Choosing the right prepaid cell phone service company can be confusing, with so many different services available in the market. This article presents a guide on how to evaluate prepaid phone services more easily.

Cell phone compatibility. It is important to understand that not all wireless phone units can be used with a prepaid service. Compared to post paid cell phone packages, your choices of units or handsets may be limited to only a few models. Hence, if you already have a phone or if you have a preference for a particular handset, you’ll want to check it will be compatible with a prepaid cell phone plan.

Coverage. One essential factor that you want to check on is the coverage. Prepaid cell phone service providers may offer coverage to only a limited number of States or regions. If you need to make a lot of calls to a friend or a family member who lives outside your State, make sure that your chosen carrier provides coverage in that area.

Cost per call. Prepaid phone packages are usually pre-loaded with call times and text messages so you can use them the moment you make the purchase. Nevertheless, once you have consumed your available load, you’ll need to reload your account to continue enjoying the service. Check the cost per minute of calls as different carriers do charge varying rates.

Extra Features. Certain wireless phone features that are readily available in a post paid service may not be included in your prepaid phone plan. Examples of extra features are call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, call conferencing, voice mail, wireless phone internet, and others. If you want to enjoy these services, you may need to request for each from your prepaid cell phone service provider and pay for each feature separately as well.

Load Expiration. Check the duration period of your prepaid phone balance as soon as you load it into your account. Prepaid call cards are available in various denominations such as $10, $20, $30, $50 and up. However, lower denominations will often have a shorter expiration period. Once expired, you will have to reload your account whether or not you have consumed all your available balance.

Your lifestyle. When evaluating prepaid phone plans, you need to carefully consider your own lifestyle and needs. Ask yourself, how often do you need to make calls in a month or in a week? How long do you usually spend on each call? How often do you use text messaging system?

If you need to make calls for more 200 minutes in a month, perhaps you may consider subscribing to a post paid plan instead. On the other hand, if you generally use your wireless phone for sending text messages and occasional calls, then a prepaid plan is a practical option, indeed.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Many consumers today prefer to go prepaid rather than subscribe with a post paid cell phone plan. If you are planning to get a prepaid cellular phone, what are the factors that you must consider before choosing a prepaid cell phone service provider?

Cost per call. When you buy a prepaid phone kit, it is often pre-loaded with minutes of calls and text messages. Once you used up your available balance, you must reload your phone to make new calls and send more texts.                  

You need to be aware of how much you will be charged for every call or text you send as some carriers may offer lower per call rates than others. Sometimes the cost per call or text will vary depending on to which network you send it to. Compared to a post paid plan, keep in mind that prepaid phone service providers may charge a higher rate on calls, especially if calls are made to other networks.

Extra Features. Unlike post paid phone packages, certain features such as call waiting, caller ID, call forwarding, call conferencing, voice mail, and wireless web may not be included in a prepaid plan. If you want to use these functions, you must first send a request to your service provider and pay a separate cost for each feature.

Load Expiration. Take note that when you reload your phone, your balance can expire when not used within a specific time period. Prepaid call cards are available in various denominations, depending on the amount you load.

For instance, you may be able to buy a call card that’s worth $20 but it may come with a shorter expiration period than cards with higher denominations. Once expired, your account will have a zero balance whether or not you consumed your last load.

Some carriers enable their prepaid phone users to carry over their unused balance, as long as they reload their accounts before the old load expires. Meanwhile, if you fail to reload after a month or 2, your account may be automatically deactivated and you will need to buy a new prepaid SIM card.

Coverage. Some prepaid cell phone service providers offer coverage to specific States or areas only. Thus, if you are a frequent traveler, you may want to check which service provider offers a wider range of coverage, particularly in the places you often visit.

If you have friends or relatives overseas that you must get in touch with on a regular basis, try to find a prepaid phone service company that not only offer reasonable long distance charges but reliable coverage as well.

Personal choice on handsets. With prepaid plans, phone unit will sometimes depend on the carrier that promotes it. For instance, the phones used for TracFone may not be the same as the handsets available with Net10 or Verizon. Hence, if you like a particular style or unit that is exclusively offered with that prepaid cell phone service provider, carefully review the provisions of the plan before making the purchase.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Nowadays, wireless cell phones are considered to be an essential part of everyday life. There are basically two ways to get a wireless phone service. You can either subscribe to a post paid plan or get a prepaid cell phone package. Which one is for you? In this post, let us compare the advantages of a prepaid phone plan over a post paid one.

Prepaid – Pay As You Use It

Wireless prepaid phones are perfect for people who need a mobile phone but seldom make calls or send text messages. Although the per minute call charges are much higher with a prepaid plan, you can save a great deal if you are a limited cell phone user.

Prepaid call cards range from as low as $10 to as high as $100 and up. At .10 cent per minute, a $10 load will give you at least 30 minutes of talk time that will not expire up to 30 days. The higher the denomination of your call card is, the longer lifespan of your credit would be.

What’s great about prepaid phone plans is that you are not bounded by any contract. If you are not satisfied with your carrier’s service, you can easily make the switch to a different prepaid cell phone service provider without any hassle.

Prepaid Phone Limits

Are there disadvantages to using a prepaid plan? If have been used to using a post paid cell phone, switching to a prepaid plan may be inconvenient at first. Remember that you will have to buy a new call card and reload each time you run out of balance. For some people, this could be a major drawback especially during times when you need to make an emergency call. Nevertheless, one solution to this problem is to reload your account immediately before or as soon as your last load expires.

Set a definite monthly budget and stick to it. If you don’t, you may end up spending more with a prepaid phone than with a post paid package. Be conscious about the expiration date of your balance each time you reload your account. There are prepaid wireless service providers that will automatically carry over your unused calls or texts as long as you reload the day before your balance expires. If your carrier does not have this provision, load only the exact amount that you can use to avoid wasting your credit.

When Post Paid is a Better Option

If, after considering your situation, you feel that a post paid plan is a more practical choice, you can save more money by choosing the right plan and service provider. Spend time reading the fine print before signing up your contract. Compare the rates and the services offered. You can also ask your friends and family members who have a firsthand experience in subscribing to a particular phone plan and carrier or check out cell phone reviews online.

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!

Prepaid cell phone service providers today strive to stay on top of the market by offering the most reliable and most affordable deal. Because of the recent economic slump, what consumers need is a prepaid cell phone plan that matches the budget.

While, many cell phone users are subscribed to a post-paid plan, more and more people are encouraged to switch to a prepaid plan to save costs. How can you find the right prepaid cell phone service provider? Here are some tips:

Understand your needs. People need prepaid phones for different reasons. Some may need to use it for frequent calls while others may use primarily for text messaging. Some people may need a wireless prepaid phone when on a trip or on the road. Obviously, there is not one standard prepaid package that will work for everyone.

Therefore, you need to understand your personal situation and determine your priorities. Don’t sign up for a plan just because you like the phone unit that comes along with the package. Check out the maintenance costs. How much will it cost you to keep your phone active?

If you prefer to call rather than send text messages, then you should choose a plan with a lower per call rate and more talk time. On the other hand, if you’re a frequent traveller, you need to look for a provider that offers reliable roaming service and reasonable long distance call rates.

Shop around online. Prepaid phones are now available at leading malls and convenient stores such as Wal Mart, Target and 7-11. However, before going out to buy one, it’s best to explore your options first through the internet.

You can check out product review websites to get a better idea as to which carriers offer the best deals. Some websites have an online comparison tool that allows you to compare varying prepaid phone packages on the same page.

Currently, the leading names in the wireless prepaid phone market are Net10, TracFone, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Alltel, T-Mobile, Cingular and Verizon Wireless. By checking online, you can compare prices and services right from your computer.

Should you go prepaid? For some people, a post-paid cell phone plan is a more practical option. Before going prepaid, make sure that it will match your needs and lifestyle. Prepaid wireless phones are best for:

• people who want to limit their phone usage
• people who do not want to commit to a long contract
• parents who want to provide a cell phone to their kids
• people who are on a budget

About the Author

Tara Tiemann is a credit analyst for Go-prepaid.com which has been a resource site for people who want to live debt free. If you are on a budget using prepaid debit cards,prepaid credit cards and prepaid cell phone service can save you big money!