Forbes magazine, in a cover story titled "Cell Hell," says cell phone users are fed up with unreliable service and what they consider unfair billing charges, which is one of the biggest complaints people have.

Users also complain of poor sound and calls not going through. The growth in customers and average call time means capacity needs to increase at 75 percent annually, but companies haven't been able to keep up. The government set up the industry to have a lot of competition, but it also makes the quality low.

Choosing a Provider

When looking for the best company in your area, the magazine suggests that consumers remember the following tips:

Smaller is better. Smaller companies often have better quality because their networks are less crowded and their equipment is usually new. Voicestream and Leap wireless are good examples.

Be a detective. If you're getting a lot of dropped calls or dead zones on your commute every day, ask a cell user with the same commute who doesn't have your problems who his or her carrier is.

Check contract length. The contract's fine print can be too much to read every word, so you should ask outright how long the contract will be. You should understand that most contracts go for one year and that there are huge penalties for early withdrawals.

Check phone liability. Before signing a contract, check what the deal is if something happens to your phone. Find out if you can insure the phone so that if you lose it, you can get another for free.

Get in the driver's seat. When the contract is up, the consumer is in the driver's seat again, for it costs a company about 0 to replace a lost customer, so your provider might give you a new phone to keep you from switching. Be prepared to try and make a deal when your 12 months are up.

(Agencies)