Understanding Local, Regional, & National Calling Plans

It�s important to understand the difference in calling areas, such as local, regional, and national calling areas.

Local Calling Plans

A local calling area is the smallest geographical area a cellular provider will define. It�s usually a large metropolitan area such as say New York City. As long as the person placing the call and the destination are inside of the local calling area, the call rate will be calculated standard rate. If the call is made from outside of the local calling area, for example New Jersey, and the destination is inside of the calling area, New York, it is considered a roaming call. The rate for roaming call is higher than that of a standard call. This type of plan is the least expensive on a per minute basis.

Regional Calling Plans

Regional Calling areas are the next largest calling area offered by cellular providers. Generally speaking it is a collection of neighboring states. This type of calling plan will allow you to travel around for business or pleasure, place calls and not incur any long distance or roaming charges. As long as both parties are inside of the regional area the calls will be calculated at the standard rate. If the person placing the cellular call is outside of the regional calling area the call will calculated at the roaming calling rate. If the caller is inside of the regional calling area but the recipient is not, the call will be calculated at long distance rate. This type of plan is more expensive than a local calling area on a per minute basis.

National Calling Plans

This is the easiest of all calling areas to understand. As long as the origination and destination of the call is within the United States, it will be calculated as a normal call, and you will not incur any roaming or long distance charges. The only exception to this is if you call from someplace outside of your carriers service area, see Understanding Roaming & Long Distance Calls for more details.