I’m now entering my Nth week of cell phone shopping and researching the best mobile carriers. What’s important to me is being able to simultaneously talk and surf the net using my mobile. Furthermore, I like the option of using my cell phone as a modem for my laptop– aka “tethering” and is often listed as a “Mobile Hot Spot” service option.  So, if you’re looking for a new plan or cell phone, and you’re an email and Facebook addict like me, you may want to hear what I’ve discovered.

Each of the major carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon) have different Mobile Hot Spot (aka tethering) data limits, data plan pricing and simultaneous talk-and-surf capabilities. I called each carrier’s customer service lines and got the answers below (as of today). I recommend checking for regional differences. The type of cell phone you use may also affect capabilities including iPhones and Evos. I hope this helps!

AT&T (888-333-6651)

* Simultaneously talk and surf the web? YES

* Mobile Hot Spot: $45 per month for 2GB, $10 per additional GB

Sprint (866-866-7509)

* Simultaneously talk and surf the web? It’s complicated. Basically, if your mobile phone is 4G capable and you’re in a 4G area, then yes, you can simultaneously talk and surf the web on your phone. However, if you only have a 3G-enabled phone or are operating in a 3G-only zone, then you are NOT able to talk and surf at the same time.

* Mobile Hot Spot: $29.99/mo for unlimited data

T-Mobile (800-866-2453)

* Simultaneously talk and surf the web? YES- as long as you are using phones that are capable of simultaneous talk-and-surf such as the T-Mobile MyTouch 4G and the BlackBerry Curve 9300 (3G).

* Tethering: $14.99 per month for unlimited data

Verizon (888-333-6651)

* Simultaneously talk and surf the web? NO

* Mobile Hot Spot: $20 per month for 2GB, $20 per additional GB

The verdict is that T-Mobile has the best offer with only $14.99 per month for unlimited. However, T-Mobile’s mobile phone selection is limited. Of course, data transfer speeds vary by mobile carriers and that may be another trade-off to consider when shopping for a new cell phone or cell phone plan. Also, pricing and limits are subject to change by the carriers.

If you’re thinking about buying a new cell phone or cell phone plan, UCAN provides a good case for using their Mobile Phone Plan Checker.

UCAN, the Utility Consumers’ Action Network based in San Diego, is a non-profit, public interest consumer advocacy organization. Founded in 1983 by concerned San Diego citizens, UCAN was formed to protect consumers from utility and corporate abuse. Since that time, UCAN’s not-for-profit legal team has saved San Diego consumers billions of dollars in unfair utility rate hikes.

In the 2006 version of the Mobile Phone Plan Checker, they list three reasons why a salesperson will refuse to sign the cell phone shopping guide form they provide:
1) They are hiding something.
2) They’ve been prohibited by their bosses to put anything they tell you in writing.
3) They don’t want to provide written proof of lies they’ve told you.

UCAN observes that most of the complaints they get in their “Fraud Squad” division are from people who signed a contract that was misrepresented to them by a salesperson. The sole purpose of the cell phone shopping form is to confirm in writing that what the salesperson told you about the contract was true.

Download the 2006 version here. Or you can sign up for a free copy with a suggested donation here.

Good luck and share your cell phone shopping experience with us!