Are Prepaid Cell Plans A Good Idea ?

MikePA · Jan 2, 2004

ATT apparantly hasn't signed that agreement with the other providers that guvmint insisted on. 
Number portability is not contingent upon a carrier signing an agreement. Wireless carriers in the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) must have implemented it starting on November 24, 2003. (MSAs are geographic designations of population centers compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau.) Wireless carriers outside the top 100 MSAs that receive a request to port a number must be capable of doing so within six months after receiving the request or by May 24, 2004, whichever is later.

Here's a link to the FCC site with the rest of the facts about number portability.

BRUSHTAMERS · Jan 2, 2004

Thanks Mike, followed that FCC link which explained much. Been getting my info from the local carriers, pirates one and all, aaaarrrrgggghhhh. (Sorry, never did get to use that on talk like a pirate day) Guess I'll just pay a monthly till May or so till I can switch. Followed the link for Tracfone also, but nobody I know of has even heard of it. Am on the OR. coast, was once part of the Portland cell network, but they cut us loose with a local prefix, because I assume we out of towners were costing some bucks to them. Verizon is the best carrier locally, but has some wierd billing issues. Nextel has the walkie/talkie option which would work well for me. Thanks again Sidey the BRUSHTAMER

Hoosier_Daddy · Jan 3, 2004

Consumer reports just did another report on Cell providers and phones.

Just saw the mag at the neighbor's house.

PineRidge · Jan 3, 2004

Can you please tell me if that is the Dec 03 issue? I am not a subscriber but would look for that particular issue. Those guys are normally right on target with their reports.

Bob999 · Jan 3, 2004

Followed the link for Tracfone also, but nobody I know of has even heard of it. 

I recently purchased a Tracfone. It turned out that the service was through Verizon when I activiated the phone. In my area the service area for Tracfone with a digital phone is the same as that offered by Verizon--very good. Tracfone has service areas posted on its web site--you enter your zip code.

I purchased the Motorola phone, that included one years service and 20 minutes of air time for $95, including delivery and sales tax. Minutes last as long as your service term and roll over if you extend the service term in a timely manner.

In my view if you aren't really a cell phone user and really just want one for emergency use a prepaid phone like Tracfone can't be beat.

Alternatively, if you are going to use the phone regularly a traditional service plan is probably a better deal.

Gatorboy · Jan 3, 2004

( In my view if you aren't really a cell phone user and really just want one for emergency use a prepaid phone like Tracfone can't be beat. )

What I find is that people that have never had a cell phone think they would want one only for emergencies -- but after having access to one, they find out how convenient they are to have and use them regularly. Then after having one for a while have a hard time thinking how they got by without one in the first place.

With such low monthly fees for a cell phone, I would not even consider a pre-paid phone.

In fact, we have the AT&T family plan, (3 phones that share monthly: 1050 anytime minutes; 1000 mobile-to-mobile minutes; unlimited nights & weekends) and are seriously considering getting rid out our home phone.

Old_Hickory · Jan 3, 2004

With such low monthly fees for a cell phone, I would not even consider a pre-paid phone.

Hey much is your monthly bill ?
I had Alltel and did not need a thousand minutes a month. The reason I like Tracfone is I can pretty much buy the time that suits my needs and not deal with the rest.I had Alltel for 5 years and I am much more satisified with Tracfone.
My 2 cents worth.

Gatorboy · Jan 4, 2004

( Hey much is your monthly bill ? )

We pay $79/month. There are alot lower rates for less minutes, but with most of my family down in Florida, and alot of my wife's family outside the local calling area, we use alot of minutes.

Plus it's a great way to keep tabs on my teenagers /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Old_Hickory · Jan 4, 2004

I can see where that plan would really fit your needs well.
I have 3 teenagers and and in another year our baby girl will be a teenager.It sure is a lot different then when I was growing up,the best I could do was hope to have a quarter in my pocket and nearest payphone not be more than a mile away. Times have changed. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

jayhawkRoy · Jan 5, 2004

Wife and I both use Tracfones as emergency cell phones. I use less than 100 mins per year, and Tracfone policy allows for rollover of minutes. We renew on the Tracfone website (about 150 mins yearly contract for $105). Voted on yearly for convenience and the guaranteed rollover of unused minutes aspect. That works out to about $9 per month for an emergency phone. No other carrier we found beats that monthly cost. Additionally, I end up using up minutes that would normally be regular long distance calls towards the end of the contract because I can never use up 150 mins each year, anyway. Our feeling is you can't beat the price to have a phone availalble. I still have an old analog phone, but the wife upgraded to a digital phone for $50 or $75 (can't remember which). The rollover minutes allow me a cushion if I must have an extended conversation with someone.