| As cell phones become more than just a | | | | amount. You can also just wait and pay at the |
| convenience, People who had not considered | | | | regular time and simply do without the phone until |
| getting one before are now seriously looking at | | | | then. |
| the various options open to them. Though | | | | Prepaid cell phones with redeemable airtime cards |
| contract cell phones are still the most common, | | | | are perhaps the fastest growing of the prepaid |
| prepaid cell phones are gaining popularity. | | | | cell phones. These work by redeeming an airtime |
| Many people looking at getting their first cell phone | | | | card with a certain number of minutes. The |
| are hesitant about getting locked into a two year | | | | number of minutes available on these cards |
| contract when they are not sure just how much | | | | ranges from 20 on up. Some have as many as |
| they will actually use the phone. Even people who | | | | 500 minutes. |
| have had contract plans are looking to go with | | | | Some, like Tracfone, have cards that keep your |
| prepaid when they find they either don't use the | | | | phone activated for one full year, even if you run |
| cell phone enough or just want to get away from | | | | out of minutes. If you don't get the one year |
| the monthly bills. | | | | activation card, you need to redeem a new card |
| Prepaid cell phones are cell phones that don't have | | | | at least every sixty days to keep your phone |
| a contract that requires paying a monthly bill even | | | | active. If it goes inactive, it can be reactivated but |
| if you don't use the phone. There are basically | | | | you will most likely have a new phone number. |
| two types of prepaid phones - prepaid with | | | | Many companies besides Tracfone offer this kind |
| monthly plans and prepaid with redeemable airtime | | | | of prepaid phone. Among them are Virgin Mobile, |
| cards. | | | | T-Mobile, and AT&T. |
| The prepaid cell phones with monthly plans are like | | | | With prepaid cell phone plans, you most often buy |
| month to month subscriptions that can be ended | | | | the phone outright but there are often specials |
| at any time. These plans often have many of the | | | | that include a free phone with the purchase of a |
| same advantages that contract cell phone plans | | | | high minute plan or airtime card. |
| have, such as free night and weekend minutes | | | | Prepaid cell phones are often preferred by people |
| and free mobile to mobile. Several of the major | | | | who need a cell phone but are watching their |
| carriers have such plans but the most notable is | | | | budgets and don't want to have a monthly bill |
| AT&T, formerly Cingular. | | | | they have to pay. Prepaid gives the option of not |
| With their Go Phones, you would have several | | | | having to pay a penalty for ending a contract |
| plan options to choose from. These are based on | | | | before it is up. Just simply not buy more minutes |
| the number of anytime minutes, options such as | | | | or end the subscription. These are ideal for |
| free nights and weekends and free mobile to | | | | keeping the use of cell phones by teenagers and |
| mobile. If you run short of minutes before it is | | | | pre-teens from getting out of hand. When the |
| time to pay the subscription again, you can add | | | | minutes are gone, they are gone. |
| more minutes by calling in and paying an additional | | | | |