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CNet.com

Kent German, CNet.com’s cell-phone “guru,” says that finding the best carrier means considering a host of factors. Those include the comprehensiveness of the network, but also aspects like customer service, costs, plan options, phone selection and more. Though CNet.com does not evaluate cell-phone plans, it invites readers to do so. Reader feedback is summarized here. T-Mobile rates highest among readers for its customer service and plan selection. Other carriers have strong points as well: Verizon is liked for its network, Sprint for its features and AT&T for its phone selection. Though helpful, the ratings here are based on hundreds of reports, while the surveys we rate higher are based on feedback from thousands of subscribers.

The New York Times

Eric Taub provides a well-rounded basics course on avoiding the headaches of using a cell phone abroad by factoring in the carrier you use, the length of your trip and your destination. Taub points out that 82 percent of the world’s cell-phone subscribers use the GSM network available with AT&T and T-Mobile phones. Thus, phones that use CDMA networks — offered by Verizon and Sprint — are much more limited. Taub advocates that if you have a GSM phone, get a temporary SIM card and unlock your phone before you travel. No particular services are rated or recommended, however.