Going Mobile (Part 2): How to Get In on Wireless Revolution -- Without Credit Checks or 2-Year Commitments by Donna Schwartz Mills < http://ld.net/?americanglo >

In Part 1 of this series, we explored reasons why some home business owners choose wireless phones for their telephone needs, and how to find a carrier that works for you. (See Part 1 at < http://www.family-content.com/articles/data/20020924130604.shtml >

In that article, we focused on standard wireless service plans in United States, where customer agrees in advance to pay for a minimum amount of airtime monthly -- for a period of one or two years. Before customer signs a contract, he or she is subjected to a credit check and may be required to leave a hefty deposit to get started.

This could pose a problem for new home-based entrepreneur who may be strapped for cash and credit poor, and making a one or two year commitment may not be wisest choice for someone in start-up phase.

These individuals may want to check out new prepaid plans springing up in U.S. Most of these are using a model popular in Europe, which work like this:

* Customers buy a service package consisting of a telephone and a prepaid voucher for airtime (ranging from $10 to $25).

* Users are charged for calls they make and receive up to amount of prepaid airtime.

* When a customer runs out of airtime, he or she can "top up" account, either by buying more time online or over phone with a credit card or paying cash at a local store for another air time voucher.

This kind of service requires no credit checks or long-term commitments; customers may quit at any time.

Most of major U.S. wireless providers have introduced their own versions of this kind of system and have recently been joined by European and Australian players getting their feet wet in American market. In fact, industry statistics indicate that this is fastest growing segment of wireless market.

You should also note that even large national carriers may not be offering their prepaid plans in your area. Do check out their websites for more information.

Here's a rundown of some of prepaid plans currently offered in U.S.:

AT&T Free2Go < http://www.attws.com/personal/prepaid/index.jhtml >

The nation's largest telecommunications company offers a dizzying array of services, including this one. When you purchase a Free2Go package at $99.99, you get a Nokia 3361 TDMA Digital multi-network phone, battery, charger & headset and a voucher worth $10 in airtime.

Once again, you need to carefully analyze your calling patterns. AT&T offers a choice of a "Home Calling Plan," which gives you one rate for local and long distance calls and another rate for roaming... and a "Nationwide Calling Plan," which gives you a higher, blanket rate (but does not charge extra for roaming).

AT&T's pricing has an additional wrinkle in that your per-minute rate will vary depending upon amount of your prepaid vouchers. If you buy just a $10 Local Plan voucher, your airtime will cost you 50 cents per minute... but that decreases down to 12 cents per minute with a $100 voucher. Be sure you do numbers very carefully before you buy!

One nice thing about AT&T's plan is that if you have an old phone lying around that is compatible with their network, you can just go down to one of their dealers and pick up a Free2Go Starter Kit at no cost - all you pay for is your airtime to get started!

BoostMobile < http://www.boostmobile.com/home.htm >

This Australian company is currently testing its new U.S. service in California, with plans to go national in 2003. Their youth-oriented advertising is targeted to teenagers, but that's no reason why their parents might not be interested, if service is good.

Boost offers a nice selection of Motorola phones on Nextel network, which means that their service also includes Nextel's nifty Direct Connect "walkie talkie" type feature (renamed by Boost to Boost2Way). The downside of using Nextel's network is coverage, which is not as wide as some of other major carriers. Boost's phones also feature some nifty games (as noted above, their target market is teen segment).

© 2002 Elena Fawkner

I'm sure you've heard this dreaded statistic before: failure rate of all start-up businesses is around 90% mark. Add to that further distinctly unpleasant fact that roughly 50% of all marriages end in divorce and you can quickly see that odds of your new small business succeeding, already slim, become positively anorexic if you run your business in partnership with your spouse.

So, what are some of key challenges faced by newly entrepreneurial couples and what can YOU do to reduce chances of becoming a statistic?

RELATIONSHIP

A structure is only as strong as foundation upon which it's built. If you're in business with your spouse, foundation of your structure is relationship. That needs to be like bedrock before you even *contemplate* starting a business together.

Make sure you honestly assess your commitment to business and to each other up front. Do you share same family values and desires? Do you plan to have (more) children? If so, how do you accommodate family responsibilities and build a business at same time?

Discuss these issues before they arise. The last thing you, your business, your relationship or your family needs are nasty surprises. If you simply assume your spouse will cut back on business and assume lion's share of parenting responsibilities, think again. Your spouse may be making same assumption ... about you!

Preserve and nurture what's led you to where you are today: your relationship with each other. And that may not be as easy as it sounds.

At least in early days of business, your relationship will need to thrive on a lack of quality 'couple' time or, indeed, any time at all! It is by no means unusual for new business owners to be working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week to get their businesses off ground. That's one very important reason why your relationship needs to be in good shape before you go into business together. You don't want to be subjecting a relationship in trouble to that sort of pressure.

Look for ways to retain romantic intimacy. When you're working 16/7 that won't happen by itself. One good idea is to schedule 'dates' on a regular basis. Even once a week can make all difference. Just make sure you don't use time to talk shop. This is supposed to be romantic time for two of you as a couple. Tomorrow's time to discuss business and it will be here soon enough!

You can, I'm sure, think of many other ways to keep romance alive. Start little rituals, such as candlelight dinner breaks, for example. The important thing is to always stay aware of this area of your relationship and don't let it slide, no matter how absorbed you both become in your new business.

You'll probably find you take it in turns being vigilant in this area.

DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY

It is absolutely crucial that each of you has your own clearly defined areas of sole responsibility. Any business needs one and only one person to make a final decision. This doesn't mean that one person makes all decisions, it just means that one person makes final decision in his or her area of sole responsibility.

Start by allocating business responsibilities between you and having a very clear understanding that each of you has final decision-making authority in your respective areas. Under no circumstances should you encroach on your partner's area of responsibility and/or override his or her decisions. Start doing that and cracks WILL begin to appear, I kid you not! Sure, consult each other when making decisions. That's what business partners do, after all. But ultimate decision-making authority must rest with one who has overall responsibility for relevant area of business.

The business is not only area where responsibility needs to be divided. Don't forget to allocate responsibility for household chores and parenting responsibilities. Who is to do grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning and bill payments?

COMMUNICATION

Each of you should treat other just as you would a respected colleague outside business. So show each other same respect, courtesy, appreciation and gratitude that you would show any valued co-worker.

No matter how well people get along, disagreements about certain aspects of business are inevitable. And just as in any other business, what is important is how those disagreements are resolved.

A clear agreement on division of responsibility is a very good start and having already agreed that one of you has final decision-making authority in your respective areas means that there is always a means for resolution of disagreement - a final decision. Otherwise you'd find yourselves going around in circles, unable to agree, until finally one of you would take matters into your own hands out of frustration or you'd simply do nothing. And that's bad for business and bad for your relationship.