A woman checks her phone and pulls her fist with excitement as cash falls around her.(Photo: Getty Images)

As the new telephone season begins and the end of the year celebrations are approaching, people across the country are reviewing their telephone bills to determine if it is worthwhile to improve them or if there are any problems. ways to reduce costs.

Whether you're trying to find the best deal for a new device or cutting costs, here are some tips to guide you through the process.

Whether you prefer a new iPhone or Android, there are many ways to save money.

Adding lines or changing providers is always one of the best ways to get an agreement. The four providers offer significant discounts on devices to those who want to add or change providers.

If you do not want to change lines or add a line, exchanging your current phone can give you substantial discounts, especially right now when values ​​are tightened to encourage users to switch to the latest iPhone, Galaxy or Android phone.

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Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint each offer a number of aggressive takeover deals on new iPhones, with the top four operators also having takeover agreements for those who want to upgrade to the Android version. One thing about the carrier offers: Depending on the transaction, the money can be delivered as monthly credit instead of an initial discount, so pay attention to the fine print.

Manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC and Apple have their own takeover offers, just like retailers like Best Buy.

Those looking for money to buy their new device should check out sites such as Gazelle, TradeMore and uSell.

The values ​​of your phone vary depending on the status of your device and its age. Whether for sale or exchange, you should compare the value of your phone to several different sites to make sure you get the best deal.

Invoice too high? Moving to a prepaid operator could help

AT & T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint are perhaps the best-known operators in the US, but those looking for an agreement can find it with some of the prepaid options on the network.

The four operators have so-called prepaid networks, brands that use their wireless service but operate as their own business. What they lose in benefits such as free data from the HBO, Netflix or mobile access point, they often resort to cheaper monthly rates, especially for those who do not have access to the internet. do not need unlimited broadband data.

You have probably already seen these companies. T-Mobile owns MetroPCS (soon to be Metro), AT & T from Cricket Wireless and Sprint from Boost Mobile.

T-Mobile President and CEO John Legere poses next to the new Metro by T-Mobile logo. MetroPCS drops PCS when a name change. (Photo: T-Mobile)

Verizon has tested its own branch called Visible, which offers unlimited conversations, text and data for $ 40 a month. The problem: you must have an iPhone 6 or later to use it and speeds are limited to 5 Mbps, which is significantly slower than the average of 20 Mbps of business, according to a July report from the sector's tracker. OpenSignal.

Beyond the main operators, other companies have created prepaid networks operating nationwide for large providers, offering various benefits to use their service.

Mint Mobile, which runs on the T-Mobile network, offers 2 GB of unlimited broadband and text calling and texting for $ 15 a month if you are willing to pay three months in advance.

Unreal Mobile uses the Sprint network and starts at $ 10 for unlimited talk and text plus 1 GB of high-speed data (additional data will be slowed down).

You'll want to make sure that no matter which prepaid network you're on, use the best provider in your area.

Check your data and the latest plans

If you have not changed your plan for a while, it is quite possible that your operator has developed new data plans. The four networks update their options every two or three months, adding functionality and sometimes even better value.

However, they will not automatically make changes for you, so you must be aware of your bill to see what makes sense to you and your plan. Examine some of your recent bills to understand how much data you use and what you pay for. Then log on to your carrier's website to find out the latest offers and find out if there is a better deal than what you have.

This is especially useful if you are using a shared data plan that has charged you an overage fee for exceeding your monthly data limits. The most recent plans, even if not unlimited, will now slow down your data instead of charging you immediately, but you must enable this feature.

The game of the threat to switch

As always, another option is to call your current operator and see what happens when you tell them you're ready to leave. If you have been with your provider for a while, it is possible that fidelity discounts may be available to keep you on their network.

However, as with any negotiation, get ready for what they call your bluff – the operators know how tedious it is to switch providers. And remember to be nice to the rep on the phone. They do not make plans, and being nice to them can make them more inclined to help you.

Follow Eli Blumenthal on Twitter @eliblumenthal

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