| Prepaid phones have largely been under the radar | | | | bang for the buck than similar plans ever really |
| for the past five years. There are two reasons | | | | have. As a way to compete in a crowded |
| for this. One is that consumer expectations were | | | | marketplace, many wireless providers have |
| different than they are now. The second is that | | | | unveiled user-friendly unlimited plans that provide |
| prepaid wireless providers have become more | | | | subscribers with limitless talk time, texting, and |
| aggressive with their offers and prices. | | | | internet surfing. It is a testament to how far the |
| In the past, prepaid cellphone plans were seen as | | | | prepaid market has come that some of these |
| the "lesser" option. It seems funny to think about | | | | companies now compete directly with |
| now, but they were seen as only for people who | | | | contract-based plans. |
| did not qualify for standard contract wireless | | | | The economy is also a factor, as it always is in |
| plans. Since you need to pass a credit check and | | | | consumer decisions and perceptions. Since many |
| qualify for a contract phone, since you pay after | | | | people are struggling financially, they have begun |
| you use the service each month, if you had bad | | | | to cut costs out of their daily lives. The first |
| credit all you could do was get a prepaid phone. | | | | things many people look at when deciding to |
| Prepaid phones do not require a credit check, | | | | make cut backs are cable TV, entertainment |
| which actually sounds like a good thing. | | | | expenses, and cell phone bills. |
| Worse, prepaid phones were often associated | | | | Prepaid wireless plans offer people the opportunity |
| with people who didn't want to be "traced." They | | | | to cut back on their expenses in a crucial way. |
| have long been used in cop shows and procedural | | | | Many consumers overspend on their current |
| dramas as a way of evading prying ears. In other | | | | plans, but do not notice it. Getting ahead financially |
| words, some people associated pay as you go | | | | is not about how much money you earn, it's |
| phones with crime. It sounds strange, but add all | | | | about how much you save. |
| the negative connotations together and you start | | | | Unlimited plans seem to cover moderate cell |
| to see that many people did not see prepaid as a | | | | phone users very well. Tracfone has two plans |
| viable option. | | | | under the Straight Talk banner, which offer |
| Many people also simply did not know anything | | | | extremely competitive deals. One plan for 1,000 |
| about prepaid cell phone plans since they have not | | | | minutes per month costs $30, while the Unlimited |
| been heavily advertised by wireless companies. | | | | plan costs $45. Boost Mobile has a monthly |
| Still, many people quietly saved money every | | | | unlimited plan that costs $50. Other contenders |
| month by using prepaid cell phone plans. | | | | are MetroPCS, Page Plus Cellular, and Cricket. |
| The new unlimited prepaid plans provide more | | | | |