Best Deal on Prepaid Wireless

[zippycal]

What's the best deal for prepaid cell phone service out there ?

All I need is the cheapest set up available. I don't need internet, I don't need text, nothing fancy. Just to be able to receive one or two calls per year and make one or two per year. Honestly I would probably use less than 30 minutes per year. Would be just for emergency usage (not talking 911 use, just talking about when no other phone is available).

Most of the plans I have come across are plans where the prepaid minutes expire in a month or even 90 days. I already have a spare GSM phone, and I am sure a SIM card doesn't cost too much. Are there any plans where you can buy minutes that don't expire ?

What do you guys think ? No frills, no maintenence charges, no minimums, just a back up ohone for very rare use. What's the best deal out there ?

All opinions and ideas are greatly appreciated.

Thanks !!
Chris

[bikes4u]

I saw some Boost phones at WM for $20 w/ $5 worth of minutes. If you don't need it for every day use I would just wait until you need it and it takes about 5 minutes to get it goin on the internet.

I also saw some Virgin mobile phones for $10 w/ some free minutes. You can do the same with Virgin.

Hope this helps

[damnyou]

You can get Net10

http://www.net10.com/store_manager.jsp?AID=1554194&task=buyphone

Select any phone and then use this code 34567 at checkout

$22 for a phone and 300 minutes

[chazjr]

The Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Service in the US is Tracfone..

Nearly 10 million people have chosen tracfone because only tracfone lets you design your cell phone to suit your life. It's like being the boss of your own cell phone company. All with no contracts.

TracFone is the proven leader in prepaid wireless in the US. TracFone is a subsidiary of America Movil, Which has more cellular customers than AT&T and Verizon combined.

TracFone uses the networks of major regional and national wireless carriers. We have a vast national coverage area so you can make calls from almost anywhere in the US.
http://www.tracfone.com/why_tracfone.jsp

Best Deal Right Now..

TRACFONE Moto W175 Bundled w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (a $50 value) $9.88..
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10714717

[zippycal]

Thanks guys, I will be looking into these today.

I will probably only use about 10 minutes in a year, but I need to kep it active all the time, you know what I mean ? I need to be able to use it at anytime, but that anytime will be less than 20 minutes per year. The problem with say Cingular and Verizon are the minutes expire in 30 days. I see that some of these have minutes that expire in 90 days, so I'll be checking them out.


Thanks !
Chris

[zippycal]

Looks like TracFone will be the cheapets for me. Around here they use the ATT/Cingular towers so I know the reception will be excellent. I can by $20 worth of airtime every 90 days, so that works out to about $6.66 per month. I don't think I will find anything cheaper than that at this point.

TracFone comments ?

Any other ideas ?

Again guys and girls, thanks for the support !!


Chris

[damnyou]

Looks like TracFone will be the cheapets for me. Around here they use the ATT/Cingular towers so I know the reception will be excellent. I can by $20 worth of airtime every 90 days, so that works out to about $6.66 per month. I don't think I will find anything cheaper than that at this point.

TracFone comments ?

Any other ideas ?

Again guys and girls, thanks for the support !!


Chris

that net phone deal I think comes with 6 months of activation

Net10 like Tracfone depends on AT&T and Verizon for reception

[Seductive_Playa]

If I were you, I would go with T-mobile prepaid. The minutes don't expire for a full YEAR.

You can also buy the prepaid T-mobile cards on ebay for a steep discount.

[zippycal]

All Tmobile minutes are good for a year ?

[zippycal]

You get 60 days, after that you have to buy $20 per month.


Chris


that net phone deal I think comes with 6 months of activation

Net10 like Tracfone depends on AT&T and Verizon for reception

[damnyou]

You get 60 days, after that you have to buy $20 per month.


Chris

I think you get two cards still of 300 minutes each

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=241997&t=1209419

Each will get you a validity of 60 days

[chazjr]

Looks like TracFone will be the cheapets for me. Around here they use the ATT/Cingular towers so I know the reception will be excellent. I can by $20 worth of airtime every 90 days, so that works out to about $6.66 per month. I don't think I will find anything cheaper than that at this point.

I agree.. You are not going to find a Cheaper Nationwide Cell Phone for only.. $6.67/month.. :shake:
The average Cell User paids $50/month..!!
Its your $$$..:

[PizzaNite]

Hi,
virginmobile.com 6.99 a month beats the competition! you can even get $5 texting for 200 text still under $20 If you wish to top off with $20 they will give you an extra $5 for calls. If you use a credit card or paypal to pay they will give you an extra $5 . and use their site and get a free phone. Use their site and get free activation. What can I say. Boyyaaaa

[zippycal]

Ok guys thanks !!

I am going to order the $10 Motorola TracFone from Walmart. Double minutes free for life and only $6.66 per month. Done deal, since I won't use this phone for internet, texting or anything else I think this is the way to go.

Thanks to everyone for the input and suggestions, I appreciate everyones time and effort.


Have a great weekend !


Chris

[chazjr]

Its cheaper to buy a New Tracfone with Double Minutes for Life then it is to just add minutes to your old tracfone..
Many Codes have now Expired..

If you buy a New tracfone.. Make sure you get the Double Minutes for Life
($49.99 value FREE!) The you never have to worry about Promo Codes..

Before you buy one.. Go to the Tracfone Website and make sure the phone you want will work in your Zip Code..

You can find many Tracfones at Walmart that come with DMFL..

Examples...
TracFone Motorola W370* and you get Double Minutes for Life** included, a $49.99 value FREE! That’s a $69.98 value for only $19.99.
http://w370r.tracfoneaffiliates.com/

Here are more Examples found at Walmart..
TRACFONE Moto W260 Bundled w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (A $50 value) $19.98

Tracfone Motorola 376 P4 Prepaid Phone w/ Camera and Bluetooth
w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (A $50 value) $29.97

TRACFONE Moto W175 Bundled w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (a $50 value) $9.88

[betty77]

I currently use T-Mobile prepaid. Put in $100 for 1000 minutes and they last 1 year. Before the year is up, as long as you refill (can be $10 or $20), all the minutes will rollover into another year.

Or you can put in $10 each month (expires 30 days unless you put new money in). You can keep doing that each month until you have put in $100 into that phone number, then automatically the minutes will be extended for 1 full year.

There is a $25 upfront cost to buy a phone number & the sim card. And you need your own phone that takes sim card.

[zippycal]

That's is exactly what I am doing. Thanks !



Its cheaper to buy a New Tracfone with Double Minutes for Life then it is to just add minutes to your old tracfone..
Many Codes have now Expired..

If you buy a New tracfone.. Make sure you get the Double Minutes for Life
($49.99 value FREE!) The you never have to worry about Promo Codes..

Before you buy one.. Go to the Tracfone Website and make sure the phone you want will work in your Zip Code..

You can find many Tracfones at Walmart that come with DMFL..

Examples...
TracFone Motorola W370* and you get Double Minutes for Life** included, a $49.99 value FREE! That’s a $69.98 value for only $19.99.
http://w370r.tracfoneaffiliates.com/

Here are more Examples found at Walmart..
TRACFONE Moto W260 Bundled w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (A $50 value) $19.98

Tracfone Motorola 376 P4 Prepaid Phone w/ Camera and Bluetooth
w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (A $50 value) $29.97

TRACFONE Moto W175 Bundled w/ Double Minutes for the Life of Your Phone (a $50 value) $9.88

[Lukeybear2005]

I use STI mobile, on the sprint network. Cheapest rates I have found. www.stimobile.com

[melehundele]

I have a question for anyone that bought a DMFL Tracfone at Walmart. Is the DMFL put on that phone automatically at activation, or is it a card that you could use on a different Tracfone? If it has to be THAT phone, can you transfer another Tracfone number to the new DMFL phone?

Thanks!

[chazjr]

I have a question for anyone that bought a DMFL Tracfone at Walmart. Is the DMFL put on that phone automatically at activation, or is it a card that you could use on a different Tracfone? If it has to be THAT phone, can you transfer another Tracfone number to the new DMFL phone?

DMFL put on THAT phone automatically at activation.. Yes. You can transfer another Tracfone number to the new DMFL phone..

FAQ...
You can keep your Old Number..
You can Roll Over Minutes from one phone to another..
Link Answers most Questions..
http://www.tracfone.com/questions.jsp?nextPage=questions.jsp&task=questions#

[melehundele]

Thanks and reps for the reply, chazjr.

Anyone know, if there are any codes that help when activating the new DMFL phone? I have seen codes for adding a DMFL card, but don't know if it is different when you are activating a new phone.

And do you know if you can activate the phone online AND get the number and remaining old minutes transferred? I am wondering what the best strategy and order to do these things will be.

Thanks again!

[jms27]

any codes

[Blue Babe]

okay so i have both - one for personal and one for job hunting/giving to work ppl when i am working which i use as a pager.

the tracfone signal is amazing, tmobile is spotty but decent enough, i used this one for work and still have mins left that is why i did not let it die off.

i have yet to drop a tp call and i think it is more economical.

usually i get the $19 card every 3 months, i do not have dmfl though i am tempted to get one...but $19 +code, you gotta fish around for them here and on fw to get a juicy 40 or 60 min extra one = 100-120mins for 3 months is just close to my target usuage of about 30-40mins/month.

[momforlife]

The Cheapest Prepaid Cell Phone Service in the US is Tracfone..

Nearly 10 million people have chosen tracfone because only tracfone lets you design your cell phone to suit your life. It's like being the boss of your own cell phone company. All with no contracts.

TracFone is the proven leader in prepaid wireless in the US. TracFone is a subsidiary of America Movil, Which has more cellular customers than AT&T and Verizon combined.

TracFone uses the networks of major regional and national wireless carriers. We have a vast national coverage area so you can make calls from almost anywhere in the US.
http://www.tracfone.com/why_tracfone.jsp
SO this may be a dumb question, but can I walk in to Walmart and buy this or do I have to have it shipped to me?

[jagace]

LIES!!!! just kiddin,
Virgin Mobile is decent. I've a signal even in the elevator.
if you pay as you go with no need to renew anytime, its 25 cents a minute. If you buy the card, its 5 cents a minute per month with no monthly charge.
Also, they have sugarama which give you free minutes.
Lastly, they have the activation special which gives you 1 year for 60 dollars. all you have to do after the year is "pass the phone" for the special to work again

[sd_eds]

I second the T-Mobile sentiment. 1000 minutes for 90 or less (got a good deal at callingmart). Of course you have to weigh signal strenght where you live and customer service. I find tmo customer servie to be very good.

[chazjr]

SO this may be a dumb question, but can I walk in to Walmart and buy this or do I have to have it shipped to me?

Go to Walmart Website.. Search all Tracfones.. They carry some that have DMFL in store. But some you have to order and have shipped to store..(Site to Store) this only cost 97 cents..
The Super Walmart's usually have them in store..

Example..
http://www.walmart.com/Tracfone-Moto-W260-Prepaid-Mobile-Phone/ip/10714718

[rea11y]

LIES!!!! just kiddin,
Virgin Mobile is decent. I've a signal even in the elevator.
if you pay as you go with no need to renew anytime, its 25 cents a minute. If you buy the card, its 5 cents a minute per month with no monthly charge.
Also, they have sugarama which give you free minutes.
Lastly, they have the activation special which gives you 1 year for 60 dollars. all you have to do after the year is "pass the phone" for the special to work again

Well ofcourse there is a monthly charge - for 5c a minute you need to charge $50 per month (for those 1000 minutes) or atleast $20 a month (for 200m) after that

[chazjr]

Best Prepaid Wireless: Reviews
http://www.consumersearch.com/prepaid-wireless

[Toby16custom]

SEE sig for trades for this topic

Personally i think Trump prepaid or virgin mobile are the best deals....

[BoomSchtick]

What about T-Mobile's Pay by the Day plan?

http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/Prepaid-Plans.aspx

If I'm reading it right, you only pay $1 per day you use it and .10 a minute with unlimited mobile to mobile and all calls unlimited 1900 to 0700.

Does that plan still have minutes expire after 90 days or a year with the $100 card?

[HoratioHoney]

Virgin Mobile has a feature called Sugar Mama that gives you up to 5 free minutes a day for looking at videos (1 minute per video). That's around 150 minutes a month for free, not including the text ones they send you. I just click on it, let it play and surf the web until it's done. I use it for my 2nd phone that I give DS if we're in a store together and he wants to go off on his own within the store. I only add $20 when I have to and they give me $20 for free about 1-2 times a year - without my asking.