CELLULAR’S TWO RINGLEADERS

Consider how you want to use your cellular phone: primarily for business, in case of emergency or to carry with you when you leave your auto. Then you’ll have to decide whether you want a mobile phone for use only inside the car or a transportable one that can be used inside or outside the car with a battery pack or a small portable one.

* Take time to find out what types of monthly service plans and packages are available from the two cellular carriers, PacTel Cellular and LA Cellular.

* Decide where you will most use the phone--the Westside, South Bay, etc.--and ask the carriers what their coverage zones are. There are terrain problems that can mask radio signals and certain areas, such as freeway interchanges or around the airport, where cellular service is congested.

* If you choose a mobile unit, check to see if the price includes installation and the antenna.

* For added safety in driving, industry representatives recommend getting an additional “hands free” unit for your car phone.

* Purchase your phone from a dealer with a good reputation in the electronics business. Make sure you check what is and is not covered in the warranty. Most manufacturers offer a one- to three-year warranty on parts and labor.

* Ask your insurance agent if a cellular phone for your car is covered in your existing auto or homeowner policy. If not, you can buy additional coverage for it.

* If you get a cellular phone, remember: You will be charged for incoming calls as well as outgoing ones, and your phone bills can get expensive quickly when the cost is 45 cents a minute during peak hours.