| One of the greatest new options being offered | | | | card and the service provider each prepaid card is |
| by wireless service providers in recent years is | | | | good for up to a couple months after purchase. |
| the prepaid cell phone service. When the idea was | | | | Prepaid cell phones were born out of the need to |
| first born it wasn’t easy to find a place to | | | | offer cellular service to consumers who wanted a |
| sign up but currently the prepaid cell phone option | | | | phone for occasional use only. People who were |
| is available in most any state by nearly all mobile | | | | worried about needing to make emergency calls |
| network providers. | | | | or get roadside assistance would turn to cell |
| The actual phones offered with these deals are | | | | phones but then get scared away by high |
| typically available at a below average price. They | | | | monthly fees. After all, even paying for a low |
| were originally phones that were designed to | | | | monthly plan of thirty dollars is expensive for |
| include only the bare bone essentials but with the | | | | someone who may only make the one call a |
| evolution of the prepaid cell phone phenomenon | | | | month or just wants to leave it in their car for |
| the available phones have grown more appealing. | | | | insurance. This marketing strategy has paid off |
| Furthermore, a lot of companies are now offering | | | | well because these types of consumers have |
| more expensive, “fully loaded” | | | | found the packages to be quite appealing. |
| phones with their prepaid alternative. And because | | | | What is important to understand when getting |
| this kind of package is so appealing to those | | | | these phones, however, is that they still |
| purchasing the plan as a gift, better offers are | | | | aren’t entirely free when left unused. As |
| always turning up that include rebates and starter | | | | mentioned, time purchased for the phone will |
| airtime. | | | | eventually expire if it isn’t used—often |
| Unlike the more conventional cell phone services | | | | the time it takes to expire depends on the initial |
| that are more regularly promoted, prepaid cell | | | | block of time purchased. Furthermore, there has |
| phone plans do not call for a long term | | | | to be an active balance on the phone account in |
| commitment. While monthly phone plans usually | | | | order to keep it from being canceled. If the |
| require a contract to be signed with the promise | | | | prepaid cell phone is really going to go unused for |
| of several years of payments, the prepaid | | | | long periods of time, the minimum cost of having |
| phones offer more freedom. The user of the | | | | it is usually between five and ten dollars a month. |
| phone only has to pay for the airtime they use | | | | Finally, be wary that the per-minute costs of |
| and they pay pretty much while they use it. | | | | these phones are a lot higher then you may |
| Typically the airtime is sold in the form of a | | | | expect. So make sure you understand the terms |
| phone card, much like a long distance or payphone | | | | of use before you settle on which phone to buy, |
| card. Each prepaid cell phone card has an allotted | | | | just in case you do end up using it more then |
| amount attached to it and money is deducted | | | | expected. |
| from it as the phone is used. Depending on the | | | | |