Pagers are small wireless devices that can keep you in touch with coworkers, clients, or suppliers. The units contain a small display that shows a phone number or a text message and are small enough to clip comfortably on your belt, pocket or purse.

This guide is designed to give you the facts you need to buy a pager for you or your employees. The various sections are listed in the box above. You can choose to read this guide from beginning to end, or jump directly to a section of interest.

Types of Pagers

Numeric
Numeric pagers can display numbers only. They can indicate a phone number to call, or a code for a specific pre-planned message (e.g., "11" means you have a voice mail message, "22" means call the office).

Alphanumeric
Alphanumeric pagers offer the same capabilities as numeric pagers plus the ability to display short written messages, saving time by sparing you from making a call. A related type of pager is the voice pager, which can display a phone number and play a short voice message.

Two-way pager
These models can not only display a message, but also allow the recipient to send back a reply, saving even more time. Two-way paging tends to be offered only in large metropolitan areas.

How a Pager Works

Numeric
Callers touch-tone dial a paging service, then enter in the numeric code--usually up to 20 digits--that will appear on the pager (typically the return phone number). The paging service then sends a signal to the local paging terminal, which transmits it via radio waves over the entire coverage area. The pager then alerts the pager owner with beeps or vibrations that a message is waiting.

Alphanumeric
The most common way to transmit text with an alphanumeric pager is to call the carrier operator, who then transcribes the message (typically up to 80 characters) to be sent to the pager. Other ways to send text include via modem or a dedicated alpha entry terminal.

Two-way
Two-way pagers use the PCS (Personal Communications Services) band recently auctioned off by the FCC. PCS relies upon low-power signals that are picked up by many small signal towers within a given region. Even a small pager can contain all the necessary PCS technology to receive and send messages.

Features

Method of Alert
The standard method is to play a series of beeps; however, many models can be set to silently vibrate when a message arrives. The vibrating setting is ideal for use in a quiet setting when you do not want to disturb those around you.

Expanded Memory
Depending on the type of pager, expanded memory allows you to store anywhere from 10 to 30 messages in the pager. This allows users to store phone numbers in memory for future reference. Some pagers will even retain messages in memory when the battery is removed.

Time and Date Stamp
This tells you exactly when a message arrived and can be quite useful if calls will not be returned until later.

Voice Mail
Offered with some paging plans, voice mail-equipped pagers give callers the option of sending a page or leaving a voice mail message. Using voice mail, callers don't necessarily have to wait for a return call. Alternately, many voice mail systems can be programmed to offer pager notification of newly arrived voice mail messages.

Information Updates
Some pagers will update users with stock quotes, news updates, sports scores, weather, and traffic information.

Coverage Area

Every paging service has varying levels of coverage, or distance from the pager from which the owner can receive messages. Depending on where you expect to receive pages from, there are services that offer local, regional or national coverage.

Coverage is determined by the transmitters the pager is programmed for. The larger the coverage you want, the more expensive your paging service and/or pager will be.

Services with national coverage, although expensive, ensure that you can be reached no matter where you travel.

Pricing

The paging market mirrors the cellular phone market. The equipment has become more and more of a commodity over time, with service increasingly becoming the differentiating factor. Many dealers waive the pager activation fee or sell the units at a loss to attract new customers.

Depending on the plan, monthly service fees can range from $10 to $40 per month, with payment on a quarterly or annual basis. Service fees will also vary depending on whether you currently own a pager.

If you will be buying a pager, expect to pay $30 to $150 depending on the type of pager and accompanying features. Pagers can also be leased for a minimal monthly fee.

The coverage area will significantly affect the monthly service charge. Local service starts at less than $10 per month, while national service is priced closer to $30 per month.

Special Tips

Bundle With Your Cellular
Most cellular telephone companies now offer paging services as well. If you already have cellular service or are considering it, you may want to try to bundle the two purchases together to qualify for a better deal.

Want to switch providers?
Not all pagers work with all companies, but most pagers can be "recrystallized" to operate with a different provider. However, recrystallization may cost as much or more than simply purchasing a new pager.

Check the Fine Print
Make sure to ask about penalties for termininating contracts early.

Bonus: Interactive Pagers

By definition, an interactive pager allows users to respond to messages without having to pick up a phone. Until relatively recently, though, the options for responding were severely limited. The latest generation of two-way pagers give you a much better ability to craft more detailed responses to complex questions--phone free.

These one-stop message centers can send and receive email and pages as well as transmit faxes; some can even send computerized voice messages. Most have address books for storage of all the numbers and addresses you'll need. Like tiny computers, they have both a keyboard and a display.

Unfortunately, they also resemble a computer in their price. These pagers start at a few hundred dollars each, and can get up to $700 (not including monthly fees, which can run between $25-$50). They're worth buying only if you'll really get value out of all the functionality.

If you find that most of your wireless phone calls can be left as messages, an interactive pager can be a viable alternative to a wireless phone.