AT&T

Full review
Cingular.com may draw criticism from some, but it will draw none from me. I think the site is quite well designed for appropriate functionality.

You can order new service, order accessories, pay your bill, change the features you have with your service plan, get help with using your cell phone, send text messages, and view coverage area maps. This is but a sampling of the total functionality of the site, but covers most of the generally useful and necessary features.

Ordering a phone and rate plan through this website is quite simple. You can examine the ins and outs of various rate plans, view coverage area, and select the phone and accessories you want. You have ultimate control, and know exactly what you're getting and how much you're going to be paying for each feature. One thing I might like to see is the addition of a tax and fee estimator. It would be nice to see a sample of an actual bill to know the total amount you will be paying each month on the condition that you do not use more minutes than included in your plan.

As far as selecting a phone, you get general specifications for the phone, such as size, weight, battery life, and general features. In some cases you get a 3-d view of the phone. You also get a list of possible accessory purchases, all selected for your specific phone.

The bill payment system is functional, and comes in quite handy. It is simple to user, and accepts various forms of payment. You also have the option to have your bank account automatically debited each month for the amount of the bill so you never forget a payment.

As mentioned above, you can add and delete features from your service plan. For example, if you wish to add a messaging package, it is quite simple. You can also alter your rate plan, however, with my family plan, it says I must call and have a representative handle such a request. That is annoying, but understandable should someone else on the plan decide to call in without my permission.

Compared to previous experiences with Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile, I definitely stand by Cingular as the carrier with the best website. Give them a try, and enjoy the good service available to you.