Prepaid Cell Phones

About Tracfone coverage in more remote areas:

It may depend what kind of phone you get. They have one type that appears to be getting harder to find that will have service almost anywhere, but you have to pay double minutes when roaming outside the assigned local area (CDMA). The other type is single rate (GSM), no roaming charges, but coverage is not as comprehensive.

I have tried both types (a particular bonus offer made it beneficial to get a second phone, which allowed me to try features on another model) and didn't have a lot of trouble using the latter in most places, but when I had airtime on both of them simultaneously, it was interesting to turn both of them on in remote areas and I would have service on the CDMA but not the single rate (GSM). Because I have so many minutes, I don't worry too much about the roaming rate while travelling (and that roaming rate is still a lot less than the roaming rate on other prepaid phones), so when it came time to go back down to one phone, consolidated my minutes on the older one for the benefit of more comprehensive coverage.

So how to find one of these "older" phones today? Take a look at the coverage maps and if it appears to show a GSM dead zone near you, try a nearby ZIP code in that area and it's possible that they might be providing CDMA for that home area. I haven't tried it, so I can't be absolutely sure, but you might also look at ebay.com or similar for used Tracfones and activate it in your area. (Just make sure it's CDMA and not the older TDMA, service for which was discontinued last year.)

Either way, Tracfone still seems the overall least expensive choice for light usage. Quality, availability, and price of service is good. My biggest frustration with Tracfone are the times I have needed to call customer service (fortunately not often). It usually resolves the problem (eventually), but not as easy or convenient as one ought to be able to expect.

Regarding Bob's post about potential roaming charges using the Page Plus service that I recommended: Yeah, I was also worried when I started using it but I found that Verizon's towers (which Page Plus piggy-backs on) seem to cover every area I go to, so I have not been charged roaming even once. Of course, the areas YOU go to may be more off the beaten path, but that just means the other prepaid carrier are also likely to roam in those same areas. Some will charge even more for roaming and others won't let you connect out-of-network at all. I think most providers at least indicate clearly (before a call is connected) that proceding will involve roaming charges. In the case of Page Plus, they say you'll know that an outgoing call will roam if you get get prompted to enter the number a second time.

The good thing about most pre-paids is that you can test their service with minimal investment or risk and then just not bother refilling. If your travels do cause roaming, then dump them and move on. I actually got the first two of my family's 3 phones activated with Page Plus directly over the phone because there were no dealers near me at the time. As a result, there was no activation charge and my first 100 minutes were also (but they may not always do that). Of course, without a dealer nearby, you will only be able to refill though their customer service number or website, neither of which offers their very best-value refill. (I'm actually still a light user but I keep buying the minutes at that highest discount and they have piled up from all the carry-overs.) One other warning: depending on your location, they may not have a number to assign you that's in your area code.

I switched to a pre-paid to save some $$$ since I am currently unemployed. I'm using T-mobile, and I love it. I can choose how much to use the phone, and don't have to pay $45 every month. If I'm broke, I just don't use the phone at all. Usually, I spend about $10-15 a month in use (which is 100-150 minutes).

I use Pay as You Go, which is just a straight up pay for every minute, but no "per day" charges. That's better for me, because I use it for short calls, but almost every day. Their other plan charges $1 every day you use it, but gives you unlimited time after 7pm.

Right now, T-mobile is having a promotion where you buy a phone and get $25 refill card for free. The phones start at $20 with free shipping. Here is the site: T-Mobile Pre-Paid.

I had the Verizon Family plan to get a phone for my wife and myself... 500 shared minutes each month, but rarely used the phone, never more than 30 minutes total between us. It was like throwing $70+ away every month.
I bought two Trac phones which have been fine. I bought a 400 minute card with double minutes for life for each phone, and still have plenty of minutes left. I started last September, and it has been great not having to pay $70+ every month for nothing.
I just wanted a phone for emergencies and convenience... and that's what Trac phone offered. I didn't want/need a camera phone, or any of the other nonsense they stuff into phones these days... I just wanted a simple cell phone, and that's what I got.

After studying several of the plans mentioned and a few others, I opted to go with T-Mobile's about 1 year ago.

T-Mobile in my area works fine, so that hasn't been an issue. What really made me decide on T-Mobile were the rates. The more minutes you buy, the less per minute cost - as with all of them. But what I really like with T-Mobile is that after spending $100 (which I finally did last month) in buying more minutes, the minutes are good for a year. And I get 15% bonus minutes now having reached the $100 threshold.

I originally started out with $25 worth (came with the phone - thus the phone cost me almost nothing), then two $10 purchases and last fall I bought $50 worth knowing from Dec - Jan I would be using the phone more on several trips away from home. My recent purchase of $10 worth of minutes put me over the magic $100 - again giving me 15% more minutes and a year before expiration.

Not sure if T-Mobile has changed its plans, but my plan is a basic plan with $10, $25, $50 & $100 amounts that can be used to recharge your minutes.

I think what is referenced in this article ... "This program offers you the ability to prepay your plan on a monthly basis. You can select between several great packages. Each package will offer you a different collection of features that relate to weekend minutes, night minutes, myFave minutes and day minutes" refers to their normal contract plans.

I live in Germany so when I came back to the States to visit my family I needed a cell phone for a short time. I found a NET 10 phone for $25 with 300 minutes of airtime ($30 worth). It would have been cheaper to throw the phone away than to buy more minutes! Normally you can get these phones at Walmart. They are owned by trac phone therefor use the att network. To me it was the most transparent system: 10c for all minutes anytime and I never was out of a coverage zone. (And 15c a min to Germany and most pf Europe and Mexico). Then at the airport someone asked to borrow my phone to make a call. I really enjoyed being able to say to him, "Keep the phone." He insisted on giving me a $5.00 tip. SO it cost me only $20 for 2 months of cell service and I had the convenience of always being in touch.

I have had tracfone service for several years with no problems. It used to be a problem adding minutes online but they solved that. I live in Ohio and have a hard line, spend several months in florida. Campground has free wi-fi, so receive calls on tracfone, hangup and return call using skype on wi-fi with laptop.

I have tried several brands of pre-paid mobile phone services, and have found Virgin Mobile to be the best! I pay about $25.00 a month for 200 minutes and 200 texts. If you buy a new minute pack 1 day before the expiration date of your current minute pack your remaining minutes roll over! I have a pretty good signal in my local area, but if you do a lot of traveling in remote area's use Verizon, it works nearly everywhere, but is more expensive!

virgin mobile sells prepaid cards,$25 for 2 months after 2 months they cut the service off even if you don't use the phone. how can they get away with that? Isn't that a ripoff? Do other company's do this?

I've used T-Mobile pre-paid for several years and have absolutely no complaints. After the first initial purchase of $100 (can be done in increments of $10, $25, $50 or $100), you get extra minutes. They expire in a year, which may be a downfall for some if they don't use it very much. For $25, I get 140 minutes of talk/text time.