Prepaid Cell Phone Plans

[suzyq]

Do you know of a good prepaid cell phone plan?

I have been looking into different plans, they all seem about the same to me. 

Getting involved in contracts doesn't make sense for my use - there are only two people I know with cell phones, my brother (he uses it mostly has a watch) and my music teacher - other than that I think it would be good to have in an emergency.

Thanks for helping out a real beginner.

[Mozart]

My cell phone contract ends next month (thank God!) and I'm looking into T Mobil prepaid. They don't seem to charge you a daily fee which is why every other prepaid situation sucks. You buy a phone, the good one is about 100$ and then you just buy 1000 minutes (100$) which lasts a year. As long as they don't charge you a daily fee, its probably the best.

[matti]

there are only two people I know with cell phones

I don't know anyone without one. 

Not necessarily a good thing though, people take it for granted that you're available at all times. A drastic change compared to how things were not more than ten years ago.

[Mozart]

I don't know anyone without one. 

Not necessarily a good thing though, people take it for granted that you're available at all times. A drastic change compared to how things were not more than ten years ago.

Go to a college campus, and I promise you that you'll see people having pretend cell phone conversations. Ipods and cell phones...they keep people from interacting with one another. I used to carry a pocketful of rubber bands to fling at anyone using cell phones/ipods...it was fun

[Gurn Blanston]

I got a Virgin Mobile phone for my wife, she uses it about as you are describing, Suz. I pay $20 every 3 months, and the minutes left roll over. There are way more minutes than we every use, so she has maybe $100+ worth of credits on it. Anyway, they lease cell space from a bunch of big providers, so you can hit a tower nearly anywhere. If you are near an urban area, you have it made. All you have to do is buy a phone from them, most are between $40-100.



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Now playing: Resphigi Airs - Lausanne CO / López-Cobos - Resphigi Ancient Airs Suite 3 pt 4

[Mozart]

I got a Virgin Mobile phone for my wife, she uses it about as you are describing, Suz. I pay $20 every 3 months, and the minutes left roll over. There are way more minutes than we every use, so she has maybe $100+ worth of credits on it. Anyway, they lease cell space from a bunch of big providers, so you can hit a tower nearly anywhere. If you are near an urban area, you have it made. All you have to do is buy a phone from them, most are between $40-100.



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Now playing: Resphigi Airs - Lausanne CO / López-Cobos - Resphigi Ancient Airs Suite 3 pt 4

Hey Mr. Blanston,

Don't you have to pay a dollar every day for virgin mobil? It's the main reason why I don't want to get virgin.

[Gurn Blanston]

Hey Mr. Blanston,

Don't you have to pay a dollar every day for virgin mobil? It's the main reason why I don't want to get virgin.

Um, no. I've had it for 3 years and have never paid a penny beyond the $20 every 90 days.

[DavidW]

I got a Virgin Mobile phone for my wife, she uses it about as you are describing, Suz. I pay $20 every 3 months, and the minutes left roll over. There are way more minutes than we every use, so she has maybe $100+ worth of credits on it. Anyway, they lease cell space from a bunch of big providers, so you can hit a tower nearly anywhere. If you are near an urban area, you have it made. All you have to do is buy a phone from them, most are between $40-100.

I don't know anything about cell phones but I'll need one for Thanksgiving break so that I can go visit my parents and still be in contact with my students without releasing my parents' phone number to them.  I haven't owned a cell phone before, and I was thinking of just getting a prepaid one.  Do you know how would I know what provider works per city or is it like pretty much all of them will work anywhere now?

[m_gigena]

I got a Virgin Mobile phone for my wife, she uses it about as you are describing, Suz. I pay $20 every 3 months, and the minutes left roll over.

Virgin roll over for 20 bucks sounds right to me. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Virgin roll over for 20 bucks sounds right to me. 

Yes, in fact I bought into it for the fantasy image...  

[suzyq]

Thanks everybody - Virgin Mobile seems to be the most popular and I am in the process of checking it out.

So we'll see.  I really appreciate all your help.