are trying to get rules bent in the industry's favor. Why not just fix the bad business model instead? We're not talking about dropped calls here; we're talking about those rotten 2-year contracts. Clark is hard-pressed to find another country in the world that does these contracts.

For the longest time, the cell carriers argued that contracts were necessary because they helped subsidize the cost of cell phones. But this explanation turned out to be bogus; iPhone customers had to pay full market price for their phones, and then they were still forced into a contract! Clark has long thought consumers should be offered the choice to either buy a phone at market value with no carrier strings attached, or sign the 2-year contract with one carrier and get a free phone.

Meanwhile, all of the carriers are in cahoots with crooks. If you're not on an unlimited text messaging plan, they get paid every time you receive an unwanted spam text message. They're also ripping off teens (and their parents) by billing on behalf of third party carriers that offer ring tones and other premium services.

Why is there no movement in Washington, D.C., on the issue of a cell phone users' bill of rights? Simply put, the members of the U.S. House and Senate are in their Capitol Hill bubble. The cell industry is trying to get a preemption law that will make it illegal for any state to pass a rule governing the industry. Sounds like they're taking a cue from the airlines who managed to get New York's air passenger bill of rights overturned!

As the nation's fourth largest carrier, T-Mobile tries to one-up its competitors by being innovative and cheap.

Here's another example of that spirit: T-Mobile has a new add-on service called HotSpot @ Home, which allows your mobile phone to serve as your home phone.

HotSpot works with a special router that puts your calls through via an Internet connection. The call quality is nearly perfect. The cost? A mere $10/month add-on to your T-Mobile service – probably much less than you're still paying for a landline.

A whopping 97% of people who signed up for HotSpot went on to disconnect their landline and drop their monopoly local phone companies. That's very telling about how effective HotSpot can be. Another fringe benefit is that you no longer have any need for 2 phone numbers!

But beware, there's a serious danger if you disconnect your landline: You'll save hundreds of dollars every year! There's almost no reason left to have a home phone from a monopoly local company in today's world. Clark thinks about his 19 year old who certainly won't ever have a landline in her life.

Finally, Clark's Internet access glossary is now live.

The cost of operating a cell phone keeps going down, down, down. Right now, Clark has a deal to share that goes into effect July 1.

Virgin Mobile has been losing customers like mad since the Big 4 carriers started offering unlimited calling plans at $99/month. So they're going to introduce a $79/month unlimited calling plan -- with no roaming charges, no long distance charges and NO CONTRACT! If you want unlimited texting and all the frills, you'll pay an extra $10 monthly. (Editor's note: Pricing accurate as of 06/24/08.)

Virgin has actually never done the contracts that the other Big 4 cram down your throat. In fact, the FCC may restrict how contracts work in the future. They won't be able to "trick" you into entering a new contract when you call them to ask a question. Meanwhile, Verizon has been putting its toe in the water by pro-rating contracts on a monthly basis.

Next year, the offers on unlimited calling could be much cheaper than they are right now because of Google's Android. Your mobile device's capabilities will leapfrog what we have now and the pricing will drop. That's why the Big 4 always want to lock you into a contract.

Christa is excited about her new Samsung Instinct, which is basically an iPhone lookalike. It has high-speed web browsing, e-mail, GPS, TV, radio…oh, and it makes phone calls too!

Of course, these are all things that phones have done for awhile now. But the Samsung also has a sleek interface and a slim body. As Christa says, we'll have to get her final verdict on the phone in a few months. She's still in the "initial dating phase" with her Instinct.

The wireless industry would love for consumers to get in the "mobile device" mindset -- a term denoting that it's not just a phone, it does so much more.

Soon wireless networks will support unlimited international calls for free. Skype has been trying to get the government to force the cell carriers to let you use Skype on your handset. But there's been pushback because the carriers make too much money ripping you off on international calls. Expect this to change with the arrival of the next wave of cellular technology -- called 4G (fourth generation) in industry lingo.

Skype, meanwhile, has released its 4.0 beta version, and it's heavy on video calling.

When he attended the 1964 World's Fair, Clark recalls that AT&T demonstrated a picture phone. Back then, it seemed like that technology was just around the corner. But video calling never hit the mainstream. Maybe people don't want to be seen on a video phone call. But Clark thinks Skype may be the one to take it to the next level.

Clark's long term goal is to have the capability for show callers to be seen, not just heard, on ClarkHoward.com.

Regular listeners know that Clark often trashes the nation's cell phone companies because they gain so much profit from spam texts. But he never likes to just harp on a problem without offering a solution.

Today he's pleased to tell you that David Pogue, a technology blogger for The New York Times, has unearthed some hidden procedures for eliminating spam texts that should help AT&T and Verizon customers. T-Mobile is working on ramping up similar opt-out capabilities, while Sprint has no procedures in place at all.

So check it out today and stop paying for every spam that comes to your handset. Of course, those who are on unlimited texting plans never have to worry about paying for spam.

There's been so much press devoted to Apple's iPhone being lowered to $199 and beefed up with faster web-surfing capabilities. But here's the gotcha: The data plan is going from $20 to $30, with a 2-year contract required. So you'll actually wind up paying more than if you bought the iPhone when it was more expensive.

Meanwhile, Clark thinks there's a bigger telecommunications story that got wholly ignored: T-Mobile's new Family Time Unlimited plan. The upshot of this plan is that you can add additional lines for $49, which makes it perfect for small business and families. That includes unlimited calling, texting, IM and picture and video messaging.

There's no doubt that the trend is moving toward unlimited calling when it comes to cell phones. Metro PCS offers a family plan that's $100 total for 4 lines. That's perhaps the best deal in cities that Metro already serves.

Unless you're a heavy cell user, Clark advises you to skip the traditional Big 4 carriers and check out Net10.com. There's no monthly fee and all calls are 10 cents/minute. This is particularly great if you use under 300 minutes/month.

If you're between 300 and 1,500 minutes/month, T-Mobile may still be the best for you -- not AT&T, Verizon or Sprint. T-Mobile is the smallest of the Big 4 and has high customer satisfaction ratings.

The concept of paying for long distance is disappearing slowly, and someday there will no longer be any toll-free numbers. That's because cell phones, which usually include long distance, have become so prevalent.

Almost 1 in 3 of us exclusively uses a cell phone. That's presented a problem to government organizations like the CDC that rely on an ever-shrinking sampling pool of telephone users for surveys.

Of the 30% of us that exclusively use a cell phone, about half of us have a home landline but never touch it. For too long, landlines have been shoved down our throats if we have DSL or antiquated burglar alarm systems. But your monopoly local phone company's day in the sun will be over when the Clearwire initiative happens. Meanwhile, your alarm company can usually install wireless monitoring -- that burglars won't be able to cut -- for cheaper than the landline option.

In related news, cell users may have noticed that spam texts are an increasing nuisance. Americans will get 1.5 billion spam messages on their cells this year, according to Ferris Research.

The cell carriers make a cut of the profit each time a spam comes to your handset, unless you're on an unlimited plan. Clark gets about 2 of these a week, but he's already gone unlimited.

Cell carriers would be wise to switch everyone to unlimited plans. There are virtually no infrastructure costs, and the price of not doing so may be people completely shutting off their text messaging out of frustration.

Clark also believes a financial deterrent might rein in the carriers. If they were charged double -- 40 cents every time you dispute an errant spam text that costs you 20 cents, for example -- that might straighten things out.

RIP-OFF ALERT: AT&T has just settled (and T-Mobile is facing) a lawsuit over 3rd party aggregator charges. These are the stray charges on your bill for Internet services, ringtones or what have you. Your carrier gets a split of money from the crooks that post these bogus charges on your statement, a practice now being called "off decking."

The sad thing is that most people don't even notice the charges. That's because their bills are automatically charged to a credit card or auto-debited from a checking account. It's as if you give the crooks permission by not checking your bill.

The simple solution is to get a copy of your statement and vet it carefully every month. Clark goes through his bill page-by-page and calls his carrier if something doesn't make sense.

The carriers feel they're caught in the middle; they don't initiate the charges, they only act as billing agents. But Clark has trouble with this rationale because they're getting money from off decking.

On a related note, do you have teens added to your cell plan? Tell them not to respond to any texting offers for free ringtones, games, etc. These offers are all hazard and no opportunity.

The number of landline disconnects continues to spike as Americans ditch their monopoly phone company service. That can be a very smart financial move. But what do you do if your cellular gets a lousy signal in your house?

There are a couple of marketplace solutions. T-Mobile offers an At Home service (for $10/month extra) that allows unlimited calling through your high-speed Internet line.

A device called zBoost, meanwhile, works like an early car phone with a booster and antenna to get a better signal at home. That one costs about $169 and is available through Wi-Ex.com. (Editor's note: Link no longer active as of June 4, 2009.)

Over the next few years, there will be more competitors and zBoost will get cheaper. Then you'll really have no excuse to not disconnect your landline!

Cell phones are central to how we communicate. Qwest's latest numbers show they just lost almost 8% of their installed phone lines. More and more people are deciding to go wireless only. Verizon's initiative for unlimited wireless plans starting at $99/month has really helped the push. Their deal was soon matched or one-upped by the other major wireless carriers. Numbers now show that Verizon's wireless subscribers recently jumped from 4% to 15% on the strength of their $99 plan.

Metro PCS -- one of the smaller wireless players -- has responded with its own Family Unlimited deal. They're offering 4 wireless phone lines for $100/month. No credit check, no contracts. This includes unlimited local and long-distance calling, voice mail and text messaging. You don't even get text messaging with the comparable AT&T and Verizon plans. Metro's deal can also be prorated: A family of 2 would pay $70 and a family of 3 would pay $90.

What's the catch? Well, Metro only works in select markets, so this may not be a deal for people who travel around the country frequently. But it's a no-brainer if you're a homebody. It's also a great way to completely dump your monopoly phone company landline.

Clark predicts that wireless is just going to get cheaper for minutes in the future. The iPhone and Google's Android are helping the push for these "all-you-can eat" minute plans.

Verizon has hired a "Customer Care Czar" named Tom Maguire. This man is now empowered to cut through the corporate clutter and get the company refocused on the customer. It's funny that it takes an official job title to make this happen, but that's the reality in much of corporate America.

Verizon has about 46,000 employees in call centers around the world and here at home. But those employees have no authority to solve problems. As part of Verizon's new efforts, there's now a group of 90 people at the company's corporate headquarters called the "escalation team." Their sole job is to talk to irate customers who ask for an executive by name, and they're supposed to be empowered to be able to actually solve problems for people. Congrats to Verizon for trying to make a change.

It costs a wireless company about $400 to acquire a single new customer. Yet they lose existing customers over $10 discrepancies every single day. Simply put, it's foolish to spend tons on getting new customers and then abandon them when they're on board.

Sprint is a perfect example of this faulty logic. Their customer reps were penalized if they helped a customer, and managers got incentives to not help people. That's partly why Sprint lost more than 1 million customers in a growing industry last year. Meanwhile, Radio Shack reported lousy sales because they're a big Sprint vendor. Reputation matters.

Can Verizon's new czar make a difference? We'll see…

Clark loves free services and has 2 new ones to share with you. The first comes from a company called HauteSecure.com, which protects your computer if you mistype a web address. Too often criminals will register bogus domains that may be just one letter off from a legitimate address. When you hit those fake sites, your computer may become infected with a keylogger program. So the free download at HauteSecure.com protects you by blocking sites that could threaten your computer.

The second service Clark has discovered is called ChaCha.com. This free mobile phone service allows you to ask a question by calling 800-2-CHA-CHA. You then receive a text with your answer. It's like Google for your cell phone. So far the results have been hit or miss. While it worked well during a pre-show meeting, it returned a wrong answer when Clark tried it out on air by asking, "Who won the 1964 World Series?" He received a dud answer via text message -- The New York Yankees -- in about half an hour. It was the St. Louis Cardinals who beat the Yanks in 7 games!

The iPhone has been the phone to beat since it first came out. During a recent trade show, many companies rolled out plans for their hot new iPhone killers. Samsung has gotten a lot of buzz with a new model called the Instinct, which supposedly surfs the web at 10 times the speed of an iPhone. The Instinct should be available for Sprint customers at the end of the spring.

There's so much good stuff just around the corner. Clark's phone is from a Taiwanese company called HTC. It has a built-in GPS as a standard feature. Unlike other GPS systems, this one works off cell towers instead of satellites. Meanwhile, American cell phone companies have blocked Skype from their units so they can continue ripping off people on international calls. The FCC has upheld the block, but they're bound to lose in a few years when the case works its way through the courts.

With cell phones becoming so commonplace, the cell carriers are wondering where to get their next million customers. Clark thinks they may tap the preschool market after they get done with the elementary school kids! In reality, they're focused on taking things that have become popular overseas and bringing them here.

Throughout Asia, you can go up to a restaurant that you don't know anything about; hold your phone up to the window; and photograph a barcode of sorts. That will bring up customer reviews and other information about the restaurant on your handset. The San Francisco Chronicle reports a similar service has now launched in the Golden Gate City. Look for it to become more widespread during the next 18 months to 2 years.

This business model won't just apply to restaurants. Let's say you're reading a magazine. There's an ad for a new release from your favorite musical artist. You'll soon be able to hold your phone up to a barcode on the page and cue up a sample of the artist's latest music. You'll also be able to click a button and purchase their new album. The cell carriers will, of course, get a cut of any e-commerce transactions.

Ultimately, you'll be surfing the web on your cell phone -- if you don't already do so. Clark recently got a Sprint PPC 6800 when his old cell broke. It turns out the PPC is the first cell phone to surf the web at high speeds like DSL or cable modem. When the Crackberry first came out, almost no one used it. Today 14 million Americans are Crackberry addicts. So the web will be huge on cell phones, and the barcode business model will be a part of the coming revolution.

People love their cell phones, but hate their cell phone providers. The Better Business Bureau now reports that the cell phone business has received more complaints than any other industry for 3 consecutive years. There are now 22 states with bills in various stages of consideration or adoption all seeking to establish a cell phone users' bill of rights. The response of the cell carriers has been to spend millions to fund lobbyists who are trying to get rules bent in the industry's favor. Why not just fix the bad business model instead? We're not talking about dropped calls here; we're talking about those rotten 2-year contracts. Clark is hard-pressed to find another country in the world that does these contracts.

For the longest time, the cell carriers argued that contracts were necessary because they helped subsidize the cost of cell phones. But this explanation turned out to be bogus; iPhone customers had to pay full market price for their phones, and then they were still forced into a contract! Clark has long thought consumers should be offered the choice to either buy a phone at market value with no carrier strings attached, or sign the 2-year contract with one carrier and get a free phone.

Meanwhile, all of the carriers are in cahoots with crooks. If you're not on an unlimited text messaging plan, they get paid every time you receive an unwanted spam text message. They're also ripping off teens (and their parents) by billing on behalf of third party carriers that offer ring tones and other premium services.

Why is there no movement in Washington, D.C., on the issue of a cell phone users' bill of rights? Simply put, the members of the U.S. House and Senate are in their Capitol Hill bubble. The cell industry is trying to get a preemption law that will make it illegal for any state to pass a rule governing the industry. Sounds like they're taking a cue from the airlines who managed to get New York's air passenger bill of rights overturned!

Have you been "smished" yet? Smishing is when a criminal goes phishing for your personal info via text message. This year, Americans will face an estimated 1.5 billion spam text messages. Those who use eBay, do online banking or access a brokerage account online are at the greatest risk of getting smished. So watch out for those urgent text messages seeking your personal banking info. The Washington Post reports even sophisticated people are falling for these ploys.

Text messaging is a big growth area for cons and legitimate advertisers alike. The cell carriers aren't interested in slowing down the traffic. After all, they're making money on every text you receive, unless you're on an unlimited texting plan. Meanwhile, there's a new level of security coming to your online brokerage account. Soon, you'll be able to use your mouse to put in a password on a soft screen -- instead of typing it on your keyboard. This will help minimize keylogger infiltration, where every keystroke can be remotely sent to a hacker.

Clark's executive producer Christa is walking on air because the penny-pinching guru recently converted their company cell phone plan to unlimited minutes. No longer will Clark and Christa have to fool around with 2 phones -- they used to carry one with unlimited minutes for local calling and another with a leash of minutes for all other calls. Clark decided to go with a Verizon plan that includes web surfing, texting, IM, music, e-mail, GPS and TV capabilities all for a flat rate! As a self-proclaimed flake, Christa says she's excited that she now only has to hold on to one phone.

Just days ago, Clark told you about Verizon's unlimited calling plan for $99. Verizon's move prompted AT&T and T-Mobile to match or best their offer in subsequent days. Sprint, meanwhile, took its time before jumping into the fray. Sprint was busy reporting a $30 billion loss and a projected drop of more than 1,000,000 customers over the next quarter. But if you're into deals, boy, does Sprint have one for you. They're offering unlimited calling, web surfing, texting, e-mail, GPS and TV for $99 per month. Each additional subscriber will pay $5 less per month on a family plan. This is a real long pass and Sprint is hoping it doesn't bomb. This move represents a real seismic shift in the cell business. Cell carriers have historically made big money on overages. But the future will be all about unlimited calling in different tiers (local, domestic, and even international). Meanwhile, new stats show that 33 million Americans are now exclusive cell users. That figure is up 50% in a year and will only grow.

Cell phones are getting cheaper and cheaper to use. Now Verizon -- the most expensive cell phone company -- is offering a bargain of sorts in the form of unlimited nationwide calling for a flat rate of $99. You'll pay extra if you want to include texting or Internet capabilities, but Verizon's move is pretty revolutionary. Think about the value proposition: You can eliminate your home phone, which can easily be a savings of $30 or $40 a month. Meanwhile, the typical cell phone bill is in the high $50s. Add those figures together and you're very near the $99 range, but you also get the added flexibility of a cell phone. Look for the other 3 big carriers -- AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint -- to now respond with lower pricing of their own. Another possible scenario is that this Verizon move will force Metro PCS and Cricket to marry and offer their own economical plan. This is the dawn of a new era in the cell biz!

There's something brewing right now that Clark considers akin to a national scandal. The cell phone companies are in cahoots with rip-off artists and they're stealing your money. Here's the background: Do you recall back in the landline days when people were falling victim to "The Cram"? Phone companies would bill them for fake charges attributed to a "marketing" company. These bogus fees would pop up on a page of unregulated charges on a monthly bill. The phone companies would get a cut of the action when they teamed up with these 3rd party aggregators who initiated the charges. Many people would pay year after year without questioning because they were so confused by their bills.

Now this same garbage is popping up with cell phones. The cell carriers are doing courtesy billing for 3rd party crooks that push a variety of messaging services. And of course they're getting a cut of the money once again. People are getting burned in 2 ways, actually, because cell companies are also raising the cost of text messaging. This is a virtually free transaction for them, yet they're raising rates to as high as 20 cents/text message. People are being billed for messaging services they never signed up for. For example, Clark is getting spam text messages ads. The cell carriers love this -- especially if you're not on an unlimited texting plan -- because every spam message is more money for them. If the history of "The Cram" is any indication, the FCC probably won't get involved for several more years. So you must take the responsibility of reviewing your cellular statement page by page every month. Many people just get their bill charged to their credit card every month and never see a statement. Don't be one of them! Get a paper statement and scrutinize it. This is war. They think they can get away with stealing your money, but they can only do so if you allow it.

Many years ago, Clark switched his mom's phone service to a non-traditional company that offered better rates and more features. That worked out fine for years. Then his mom recently moved, and an unreal odyssey began when they tried to get her phone service moved from the old address to her new one. Now his 83-year-old mom is without her landline. This is really laughable in 2008 when it takes just hours to move a phone number between cell phone companies. Clark had been trying for years with no success to get his mom to use a cell phone, but they aren't always senior friendly.

Recently Clark signed his mom up for a cell phone service called Jitterbug that's designed for senior citizens. Now she's a cell user for the first time in her life -- so much so that it will now be a big expense! In fact, she may no longer care about her landline when it does eventually get hooked up. There's a real business opportunity out there for entrepreneurs who can develop products that take modern technology and make it easy for elders to use. After all, seniors have all the money; why should technology exclusively be geared toward young people? Someone will make a bundle creating simplicity out of complexity.

Clark is a frequent traveler, and it's not too long ago that he recalls people queuing up in airports at endless banks of payphones. The mad rush for payphones in the pre-cell phone days gave rise to a dangerous crime called shoulder surfing. Criminals would pretend to videotape family members near the gates, but they'd really be filming people punching in their long-distance calling card numbers. The crooks would turn around and sell those codes all around the country within minutes of filming.

The days of shoulder surfing are now long gone; payphones may be the next to go. AT&T has announced that it's getting out of the payphone business. There are some 300 million people in our country and more than 250 million of them have cell phones. The 50 million that don't is largely made up of children, such as Clark's 2-year-old son and his 8-year-old daughter. But while we no longer have to worry about shoulder surfing, we can still fall victim if our cell phones are stolen. Clark gets tons of calls from people who get stuck with a huge bill when criminals make international calls on their phones. So it may be wise to get your international long distance blocked. At the very least, be sure to report your phone stolen as soon as possible. That way you'll be able to avoid this costly mess. On a related note, Continental Airlines in Houston now allows you to check in with your cell phone just by showing your e-boarding pass.

The Super Bowl is the biggest moment of the year for the ad industry. The cell phone industry, meanwhile, has the holiday season as its annual pinnacle. This is the time of year when people who are just getting out of their 2-year contracts look to switch carriers. So you'll see the Big Four advertising everywhere in an effort to woo new business. T-Mobile is one company that tends to give an early Christmas gift to the people every year. T-Mobile is like the weak sister of the Big Four, which is a shame because the Jan. '08 issue of Consumer Reports ranked it just behind Verizon in overall satisfaction. The irony here is that Verizon is the most expensive and T-Mobile is the cheapest of the bunch. In fact, T-Mobile is like the great compromise: You get the best rates and it's the one carrier people hate the least.

T-Mobile's current sale is a real winner. They're offering 1,500 peak minutes for $39/month. Notice that $40 is a real price point in this business; all the companies offer comparably priced plans before junk fees and add-ons. But 1,500 minutes is what makes this offer a keeper. For $10 more a month, you get the 1,500 peak minutes and unlimited free calling after 9 p.m. and on weekends. Just grab these T-Mobile deals fast because they probably won't be around for long. On a related note, Consumer Reports says that Sprint came in dead last in 20 major markets across the country. AT&T didn't do too much better; they came in just a hair above Sprint. But AT&T has a new leader that Clark thinks will turn things around, while Sprint remains leaderless.

There are a number of new developments in the cell phone world that have Clark excited. There's a low voltage price war between a few smaller carriers that most people don't know about, plus Verizon has an exciting new development. Let's begin with the Verizon news. Starting next year, you'll be able to bring any phone to their network and use it without having to buy a Verizon phone. You can thank Google for this. It turns out that Verizon is scared of Google launching an open wireless market. So they're trying to make themselves more competitive.

The other big news involves buying cell phone minutes, which is part of an outdated business model that may be on its way out. The move started initially with Cricket and Metro PCS, who both offer unlimited calling for a flat rate starting around $35/month. But traveling with these companies has always been a problem. Now Sprint's sub-brand, Boost Unlimited, is offering unlimited calling plans for $45/month in a dozen or so new states. Boost has an edge over Cricket and Metro because they only charge 15 cents/minute if you travel and leave your home calling area. If you're a business traveler, you may also want to check out Helio.com, which offers unlimited Internet, texting, calling and more for $119/month.

Here in the United States, cell phones are controlled by the Big Four carriers (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile) with an iron fist. But that may soon be coming to an end. Sprint has entered into a new settlement that will allow you to keep their phone after you finish your contract. You can then go to another provider that runs on a compatible network -- such as Alltel and Virgin Mobile -- and you won't have to buy a new phone!

The old business model where cell phone companies tie you into their phone and their network makes no sense. Most of the world runs on a network called GSM. We are actually one of the only countries with two competing networks -- GSM and CDMA. Meanwhile, public revulsion over the Apple/AT&T iPhone deal is really helping to bring about a new day in the industry. Isn't it funny that with all the talk of smart phones our mobile devices are actually much dumber than the phones people use overseas? In fact, Verizon takes smart phones and dumbs them down on purpose to disable functions that they can't figure out how to monetize yet! So Clark loves the outcome of the Sprint lawsuit because it will really help open things up. Soon we'll buy phones like we do any other piece of technology. You don't buy your computer from your Internet service provider, do you? No, you buy it elsewhere and then hook it up. Cell phones will one day be like this.

Some of our recent callers have alerted us to cell-phone horror stories when traveling overseas. They've been burned for charges ranging from $5/minute on a cruise to an $8,500 bill for a variety of international calls. A slightly cheaper option is to enroll in your carrier's own international calling plan. If you choose to go this route, make sure you get an e-mail confirmation of your enrollment before you travel. A better and cheaper option still is to buy a prepaid SIM chip online. You might want to use Telestial.com, which is good for when you're doing a single-country trip. Check out RangeRoamer.com if you're going to be traveling to multiple nations. What if you're taking an action adventure trip in uncharted terrority? Try buying or renting a satellite phone, which will still cost less per minute than the usual charges from your carrier. Another tip for travelers: Get an unlocked world phone. T-Mobile will unlock your existing handset after 90 days, while AT&T requires you to complete your contract before they unlock you. You can also try going on eBay and buying an already unlocked world phone on the cheap.

The whole text messaging phenomenon is really misunderstood by many adults. Clark recently heard a government regulator in the telephone industry admit he's not familiar with texting. Parents are often similarly oblivious. That's why unlimited text messaging is a real help. If you have text-happy teens, it helps ensure that your kids don't run your bill into the ground every month. But those unlimited plans don't cover all text messaging services -- especially some premium services that are advertised on MTV and elsewhere. There was a recent news report about one developmentally disabled teen that ran up a $10,000 bill in one month using these services. The sad thing is that the child's parents had an unlimited text messaging plan through Sprint. The cell phone carriers get a kickback for doing the billing, so there's no real incentive for them to modify their practices. Parents need to be aware of this danger and teach their children not to give into alluring services that offer dating opportunities, a joke of the day or horoscopes sent directly to their handsets, among other things. But there's a larger problem here. How can you even get the FCC on this issue if the commissioners don't know what text messaging is?!

If you were expecting Google to announce the rumored Gphone today, you might have been disappointed. But Google did announce a new platform called Android that promises to shake up the traditional cell phone monopolies. Soon you'll be able to take any wireless device you want and access phone calling, e-mailing, web surfing, music and TV on your digital device. This is not a Star Wars thing that's 10 years away; this should start happening late next year! Google found support for Android among a lot of big-money players. They all see the financial advantages of busting up monopoly cell phone companies who want to control everything on their platform. What the future holds from here on out is almost limitless. But free cell phone calling will probably be one benefit!

Good news for some cell phone customers who thought the industry's contract termination fees were too heavy-handed. AT&T recently announced that it will begin prorating its cancellation fees. Right now you have to pay the full cancellation fee if you want out at any time before the standard 24-month contract ends. But under the new rules, you'll be able to just pay a fraction of that cost because it will be pro-rated. AT&T is simply following Verizon's lead here. No word yet if T-Mobile and Sprint will follow suit, but it all begs the question: Is the cell phone industry ready to usher in a new customer-friendly age?

The dominance of the iPhone has really blackened the eye of the industry as people saw how the major carriers pervert capitalism by locking people into two-year contracts. Think about it: Each carrier forces you to buy a cell phone from them and then they make it usable only on their own network. Clark believes this is idiotic; it's like the power company telling you that you can't use a toaster that you didn't buy from them. Walt Mossberg, a usually chipper Wall Street Journal columnist, recently wrote with vitriol about the four carriers' stranglehold on the industry. He compared it to you buying Internet access and then the provider saying you can't visit a certain website. We need to bust this chokehold because it's bad for the country and consumers alike.

Do you remember when it was free to call directory assistance? Some free services are making a comeback thanks to a new ad-based business model. Clark's teenager recently called old-fashioned directory assistance and was charged a $1.80 before he told her about 1-800-FREE-411. Google has also launched a free service (for business listings only) available at 1-800-GOOG-411. Meanwhile, AT&T has its own service through 1-800-YellowPages.

People sometimes gripe that the numbers they get from these free services aren't always correct. But there was a recent study that found the numbers you get from paid services are just as likely to be wrong. So why pay extra for the chance of a wrong number? Clark often turns to the Internet when he's looking for a number. He practically never looks in a phone book anymore. Remember the 1979 move The Jerk starring Steve Martin? There was a scene where the new phonebook arrives and Martin goes running for it, looks up his name and shouts, "I am somebody! I'm in the phonebook!" Pretty soon people won't know what the whole phonebook phenomenon is about. In the future there may not be any phonebooks, because the costs to print and distribute them are so high. The bottom line is that you shouldn't be paying for directory assistance when there are so many free options out there. On a related note, Clark was talking to someone who lost their cell phone just a few days ago. The person discovered that thousands of dollars in international calls had been made by the thief. Under the current law, that person is responsible for those costs. To avoid a scenario like this, call your cell phone provider and get an international calling block.

Some of you may recall when Clark mentioned that Google is trying to develop a cell phone you can use for free in return for watching ads on it. It's been one of the worst kept secrets in the electronics industry. Google is getting ready to bid on spectrum at an upcoming federal auction to facilitate the proposed build-out. Mind you there's be no confirmation from Google of all this. But Verizon is terrified that Google will launch free cell phone service and destroy their costly pricing model. In fact, Verizon filed suit against the federal government trying to invalidate the rules for the upcoming auction.

How realistic is it that cell phone use could be free? Well, in Britain there's already a company called Blyk that offers free calling and free text messaging. The initial Blyk rollout is only for people between the ages of 16 and 24 -- so they can tightly target them with certain ads. Coca-Cola was one of the first advertisers to sign up. So what Google is talking about behind the scenes is already happening overseas. Meanwhile, Clark thinks Verizon is foolish to try to use the courts to block innovation. The truth is that they run a good company, and they shouldn't be afraid to compete in the free market.

The iPhone has been a huge hit for Apple. It's also left a lot of people disgruntled because of Apple's exclusive deal with AT&T. Users of the iPhone are handcuffed to a two-year contract with the phone carrier. Apple released the iTouch to quell some of the criticism. The iTouch has the look and feel of the iPhone and all its bells and whistles. But it is not enabled for phone service! Now Verizon has become envious of the iPhone's success and done something it never does. The company has announced some vaporware in the form of competing products that are due around Christmas. They're supposed to be like the iPhone or even better, but we'll have to wait and see if they materialize. No word yet if T-Mobile or Sprint will do the same.

Clark recently was in an Apple store in a mall and it was packed with people on a night when other the stores were empty. Customers were playing with Macintosh computers, iBooks, iPods, nanos, iPhones and more. The sleekness of Apple products looks like something from a science fiction movie of the future. Clark is really impressed with Apple's design sense. For example, Clark's wife has a Mac now for her business. It cost a fortune, and Clark could have bought four desktop PCs running Vista for the price his wife paid. But his wife has a connection with her Mac like it's a person. That's because Apple's Steve Jobs is a creative genius who knows how to really make products pop. Look at Pixar. Also co-founded by Jobs, Pixar combines artistry and electronics in a way that's warm, exciting, colorful and stylish. Most people are willing to pay for all the pizzazz -- but not Clark!

Do you get spam text messages on your cell phone? Clark recently got the same spam message on both of his cell phones from two different carriers. It was a text message for a "hot" stock that he later read was making the rounds. This whole field has become a new battleground in the cell phone business as spammers have moved from e-mail to text messages. The cell phone companies benefit whenever you get spammed because most people are on metered plans and pay five or 10 cents for every text they receive. If this sounds like you, call your carrier and ask to be reimbursed or credited for every spam text that hits your phone. After all, it's your money -- no matter how little it is. You may also want to get unlimited text messaging if you have teens on your plan. Some teens use text messaging a hundred times a day! Finally, you might also want to have international calling blocked on your cell. This will protect you from hefty expenses if your phone is stolen and someone tries to call overseas.

As the nation's third largest cell-phone provider, Sprint has caught a lot of heat from Clark over the years. He often cites the company as perhaps the worst example of customer-no-service in modern American capitalism. But Clark isn't the only one slamming the company. Consumer Reports, the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power have all given Sprint the lowest ranking in their surveys of the four major cell-phone providers. The company recently went through a quarter where they lost a lot of customers, but now they're slowly gaining some back.

Today Clark gave Jerry Adriano -- Sprint's VP of Customer Experience -- air time to outline how the company is trying to improve itself. Adriano explained that after many requests, Sprint is now confirming all customer transactions via e-mail to ensure there are no misunderstandings when you speak to a representative. They're also going a step further by rolling out "transaction wizard" software on their end to guide customer service reps through all transactions steps. On the retail level, Sprint wants to address its understaffing problems so that customers will be served whether they're at a store to make a new purchase, have a phone repaired or get some help with routine account maintenance. A lot of these changes have been in the works for the past three or four months, so if you're not already seeing them in place you should in the next 60 days. Adriano also advises customers to use the existing tools online for help, such as the rate plan advisor tool and the network coverage tool. Finally, he shared an e-mail address Sprint has set up to help customers get their issues resolved. Customers should send their problems to customerresolutioncenter@sprint.com and include name and contact info.

The Apple nation is in an uproar because the computer giant has slashed iPhone prices by $200. When the iPhone first hit the market, it sold for $600; now it's selling for $400. All the Apple loyalists who stood in line and camped out to buy the iPhone on the first day feel the company owes them back their extra $200. Early adopters always get their wallet emptied out for them. They pay big money to deal with the bugs of something that's new so the rest of us can benefit from it down the road at cheaper prices. No word yet from Apple if they'll make any concessions to those who paid $600. Meanwhile, one big gripe from iPhone users has been that the whole system is built on AT&T's outdated Edge system. So now Apple is offering the iPod Touch. For the same price, the Touch features all the iPhone capabilities except for the phone service! It works on wifi networks, so savvy customers who use Skype and other VoIP providers will still be able to use it to make calls.

In other tech news, there's a new product out there being marketed under the Vudu brand. Vudu is essentially a $400 box that hooks up to your TV and allows you to watch movies on demand instantly. There are 5,000 titles at your fingertips ranging in price from 99 cents for older films to $3.99 for new releases. When you hit play, the movie starts with no download delay. This is possible because the first few minutes of all the movies are stored in the Vudu box. The remainder of the film you select is then downloaded while you watch the flick uninterrupted. Best of all you don't have to leave your home to rent a DVD or wait for it to come in your mailbox. This is very convenient, but you'll be a beta tester if you buy this now. Historically, whenever you shell out for new electronics you're always at a disadvantage. Clark recalls paying $499 for his first GPS unit and now he sees sleeker models that are easier to use for $149!

Metro PCS and Cricket may be getting ready to merge. These companies are like the Southwest Airlines of the cell phone business. They run extra-lean operations and undercut traditional cell phone operators by a handsome margin, passing the savings on to customers. With Metro and Cricket, flat-rate calling usually starts at $30/month for unlimited calling. The only problem is that if you travel, you may or may not be able to use your phone because Metro and Cricket don't have coverage across the country. Metro is now looking at the possibility of buying Cricket's parent company. If this happens, it would create a fifth major player in the telecommunications industry. Metro and Cricket together would offer an all-you-can eat buffet, so to speak, instead of having customers sign terrible contracts and pay all kinds of fees like the other four major providers do. Clark is guessing that Sprint or T-Mobile will be the first to cry uncle and start offering more customer-orientated plans if the merger takes place. Sprint is already offering some such plans through their Boost Mobile division. Things can only get better for the consumer!

Few industries have higher dissatisfaction rates than the cell phone industry. That's probably because Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile continue stubbornly to force people into lousy two-year contracts. When you sign up, you get a phone for a very little or free that comes with a two-year agreement, usually printed in mice type. The contract is like a handcuff that forces you to stick with the carrier whether they're doing a good job or not. Fortunately a lot of the growth in the cell phone field has been with under-the-radar players like MetroPCS, Cricket, Boost Mobile (a division of Sprint) and others. Many of these companies offer unlimited calling with no contract. Verizon is staring to wise up slightly and now pro-rates its fees for cancelling a contract. But AT&T still claims that contracts subsidize the cost of free phones. So how do they explain the fact that the iPhone, which retails for between $500-$600, has a two-year contract? There's no logic here.

AT&T recently lost a lawsuit in a federal court of appeals that will now pave the way for a number of class-action lawsuits. The company had hoped to prevent customers from going the class-action route by forcing them into kangaroo court arbitration. But the courts ruled this practice is illegal. Now one of the class-action suits coming down the pike alleges AT&T continued forcing customers into contracts even when its network couldn't handle the number of subscribers and the company's call reliability dropped. Keep in mind that you can try getting out of your contract by trading it away if you're not the class-action type. CellTradeUSA.com is one company that charges a fee of about $20 to transfer your contract to someone else. And remember that when you get some mice type in the mail saying the service fees are changing, that is your opportunity to exit from your contract without paying a cancellation fee.

There are “moisture” strips inside cell phones that show whether your phone has gotten wet or been submerged. Cell phone companies use these like law to void your warranty and deny you repair service. The cell companies claim they are “foolproof,” but in fact, according to the New York Post, they are faulty lots of times. It’s been proven that just by putting a damp cloth next to the phone, you can change the color of the strip! So if you have a problem with your cell phone, and you were told your warranty is void because you got it wet (when you know you really didn’t), here’s what Clark recommends. Find an old cell phone you’re not using anymore, take it back to the store, put a damp cloth near the strip on the battery, and prove to them right there that the strip is not accurate!

All around the country, state laws are being passed that ban teens from talking, texting and e-mailing on cell phones while driving. But what about adults who are still doing all this stuff while behind the wheel? Clark has a self-imposed rule that he tries to follow with varying degrees of success: If he needs to make or take a call, he pulls off to the side of the road. Clark is also acutely aware of the addiction some people have to their Blackberrys. He's set his Blackberry so that he only receives e-mail 16 times throughout the day instead of every time a message comes into his inbox. That helps prevent him from becoming a "Crackberry" addict. But for some people it gets to the level that they have to shut down their Blackberrys for weeks at a time to break the addiction. In fact, one in five people feels "tech gadget remorse," according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Meanwhile, text messaging is so much a part of our culture that there have been lawsuits against Deal or No Deal, The Apprentice and 1 vs. 100. These shows charge you roughly a dollar to text in and win prizes related to the program. Isn't that like illegal gambling?

China is a communist country that has many capitalist tendencies. Mobile phone technology like text messaging now allows people to express opinions to each other without the fear of censorship. Just as modern technology makes it possible for there to be a variety of voices, it also makes it harder for one person or political party to have a huge influence. Books like 1984 were filled with fears that technology would aid dictatorships, but China is showing the opposite proves true. China's fellow communist neighbor in North Korea is now frightened that its people will revolt after hearing radio ads from South Korea where there's a free-market economy pushing new cars, appliances and so much more. It seems like there's always skepticism about technology. Now there's even a question in the medical field about whether video games can be addictive. But the reality is that technology is so useful to us in so many ways.

If you really want to annoy someone, call them up on their cell phone with a poll or survey for them to take. Unlike using a landline, people pay for their minutes when they receive incoming calls on the cell phone. So they don't want to talk to pollsters while the meter is running. Pollsters traditionally collect their data by landline, so they're having a real problem in the age of the mobile phone. One in seven people no longer have a home phone, and that number rises to about one in three for households with people up to the age of 30. A San Francisco Chronicle story that Clark read recently made the point that it's going to be very hard to have realistic polling data for the 2008 presidential race because of the popularity of the cell phone.

The unlikely impact that going mobile has had on politics isn't limited to skewing the results for pollsters. Cell phone-only homes are more likely to be Democrat than Republican, with 53 percent of the households identifying themselves as blue voters and 30 percent as red voters. And if in the future, home phones may die out all together, that's when polling will become really difficult. Already traditional call-out research in the radio and TV industries (where people in a given area are called and asked about their favorite artists, songs or shows to help compile playlists) is on the decline. So where is polling research headed? To the internet, of course, thanks to online surveys! There may even come a time when politicians have to go back to making decisions based on their gut, rather than what some survey or research tells them.

Sprint manages to be at the front of the cell phone industry pack for the world’s worst customer service. Sprint has fired 1,000 customers because they asked for too much customer service! What kind of company fires customers because they want to talk to customer service too often for billing problems and technical problems? The real problem is that Sprint runs a lousy business—they are the only major cell phone company losing customers. If you call customer service too often for their taste, Sprint lets you out of your contract! So if you’re unhappy with Sprint and don’t want to pay the cancellation charge just call a lot for help and you’ll get dropped! This is your way to get rid of Sprint: by making them want to get rid of you.

One more trick of the trade: If the four major cell phone companies -- Verizon, AT&T (formerly Cingular), Sprint and T-Mobile – send you some legal mumbo-jumbo and try to change your contract, and you are unhappy with them, you can deny the new terms of service and get out of it without having to pay a penalty. On a related note, Clark says the new iPhone is absolutely neat. That’s mostly because Apple demanded to be in charge of the cell phone’s abilities. Apple went to the various carriers and demanded control over the phone. AT&T was the only one that took them up on the offer. However, Clark doesn’t like the iPhone contract AT&T insists that you sign.

T-mobile has just released a new technology where your cell phone can switch over to wifi automatically when it senses it in range. They have a new plan where you can get unlimited minutes in a wifi spot for $10 a month as the introductory rate. This means that when you make calls from a wifi spot it won't count against your minutes. As of today, the service is available nationally. This also would make calls based out of your home, if you have wifi, totally free. So check it out, it might save you some dough.

People are already lining up to buy the iPhone, even though it doesn't go on sale for a few more days. To get it, you're going to need to sign a two year contract. AT&T always claims they make you sign contracts in order to subsidize the phone, but this time, they're just lying--you're purchasing this phone from Apple! Apple's made the iPhone as sleek and easy to use as their other products, and it's packed with features. In other countries, there are no restrictions on what features a phone can have, but in the U.S., the cell phone companies control what a cell phone is allowed to do. Let's say you want GPS....U.S. phone companies want to be the ones to sell you that service, so they make cell phone makers deactivate the GPS feature. Apple has been aggressive towards these cell phone companies, and maintain that no one can say what the phone does except them. Apple has made this a true consumer purchase, letting the consumer decide what it will do, as it should be. So ultimately the iPhone is going to democratize the cell phone industry.

Over ¼ of people in their twenties have no home phone, only alternate forms such as a cell phone. This is such a great thing because land lines have become so outdated. So make a conscious effort to see how much you use your monopoly phone line in your house. If it is only on rare occasions, ditch it and save yourself some money.

Do you have a credit card with your school’s logo or mascot on it? How about a certain organization you love? They are called affinity cards and the new trend is to manufacture affinity cell phones. You will be able to get a cell phone with your university on it or companies will be able to offer phones with their logo. Clark won’t be running out to do this because the pricing is nothing great. Not to mention the fact that there are enough complaints about cell phones already. Clark doesn’t want his cell phone causing people problems. But you may want to check it out when these become more popular.

People have a love-hate relationship with their cell phones. Sometimes they’re great and very handy. But the companies we must deal with drive us nuts. Normally, with so much competition in a particular industry, companies do a great job serving customers. But that’s not the case with cell phones. The companies tie us to contracts because they’re basically afraid to lose us as customers. Most companies require at least a one-year contract, but some still require a two-year contract. It’s unbelievable. The one national exception is Verizon, which pro-rates the cancellation fee, depending on how long you’ve been with the company. Two local companies don’t require a contract at all: Metro PCS and Cricket Communications. The good news is that a new company is coming to the States and it allows people much more flexibility with their options. It’s called “Car Phone Warehouse,” and it lists every single phone and its pricing options. Basically, you are able to see all of the options right there instead of having to travel from store to store. The company is only in Europe right now, but it will team up with Best Buy and soon set up shop in the Northeastern U.S. The prediction is that Car Phone Warehouse will offer many more options and, therefore, will help reduce cell phone costs.

Rebates are something people both love and hate. Rebate prices are great, but filling out all the paperwork is never fun. As a result, Best Buy has been selling laptops at an "instant rebate" price. The company is going to phase out the regular rebate program and just offer instant rebates. In addition, BJ’s and Costco allow you to file your rebates electronically,which is very easy. Clark filed a BJ's rebate recently that took 72 seconds. Many people still have trouble with rebates, especially when attempting to buy cell phones online. One company, Inphonic, has received thousands of complaints for making it "impossible” for consumers to get the rebate. One deal required that the phone be at least 120 days old before the rebate was filed, but the information had to be mailed in before that. So, it was mathematically impossible. One of Inphonic's affiliate shopping sites - Firefly - was on Clark's site for awhile. But we took it down because it was so difficult to get the rebates on the site. In total, the BBB has received 2,210 complaints against Inphonic, which is huge. Try to avoid buying rebated cell phones online if at all possible.

Years ago, Clark talked about a service called Freeway that offered free long distance if you listened to ads first. That was how Clark made all his long distance calls. Then, as the 90s moved on, long distance got drastically cheaper and people didn’t care about listening to ads to get free service. Freeway went away, but fast forward to 2006 and something similar is here. Virgin Mobile will soon offer free cell phone minutes if you listen to ads. You’ll get 900 minutes over the course of a year with the program known as “Sugar Mama.” It’s not ready yet but we’ll let you know!

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Have you heard about the cell phone war going on in schools? Governments are trying to ban cell phones in schools because it is causes distractions, but parents are adamant about their kids having phones. In New York City especially, parents are in an uproar because they want their kids to be able to call home in emergencies. It started after the September 11, 2001 attacks and hasn’t let up since. But politicians say it’s a distraction and schools are buying devices to scan kids’ belongings for cell phones. If one is found, the cell phone is destroyed. That has parents even more upset. Clark thinks it’s fine for kids to carry cell phones, as long as they don’t use them in school.

The Feds are talking about the time when people are going to be able to make cell phone calls from airplanes. People are making calls in the air already using Internet calling plans, but it’s still pretty high tech for most. Clark is fine with text messaging, Web surfing and instant messaging while on planes. But cell phone calls in the air? It’s already uncomfortable on airplanes. Loud cell phone conversations would just make it worse. We should take a tip from the Japanese, who don’t talk on cell phones in public. They just text back and forth instead. After all, it’s common courtesy.

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Speaking of phone technology, have you heard of the “Q?” It’s a keyboard based phone from Motorola and it’s designed specifically for text messaging fans who don’t like to talk. It’s the next step after the “Razor.” Texting and e-mailing over the phone is going to become much more common for everyday users, not just for business purposes. These plans are fairly expensive right now, but prices are going to go down.

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There will come a time when toll-free calling is a thing of the past. Internet phone calling is growing by leaps and bounds each year. The only problem is that some of these services do not reach 911. Several people have died because 911 could not be reached in the home. Apparently, it wasn’t a top priority of the Internet phone services when they started up and local phone companies have refused to connect people to 911 when they use one of these services. Now, Congress is pushing through a law that requires the four monopoly phone companies to connect people to the 911 centers when they call. Until that happens, use your cell phone to call 911 if you have an Internet phone.

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In other news, satellite phones are selling like hotcakes since Hurricane Katrina. According to the Wall Street Journal, satellite phones have increased by 1000 percent and have kept at that rate since the hurricane. They were the only phones working in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama when the hurricane hit. They are expensive, though, at about $500 for the phone and 35 cents a minute. In addition, Sprint is working on a deal that would allow your cell phone to work as a home phone when you’re at home and a cell phone when you’re not home. It basically links up to whatever service is available in your range, and that is where we’re headed down the road. You’ll have one phone that switches between home, cell and satellite.

Should you buy cell phone insurance? Almost always the answer is no. But most people agree to pay for cell phone insurance when they sign their contract. They end up paying about $5 a month for the insurance, plus a deductible if your phone gets damaged or you lose it. One current lawsuit is even alleging that cell phone insurance is fraud. The suit states that you’re paying insurance on a used phone. That’s right. When you turn in your damaged phone and get another one, it’s usually “refurbished” anyway. Consumer Reports weighed in on this topic and said the only reason people should get cell phone insurance is if you own a very expensive phone. Insurance rates are the same for a $500 phone and a $50 phone. So, it makes no sense.

Have you heard of ICE? It stands for “In Case of Emergency” and it’s something you can add to your cell phone for free. The idea came from an EMT in Great Britain, and Clark loves the idea. So, take a few minutes and add some ICE to your phone. It could save your life.

What one service do people loathe more than any other? The cell phone industry. USA Today listed the results of several customer service surveys and it was almost unanimous. Consumer Reports, for example, noted that the cell phone industry ranked lower than any other industry ever. Only 45 percent of people who use cell phones don’t “hate” their phone. J.D. Power’s survey showed the cell phone industry as dead last after the airline and utility industries. Why do cell phone companies manage to do this? The same report showed that it’s because the companies cram contracts down customers’ throats. Theses companies are basically afraid of losing you because they treat customers so poorly, so they keep you tied to them with contracts. A site where you can rail on your company is escapecellhell.org. There are a small handful of companies that stand above the rest because they have simple plans and no contracts. They are Metro PCS, Cricket Communications and Virgin Mobile USA. Think of switching to one of these plans if you’re tire of being treated poorly.

How would you like to pay for things with your cell phone? You wouldn’t have to swipe your card over and over again or even carry it with you. All you would have to do is hand over the phone and the item is charged to your cell phone account. It’s called a “Quick Pay” system and it’s already happening in Japan. It will probably create a whole new era of questions on Clark’s show, but it will make paying for things much more convenient. American Express is launching its version to be called “Express Pay.” The transactions will happen in the blink of an eye, and the company will send you this new card if you just call and ask them. Master Card’s version is called the “Pay Pass.” Because things will be much easier to buy, you should be careful.

If you’re thinking about picking a new cell phone company, how would you decide? Well, the FCC has done you a big favor by just releasing new statistics on cell phone company performances. The company causing people the least problems is Verizon. So, despite the fact that Verizon is quite expensive, the company is doing something right. Nextel and Sprint were in the middle, getting average scores. The company people are most unhappy with by far is Cingular/AT&T. Cingular may say it’s a transitional thing because it just merged with AT&T. But the company has not been doing very well. So, how do people get roped into these plans? Typically, people get excited about a certain phone being offered, so they jump into a plan. What you want to do instead is look for a plan that makes sense financially. Clark bases his decision solely on price. If the company offers good customer service, it’s just an unexpected surprise. You need to figure out what works best for you. But do your homework!

Clark talked with a representative from Cingular Wireless in the wake of its take over of AT&T Wireless. Clark wanted to give Cingular a chance to talk about the complaints he’s been getting from callers about the contract disputes they’re having with the company.

Fast food is going high tech these days. Phone services have become so cheap that there are now “call centers” taking your order at the drive through instead of an employee in a cute hat. So, you may be talking to someone across the globe who then relays your order to the particular store where you are. Pizza Hut, Chuck-E-Cheese and Hardees are all experimenting with it right now and many more will jump on the bandwagon. It’s a way for the restaurant to save money because they don’t have to staff so heavily for certain peak times of the day. We’ll see how well it works.

The Federal Communications Commission is considering whether cell phones are safe to use on airplanes. Apparently, an independent group, working under the FCC, has determined that it is safe. Now the FCC is going to have a period of public comment about using cell phones on airplanes. Clark enjoys not being able to use his phone on a plane. It allows him time to read or watch a movie and just chill out. He calls it “forced boredom.” In Japan, if people are in a public place, they text message each other because they consider it rude to talk on their cell phones. Imagine how chaotic it would be if cell phones were allowed on planes. Would we have “talking” and “no talking” sections on planes? “Texting” or text messaging may be the way to go on planes if we’re really going to allow it. As for the cell phone companies, Clark thinks they need to be more honest and forthright with people in general. A survey called the “Perplexity Poll” found that the main reason people hate their cell phone companies is because they feel that they got ripped off on their rate plan. They feel confused or believe they were deceived about how much they would pay and what services they would receive. It’s just not good business to try and dupe people. They will inevitably fire you and tell all of their friends how horrible you are as a business. In other news, there is a rumor that we’re going to go from 5 national cell phone players to 4. The rumor is that Sprint and Nextel may merge to become more of a powerhouse. We’ll keep you posted.

Clark loves gadgets, as you might know. He doesn’t always buy them because sometimes they can be quite expensive. But he loves to check them out. One gadget that got a lot of hype in the fall was the Motorola V700 Series cell phone. People paid $500 plus for one of these phones because they had tons of neat features. For instance, it could talk to your home computer, make contact through IM and many other features including Bluetooth capability. Motorola ran tons of ads about this product, so people rushed in cell phone stores to buy them. Well, unbeknownst to its customers, Verizon disabled nearly 100 percent of the phone’s special features and required customers to pay extra for the features that were already included. Verizon has consistently ranked tops in terms of customer service, but, with this move, the company completely fouled up with this one. Cingular, on the other hand, hasn’t gotten the best reviews in the past, but the company did not disable anything when selling its version of this phone. As you might have suspected, Verizon is now being sued, according to the Wall Street Journal. Clark doesn’t understand what the company was thinking, but he’d like to give them a chance to talk about this.

Does your teen have text messaging capability on his or her phone? If so, you’ve probably seen some pretty large bills. Teens have an affinity for typing on their phones these days, but parents are the ones who end up paying for it. It’s especially true if the teen is on the family plan. So, you need to be aware of how much “texting” costs and discuss it with your teen. Some companies charge to send and receive, which can really add up. If it’s extra on your cell phone plan, maybe your teen should pay for it.

Americans love to talk on their cell phones. We also love to gripe about our cell phone companies. According to Consumer Reports, people about as unsatisfied with their cell phone company as they are with their cable company. So, are there any redeemable companies out there? Verizon and T-Mobile are doing better than the others and they are growing faster than any other, according to the magazine. T-Mobile has very competitive prices and many people like that. Verizon is credited with being the best in service. But that means the best in a bad lot. Clark wants to remind you that the local only companies sometimes offer the best rates for unlimited calling. These companies – Cricket Communications and Metro PCS – are often forgotten in the game. But they are great deals, as long as you can keep your conversations to your “home service area.” Another option is pre-paid cell phones. If you don’t use your phone very much, but you pay $30 or $40 a month, a pay-as-you-go plan might work great for you.

You may have heard that most of the big cell phone companies have made evenings, weekends free, and many have made calls within their network free. So, if one Cingular customer calls another Cingular customer, it doesn’t cost either person a cent. But if you go outside the network, and call on a landline or other cell phone, you are charged for the call or deducted minutes. Well, one company has found a way to circumvent that exclusive system. The name of the company is Xcelis. It has made it possible to call members of other networks with unlimited calling, by leveraging your unlimited minute plan. So, you’re a Cingular customer, you would call another Cingular number, which is a free call. That number is actually an Internet computer switch that is rerouted over the Internet to anyone you want to call regardless of his or her provider. It blows apart the business model of per-minute calling, and has the big companies furious. It’s available right now for Verizon and Cingular customers, and the others will soon be added. So, what does Xcelis get out of it? The company charges a $10 monthly fee for the service. The folks at Verizon claim they will cut off phone service to anyone who uses Xcelis. We’ll see what really happens. For right now, if you’d like to try out Xcelis, the company is offering a 7-day trial period for free. Go to xcelis.com.

Clark is very cheap, as we all know, except when it comes to some new communication gadgets. Clark owns the breakthrough gadget that allows you to e-mail and talk on it as a phone. It’s called the Treo 600 and it was quite expensive. But more offerings are coming on the market that will cost a lot less and do a lot more. Blackberry has created a new consumer version of its original device that will cost about $200. It will only be available to T-Mobile customers initially, but will later be available for everyone. The new gadget figures out what words you’re trying to write as you type them. Treo is also coming out with a successor to its original model that will be more reliable. And the Sidekick II – a scaled down version of the Sidekick - is also coming out. It will only be available to T-Mobile customers at first, as well. Some people aren’t that psyched about sending e-mail over the phone. But Clark thinks that by 2006 people will no longer be able to talk on cell phones in public places. The text messaging systems will solve that problem, so they are only going to get bigger.

There is a transition going on in the cell phone industry that is a lot like the one that took place 10 or 12 years ago. That was the time when companies started offering nationwide calling plans, and at the time it was revolutionary. Up to that point, you were gouged for making long distance calls – even if the call lasted only a minute. So, AT&T was the first one to change all of that. Now, for the first time, you will be able to use your cell phone overseas. T-Mobile was the first to do this, then AT&T started and Verizon pulled up the rear. Sprint and Cingular are the only ones that don’t yet offer international calling plans. But over the next year or so, it will happen. Now you can have one phone with a multi-band number that will allow you to call anywhere in the world. The only downfall is it will be very expensive, most likely between $3 and $5 a minute. So, right now, it’s just for the expense account crowd. But it will get cheaper. SO, what do you do in the meantime? You use a multi-frequency world phone that works on the GSM (Global System Mobile) network. With these phones, you need a computer chip that you put in the back of the phone. It works instantly, but you have to get a chip specifically for the country to which you are going. Calls will generally cost 25 to 30 cents a minute, and you will be able to receive calls for free. It’s called the “caller pay” system, and it’s used in most of the world. You can also buy an international phone and pre-paid minutes through a company called telestial.com.

A few days ago, Clark talked about a story in the Baltimore Sun that claimed cell phone companies were planning to publish a directory containing customers’ cell phone numbers. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) spoke on behalf of all cell phone companies again and added that none of the participating carriers will list consumers' numbers unless the consumer asks to be included. CTIA Spokesman Travis Larson said the WDA has always been an "opt in" program, despite what the Sun said. He also said that companies are not planning to charge consumers to opt out. There will be a directory; it's called the WDA or Wireless Directory Assistance. But the customer has full control of whether or not they want to be listed. Let’s hope it happens as Larson says. We'll keep you posted.

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Larson also responded to Clark's question about spam text messages over our cell phones. He said people should report the message to their provider. He said it should not charge you for reporting it or for the e-mail message itself. So, call and get it taken off your bill.

Boost Mobile, the Australian based pre-paid cell phone company, is now spreading its wings in America. Previously, we had Tracfone in the pre-paid market and that was it. Then Virgin Mobile came along. And now, Boost is here. Boost’s prices are better than Tracfone’s and similar to Virgin Mobile’s. It’s 25 cents a minute to use the phone with no monthly fee. If you go beyond a certain number of minutes in a day, the rate drops to 10 cents a minute. No roaming charges apply, and that includes long distance. So, it’s a great deal for anyone, including older people who just want a phone for emergency purposes. Boost was formerly only in Nevada and California, but they have expanded to Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, Texas, Washington D.C., and New York. There is one wrinkle in the Boost plan that makes it different than the others. It comes with “push-to-talk” technology, which can get very expensive at about $45 a month. So, stay away from that capability if you go with Boost. Every once in a while, Virgin Mobile discounts its time cards. You may find them at 10 to 20 percent off in some electronics stores and often in warehouse clubs. This means that the peak calls go from 25 cents a minute to 20 cents a minute, and the off-peak calls go from 10 cents to 8 cents a minute. Good to know!

The latest wrinkle in the cell phone wars could be a great asset to you. It’s known as “sticky services,” and it’s been very successful in some markets. The idea is to create a web of reasons to stay with a particular company. The cell phone industry has a terrible problem with turnover. Companies lose about three percent of their customers every month, which is a massive loss. So, they’ve started promoting family and network plans. The original family-to-family plans, which allowed you to talk to family members only, were not that successful. So, now companies have come up with network plans, whereby you can talk to anyone on the same network for nothing. The deal is that you can talk to someone on your same plan and it doesn’t count against your minutes. You’re essentially “off the clock.” It creates an incentive for discipline in a family or corporation to use one plan. All of the employees are on the same plan, so it costs less. That is the carrot. But the stick is that companies will require you to sign a one- or two-year contract. You just simply decide whether it’s worth it to you. Clark carries two cell phones – one for local calls and one for long distance. Two companies, in particular, specialize in the local calling plans, and Clark loves their business models. The companies are Cricket Communications and MetroPCS, and both offer unlimited calling. The unlimited talking model is slowly growing with other companies, and soon the block-of-minutes plans will be a thing of the past. They all range between $40 and $45, and that is the sweet spot that people are willing to pay.