Originally Posted by
cerewa
Roody -- you mention "prepaid instead of contract" ... this is one of the best-kept secrets right now in cell phones. In the US a bunch companies re-sell cellular service which they buy "wholesale" from Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint... depending on what you want, prices can easily be a quarter of what you'd pay for "on contract" cell service (like $19/month for unlimited talk/text/web). Check out republic wireless for that deal, or check out Straight talk (good if you want to use a phone built for AT&T/Tmobile and live where you can get good service from one of those companies), or Page Plus (prices as low as $30/month, good if you live where verizon provides good coverage)
Some added information: Straight Talk also has some phone that work on Verizon though the bulk are AT&T. If you want an Iphone and many of the newer smart phone, to the best of my knowledge they only way to currently get it is on a contract plan. A couple of years ago my company switched us to Altel, then proceeded to send me to a project that had NO coverage. I purchased a Virgin Mobile (Sprint) phone and used that for the duration of the project. I had unlimited minutes, text and data. IIRC it was ~$90 a month with taxes. My personal phone is Verizon and so far has had the best coverage in my travels around the country.
I do agree that the no contract phones are the way to go to save money, most of my crews use them, but shop carefully some companies have very limited coverage.
Aaron
