Prepaid Cell Phones - Easy to Buy and Use
Prepaid cell phones also called pay-as-you-go phones are one of the recent additions to the wireless service industry. With prepaid wireless, there are no contracts to sign, no monthly bills, no long-term commitments, no credit checks, no age limit, no activation fee and no hidden fees; these features are what make prepaid cellular plans so attractive. You control your own cell phone expenses and manage your money when you use prepaid cell phones. You purchase minutes in advance or when you need them so you can monitor how much you spend.
There are fairly a large number of cell phone provider that has jumped on the prepaid cell phone bandwagon, recognizing the large market of customers that are interested in obtaining cell phones without contracts or obligations. Currently, the chief prepaid cellular phone service providers are Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin Mobile, 7-Eleven, Tracfone, Net10 and Boost Mobile.
Cingular wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States. They offer two distinct plan types that give customers flexibility not afforded by many prepaid service providers. They also have great cell phone coverage and have good customer service.
Verizon Wireless has a long-standing tradition of superior customer service and product dependability. Verizon Wireless INpulse offers rates as low as 10 per minute, perfect for teens and people who talk a lot on the phone. For credit challenged people who want regular post pay style calling plans, they can opt for Verizon Wireless’ EasyPay Plan.
Virgin Mobile, the first MVNO carrier in the United States that operates over Sprint’s network has led the way in aggressively marketing its prepaid service to the youth market. If you’ve been to a Virgin Megastore lately, you’ve doubtless seen flashy and trendy Virgin Mobile phones hanging from display racks. Boost Mobile is a “lifestyle based” MVNO carrier that’s aiming squarely for the youth market just like Virgin Mobile. This prepaid cell phone provider is armed with snazzy versions of Motorola’s sensible handsets and push-to-talk (PTT) walkie-talkie functionality on Nextel’s iDEN network.
The 7-Eleven’s Speak Out charges a flat 20 cents a minute (except for roaming charges of 39 cents a minute) and offers a choice of six handsets from Nokia, Motorola and Sony Ericsson priced from $60 to $150. However, unlike services that require activation online or by phone, 7-Eleven’s phones come right out of the box. Net10 is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that is operating on TracFone Wireless’ network. They offer the best per minute rate for prepaid voice service and the prepaid service requires no yearly commitment. Net10 phones start at $20 and include 300 minutes/60 days of service.
Tracfone Wireless is considered the leader and recognized as the largest provider in nationwide prepaid wireless plans. It offers simple pricing, ease of use and great customer service that make this company stand out as a prepaid service provider. The Tracfone prepaid service is a boon to those who want the convenience of wireless service but want to stay within a budget, infrequent users and it can also offer peace of mind for those who want have a cell phone for emergencies. They have a great selection of mobile phones and they also offer longer airtime; they offer refill cards that are valid up to one year.
The key in deciding on the best deal for a prepaid wireless cell phone depends a lot on your own personal preferences and lifestyle. So there is a need for you to consider carefully all of the benefits and disadvantages of each prepaid cell phone offered by the various prepaid wireless providers to make sure you select the best one for you.
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