Friday, May 9, 2008

Prepaid Wireless Alternatives

By John Bear

If you don't want to be locked into an iron-clad contract, have a credit check performed, provide a security deposit, pay a monthly fee, if you are an infrequent user or if you want to manage your wireless spending, then you may just want to stick with a prepaid cell phone plan. Pre paid cell phone plans allows you to easily budget your minutes from month to month and keep control over your cell phone bill. A prepaid cellphone is one in which you purchase the phone and minutes upfront; you can buy minutes ahead of time and replenish them as needed.

You can choose from a number of prepaid cell phone service providers that has jumped on the prepaid cellular phone bandwagon. Cingular, Verizon, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Tracfone, Boost Mobile, and Net10 are the chief prepaid wireless providers.

Cingular wireless has all the benefits of traditional service in a prepaid cell phone plan. This prepaid service provider has a wide range of coverage areas, has good customer service and cool features. The T-Mobile Prepaid is another big brand that gets into the prepaid cell phone market. The T-Mobile's To Go plans that offer great coverage in T-Mobile friendly areas, wide array of basic phone features and competitive pricing make this prepaid service provider a great option.

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 has grown to three million customers in just three years by marketing heavily to teenagers. Virgin Mobile has benefited from cross-promotional ties with MTV. They have lured young hipsters with cheeky humor and goodies that include ring tones, text messaging, downloadable games and celebrity voice-mail greetings. Boost Mobile, which is a prepaid wireless brand owned by Nextel Communications also aims at the youth market but with an urban edge. It has hip-hop-flavored Web site and its phones come loaded with their own assortment of games, ring tones and wallpapers. But what really sets Boost Mobile apart is its walkie-talkie service, courtesy of Nextel.

The 7-Eleven prepaid cellular phone service provider also caters to budget-minded consumers. 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. Net10 offers a competitively priced prepaid service, decent prepaid cellphone selection and also good cell phone coverage.

Tracfone prepaid has the distinction of being the only prepaid cell phone company to offer a phone in every zip Code in the United States. While tracFone Wireless's prepaid cellular service may hardly be the envy of most teenagers, it has proved popular among older consumers as an emergency phone. Tracfone is the leader in the prepaid cellular industry in the US and is sold at over 60,000 retailers nationwide, as well as in the Internet. Tracfone wireless prepaid emphasizes affordability and service quality over flashy features. It has established agreements with more than 30 carriers that provide service even in traditionally underserved rural areas and they are using a mix of TDMA, CDMA and GSM technology.

Prepaid wireless phones aren't for everyone, especially to those who are heavy wireless users or want certain types of phones. If ever you decide that prepaid cell phone is for you, do not be intimidated or overwhelmed by the number of prepaid wireless options out there. You just have keep into consideration your unique communication needs very carefully.

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