| Up until recently if you wanted cell phone service, | | | | usage to go for several months or use it all in one |
| you had to get on a "plan". That usually involved a | | | | month. The choice will be yours. |
| credit worthy two year commitment. The better | | | | Rollover Minutes |
| your credit was, the better plan you could get | | | | In a regular cell phone service plan, you are usually |
| into. Prepaid cell phones were once the "dirty | | | | allocated a certain number of minutes each |
| distant cousins" of regular wireless plans. People | | | | month. For example, take a plan that offers 900 |
| that bought pre-paid wireless phones could not | | | | minutes per month. If you use 700 minutes in a |
| qualify for a regular plan. | | | | month, the remaining 200 minutes go to waste. In |
| Times have changed! The Pre-Paid sector of the | | | | most pre-paid arrangements, the unused minutes |
| wireless industry has taken its rightful place with | | | | will simply roll over into the next month so there |
| regular wireless. And it's gaining ground on the | | | | are no wasted minutes! |
| regular wireless plans because it offers good value | | | | Cost and Selection of Phones |
| without having to make a long term commitment. | | | | This is the one disadvantage to a prepaid wireless |
| What are some advantages and disadvantages | | | | phone service. With pre-paid, generally the phones |
| you should consider before buying a pre-paid | | | | cost more and the selection is more limited. The |
| cellular phone? | | | | best phone prices and the best selection of |
| No Commitment | | | | phones generally come with two year plans. For |
| The biggest advantage to a Prepaid arrangement | | | | example, at the time of this article, the Apple |
| is that there is no commitment. You can drop the | | | | iPhone is only available with a two year plan. With |
| service anytime without penalty. In a typical two | | | | two year plans, phones are deep discounted and |
| year plan, you are penalized if you cancel the | | | | in some cases given away free. You won't find |
| service before the contract period is up. Also | | | | these kinds of phone prices in pre-paid |
| consider how long two years is in an industry like | | | | arrangements. |
| wireless. There are lots of technological changes in | | | | If you can overlook the price of the phone, a |
| a two year period and people may not want to | | | | prepaid cell phone can offer a good value for your |
| get stuck with something that long. | | | | money. It can offer a way to avoid monthly |
| Pay as you Go | | | | phone bills and long term commitments. But make |
| Pre-paid wireless arrangements generally let you | | | | sure you can find a phone that fits your budget |
| pay as you go. This means you don't have to pay | | | | and your phone usage requirements before |
| money every month like you would with a two | | | | making the choice. |
| year wireless plan. You can budget your phone | | | | |