There are many Pre-paid carriers to choose from here is a list of the ones availible in the South Western Pennsylvania area:
1.Cricket-Buy the handset, pick a plan and pay a monthly access fee. No contract required.
A.$35 for Unlimited Local calling in your area code
B.$40 for Above and Long Distance
C.$45 for Above and call waiting, caller ID, Voicemail, 3-way calling, unlimited texting.
D.$50 for above and 411 directory assistance, mobile web.
E.$55 for above(-mobile web and 411) but you receive 100 min of nationwide roaming.
F.$60 includes all of E but with 200 minutes of nation wide roaming.
with any of the plans from A-D you can add for roaming:
$5 for 30 minutes of nation wide roaming
$10 for 70 minutes, and $15 for 120 minutes.
There is a $36 activation fee and if you miss paying on time the phone is deactivated and to have it turned back on there is a $15 are-activation fee. If you change your plan at anytime or change handsets(even if it because the origanal handset is being replaced due to defect or damage there is a $15 charge)
Handsets for Cricket can cost as low as $80 and as high as $300 dollars. For handset details goto www.mycricket.com
2.Tracfone is a pre-paid service that gives you access with a due date. Meaning that you have a set amount of time to use with in a time frame(i.e. 60 minutes to use within 90 days. if you use the minutes up before the 90 days purchase a new tracfone card to add minutes. buy a new card before the 90 days to maintain service.)
Handsets are minimum $15 to ? (all depends on the functions of the handset)
All tracfone phones come with 10 minutes after activation.
The minute cards are in the following denominations:
30 minutes for $10(good for 45 days), 60 minutes for $20(good for 90 days), 120 minutes for $30(good for 90 days), 200 minutes for $40(good for 120 days), 400 minutes for $100(good for 1yr) and a double minute card for $50(good for the life of the handset). The double minute card does not come with minutes but if you place it on the handset before adding a minute card those mionutes will be doubled and so will each card added until you change handsets(so try out the handset for a week or 2 before adding the double minute card and any large minute card incase you decide you don't like the handset). Tracfone is a Nationwide Service no roaming charge. If let the the service expire you can lose the phone number and minutes but Tracfone usually maintains the minutes and gives a new number after a 15 day grace period.
There is not an activation fee for carriers that use minute cards(Tracfone, Net10, Boost, Cingular to go(soon to be AT&T), T-Mobile to go, Verizon inpulse, Virgin mobile, Kajeet, Jump mobile)
there are many more Pre-paid carriers to come in the next few blogs.
