Cheap Cellphone Service

PagePlus. It runs on the Verizon network and has some great prices, 50 bucks for an unlimited plan, I believe.

http://pagepluscellular.com

Check out Virgin Mobile. They operate on the Sprint network. $35 per month for unlimited data and text with 300 voice minutes per month. Good deals on their phones this weekend at Best Buy and their own website.

Depends on how much traveling you do. Consider on republic wireless $19 a month plan - unlimited text, minutes, and data on wifi and uses sprint.

Quote from bonky : Check out Virgin Mobile. They operate on the Sprint network. $35 per month for unlimited data and text with 300 voice minutes per month. Good deals on their phones this weekend at Best Buy and their own website.

Unfortunately, I have had Sprint before and the coverage was terrible.

Quote from reddem0n : Depends on how much traveling you do. Consider on republic wireless $19 a month plan - unlimited text, minutes, and data on wifi and uses sprint.

I agree http://www.republicwireless.com/

If I wasn't part of a group family plan type contract Id be on republic wireless. You do need to buy a handset, and there are certain limits. But, @$19!

Unfortunately, since you have four phones on a family plan, it's often hard to beat the standard Big Four carriers out there for prices. You can usually get pretty good rates and discounts that will lower the price below anything you could get with a prepaid MVNO.

You may want to look into the T-Mobile thread that has some really good family packages - there's one that gives you 5 lines for like $100/month. Do a quick search and you should find it.

If you were just talking about a single individual line, then you could easily find better rates than AT&T - or any other carrier. They're individual plans simply suck, and once you start adding in data, texting, taxes and other fees, can easily push close to $80/month - versus $30-45/month for prepaid. But AFAIK, no prepaid carriers offer multi-line discounts right now.

If they have good service in your area, metroPCS is $30 a month unlimited. Need to purchase a phone, of course, but it's an excellent price. Biggest downside is that they might go under, in which case you're stuck with the phone.

What phones do you currently have. Straighttalk offtered through walmart is about 45$/month unlimited everything and runs off the ATT network.

Im currently switching from ATT over. If you need data/internet, this may be a good option. (assuming you want unlimited everything)

You can do a combination of that + talking minutes.

45$ x2
Pre paid minutes x2

this may drop your costs depending on your prepaid phone usage

this [fcc.gov] website has pretty cheap phones if you qualify

I have Sprint now and coverage is excellent. Not sure how long ago you had service or if you live in urban or rural landscape as that makes a difference? Sprint also roams over to Verizon in dead zones so you will drop but get on their widely available network.

My Sprint plan is under $50 p/mo so if it drops when I'm driving on the highway as it switches zones I have no problems as I still have better voice service compared to AT&T in NYC/metro. Data isn't so fast but the amoutn I save it is worth it.

Keep in mind - most service provider realize US citizens are dumb and rather give us a cheap phone with a 2 yr contract so you end up:
$199 or $99 phone w/2 yr contract and pay $100 + per mo.
So over a 2 yr plan - a customer has paid minimum = $2400+199/99 = $2599 + taxes.

Most other countries and smarter plan is:
Pay more for the phone upfront (let us say $499)
and only $50 p/mo plan and after two years if you do the math.
2 yrs at $50 p/mo + $499 = 1699. The difference is staggering.
You could even buy a $799 phone and still come out ahead of the typical phone plan for an iPhone.

Note - My monthly charges above for 2 yr contracts are VERY conservative as most pay significantly more.

However, US customers love a cheap phone and we have expensive service. I'd look for a plan/service where you can pay more for the phone up front and cheaper monthly whether that is month to month service or one of the subs. to the major carriers (Boost, Virgin, etc.).

Quote from reddem0n : and data on wifi

wtf is with this "data on wifi" - yes you get data on wifi, but why are they advertising it as if they are somehow involved in that process?

Quote from roxwella : I agree http://www.republicwireless.com/ If I wasn't part of a group family plan type contract Id be on republic wireless. You do need to buy a handset, and there are certain limits. But, @$19!

This looks interesting, but I can't figure out what the limits are?

What happens if you buy their phone but never connect it to wifi?

Quote from mr_rolla : This looks interesting, but I can't figure out what the limits are? What happens if you buy their phone but never connect it to wifi?

I think the first step in setting up the phone when you get it is to set up your home wifi network (required). But, it seems as though you could just connect it once to any wifi in order to enable it. In general, from what I have read, the hand off between wifi and cell is pretty smooth. And the service is particularly great for people who live in places that have crap cell service in their homes, because it allows them to transition smoothly between wifi at home and cell on the road.

I don't believe they have hard caps, but I do believe they have fair use allowances. Meaning, if you go over, you wont be charged, but you may be throttled.

Also, originally they had offered my $100 off a cellphone with code "welcome19", though, Im not at all sure if this will still work. Worth a try though! G/Luck