In today’s world, digital connection has become an irreplaceable part of society. The need to stay connected wherever we are and whenever we want has evolved into something we “need” more than just something we “want.” After all, the use of technology goes far beyond recreational purposes. Many of us rely on technology and connectivity to learn, work, study, and engage in business. We need to stay digitally connected in order to achieve our productivity goals every day.
This is why, for the most part, humans and mobile phones have become inseparable.
Realistically, there is no working individual who can efficiently function without a smartphone in this day and age (read more). Whether it’s to call clients, submit reports, create presentations, do conference calls, or post items for sale online, many people rely on their mobile phones to do all these tasks. They’re handy, portable, and convenient to use. The cost-to-benefit ratio of owning a smartphone definitely justifies its price tag.
However, on top of just owning a smartphone, you also need to enroll in a mobile subscription service. Otherwise, it’ll just be a fancy gadget with none of its practical uses. In order to access features such as texting, calling, and using mobile internet, you need to have mobile phone credits which you purchase separately and need to replenish time and time again.
Now, there’s two ways that you can purchase mobile phone credits: Prepaid or Postpaid.
Prepaid Services VS Postpaid Services
Prepaid mobile services refer to a type of mobile service that is offered on a payment-first setup. This term usually refers to buying mobile credits that are exhaustible or limited, so you pay first every time you use a service. For example, if you want to send a text or make a call, you purchase text or call credits. If you want to use the internet, you purchase data packs that grant you a data allowance (GBs) that you can then use to access the internet.
You can think of prepaid mobile services similar to how you would pump gas on a car. You need to top up whenever it runs out. So whenever you exhaust the phone credits you’ve purchased, you would have to buy more in order to use the services again.
Postpaid services, on the other hand, refers to a type of mobile service that you often pay on a monthly basis. It’s a recurring type of service or what most companies refer to as subscription packages. These services are offered in bundles, which means that you are given text, call, and data credits (limited or unlimited) for the month for a single price. This type of service then renews month after month until the binding period ends or until you opt out of the service.
Between the two, many find postpaid or subscription packages more practical and convenient due to discounts that come with buying different mobile services as a package and the monthly recurring setup that they have. This means that you don’t have to worry about your phone credits ever running out during the worst time because the subscription automatically renews for you month after month.
If you are looking to find a suitable mobile subscription package for yourself, here are 7 considerations to think about to select the very best one:
Coverage 
The very first thing you need to consider is whether the network you’re eyeing is a good choice based on your location. Different networks all have strong coverage locations and average to poor coverage locations. It really just depends on how near or far you are from their network’s satellites or cell towers. This is why you would often see people comparing network coverage online and giving suggestions as to which ones work best with various areas in Norway.
Before you select a plan and commit to it, make sure that you check whether it’s compatible with your location in the city. Even if the subscription plan is super cheap and just overall a good deal if it doesn’t perform well in your area, you still won’t be satisfied with your purchase. So make sure that you do your part and research first! You can check out other ways to improve your signal strength at https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-improve-mobile-signal-strength.
Speed
Coverage and speed usually go hand in hand. If you’re in an area with excellent network coverage, your internet speed will usually be higher as well. However, most networks price their subscription plans based on the maximum internet speed you can access (measured in Mbps). Plans with faster internet speeds tend to cost more than those with slower internet speeds.
Although you have to take note that slower doesn’t always mean bad, it simply depends on which apps or phone features you plan on using your mobile data for. If it’s just for everyday, recreational use, maybe for simple online communication like chatting and browsing through social media, you may not need lightning-fast internet. If you need your mobile data for heavier internet use, such as going to multiple web conferences and Zoom meetings for work, then investing in better internet speeds may be necessary.
Price
Next consideration is price. Is the price realistic or practical for your package of choice? For the most part, mobile service providers make sure that their subscription plans are packed with value so that users are encouraged to switch to postpaid plans. However, it doesn’t hurt to compare different networks’ pricing plans in order to get the beste mobilabonnement.
Again, just remember not to overly focus on the price that you end up with “tunnel-vision” and fail to see everything else apart from it. Getting good value for your money is always a good thing but not at the cost of your own convenience.
Data Allowance
Subscription plans also come with data allowances so find something that you know will fit your connectivity needs for an entire month. Better yet, look for mobile subscription packages that offer unlimited internet access for the month, so you don’t ever have to worry about losing internet access at the worst possible time. If you only use mobile data sparingly, however, then opting for a limited data plan may not be a bad idea, especially if it drastically lowers the monthly subscription that you will have to pay.
International Coverage
If you’re the type to travel abroad often, whether for work or leisure, you may want to look into mobile subscription plans that have roaming service inclusions. Most mobile networks in Norway expand their coverage by either partnering with other telecommunications companies abroad or putting up satellite offices internationally in order to provide more convenience to their traveling users. So if this is a perk that you would want to have in your mobile subscription package, make sure to do your research in advance.
Binding Period
Next, we have the binding period. The reason why mobile subscription packages are often offered at a cheaper price compared to other prepaid options is because companies want to provide competitive deals to their customers in exchange for continued use of their services. This is why most subscription packages are offered with a binding period of 12 to 24 months.
So before you sign up for any mobile plan, make sure that you read the fine print and you are thoroughly aware of the binding conditions of the contract. On the plus side, most plans with binding periods also offer other benefits such as giving you the option to purchase a new mobile unit along with your subscription plan that you can pay in monthly installments.
Customer Service
Last but certainly not least, you should also consider the company’s track record in terms of customer service before you purchase anything from them. When you avail a subscription package, it’s inevitable to sometimes need a little bit of help here and there with some of the service inclusions that come with your mobile plan. If the time comes that you are in need of immediate assistance, having access to reliable customer service is always a huge benefit.
