Cell Phone Plans

[yoyoma51]

Currently, we use US Cellular. We pay about $110/month for 2 lines, Blackberry service and text messaging. If we get rid of the Blackberry service and text messaging, the lowest our bill could go would be about $75/month.

Our contracts are up soon and we are considering changing to save money.

Currently, we are testing a prepay line from Page Plus Cellular (www.PagePlusCellular.com). They use the Verizon Prepay towers and since I had an old Verizon phone from a relative, I called them and told them I wanted test their service.

They activated the phone with 100 free minutes good for 120 days AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME A PENNY!

There is no roaming (as long as you are on the Verizon Prepay towers), free voice mail, online account management, caller ID, etc.

BEST PART: When you spend $80 to fill your minutes, you get 1400 minutes good for 120 days! That is less than .06 cents per minute.

We will be giving up our Blackberries, but saving $900/year!!!

[Andyman]

I pay $29.95 for 300 anytime minutes with US Cellular. Last month I used about 65 minutes. It's the cheapest plan they have. I've had the same phone for over 3 years.

[CurtInKS]

We have a tmobile family plan. My wife and I, and our oldest daughter all have phones. We have 700 minutes to share, and no minutes count to call each other. I think we have 500 texts each for about $12.00 a month. The plan is $70, so with charges it comes to around $90.00 a month. We don't have internet(all our phones do wifi), or equipment protection, and we don't buy ringtones or any of that. I use audacity to make our tones, and you can always find wallpapers and stuff online. We've had tmobile for 4 years and have always been happy with it. My contract is up in March, and I'm getting a G1 and the tmobile rep said by then, they'd probably be around $50.00. Oh and we always sell our old phone, and keep one as a backup if one of ours gets damaged.

[Kansas1960]

Don't use Sprint at any price....

I live very close to the world headquarters of Sprint and cannot get a good signal 1 mile from the place. We take a family vacation, everyone talking on the phone in the National Park, ours was still searching for a signal. As soon as my contract ended I changed to TMobile. Always get a signal.

[kristyf]

I just switched from Tmobile to Cricket - I'm not sure if they have plans in all areas. The one I got was AZ Calling area - unlimited minutes, unlimited text for $35 a month. No credit check, no contracts. they have different offers for each area. my phone was a refurb for $30 and they gave me the first month of service free. they have unlimited everything for $45.

[pageturner]

We went from paying Verizon 87.00 a month to Trac phone. We buy minutes by the month and spend about $20.00 per month.

[WillinVT]

I bought a pre-paid cell phone through Verizon back in 2002 for something like $89.00.

To keep it active, I have to spend at least $15.00 a month ($16.10 after taxes) and since I hardly use the thing, I have a balance of close to $700.00.

A few years back, I upgraded to a new phone and I am thinking about doing the same sometime this year.

I text sometimes, but mostly, I have the phone just incase of emergencies. Plus, it's great to use for creditors. They call my cell all day long and leave my landline free

My wife uses a Tracfone, which I think she has to pay something like $22.00 every 3 months to keep it active. Don't know too much about Tracfone, but I think I got a pretty good deal with my Verizon.

[JoeBankrupt33]

For many years, I was using T-mobile pre-paid, and I think it is a great deal if you don't use your phone much. You can buy a phone for about $30, which comes with a few minutes of service (not really sure how much). Then, as soon as you have racked up $100 in refills, then any refill you buy doesn't expire for 1 year. So, the first year, you could buy the $100 card and get 1000 minutes. This is what I did, and it lasted me the entire year. If you use it even less than that, you can buy a $10 card at the end of the first year, and the entire remaining balance will have a new 1yr expiration.

Starting last year, I've been working from home, and I separated from my wife, so I opted for a cell phone plan instead of the pre-paid and I don't have a home phone. Again, I went with t-mobile, and I think the prices are good. As for the phone (blackberry), the t-mobile stores and t-mobile online wanted way too much. I found a site called wirefly, and the prices were awesome, I paid nothing and they waived the activation fee. I was required to sign up for blackberry email, but I wanted that anyway because of my job. The deals on wirefly seemed to change all the time, so keep checking back to see what's available.

[Annie4]

Lots of good info here, ty!

I see some changes headed our way....

[OnTheRocks]

Been on T-Mobile for years at $39.99 a month/1000 minutes. Now on prepay with them, $100 for 1000 minutes, good for a year. On prepay, once you pay $100, you can also do $50 amounts that are good for a year, but you have to do the $100 first. I've done prepay before and can keep the same number going between plans.

[klandsb]

Currently I use Verizon ... As stated by others thru my employer I get a 17% discount with can really add up over a year.... I pay around $ 90.00 a mth but I have 3 phone on it ... My son, my mom & myself....

I saw an add for "jitterbug" and was going to check it out just havent had time..

[frogger]

AT&T. 1400 minute plan, 2 phones, free nights/weekends, free calls to AT&T cells, now with free calls to any 10 numbers that you list. Great service, priced @89.95 per month.

And another thing..... you DON'T have to sign a 2 year plan if you choose to buy your phones. When you go with anyone that uses a sims card (like At&T), you get the card, pay for the plan, and buy phones off E-bay or somewhere on the cheap.

My agreement is monthly, I can cancel at anytime with no fees, and my latest phone is a Samsung flip phone with camera that I bought for $4.00 off E-Bay.

[tanya0525]

We are with T-mobile. Been with them for about 5 years. Have 4 lines (4 cellphones-got kids). We get free tmobile-tmobile, unlimited nights and weekends, each line gets to call 5 numbers for free (My Favs), 1800 minutes to share between all 4 lines, unlimited text messaging/pic messages. I am about to upgrade to either My Touch or Motorla Cliq.

My Favs Family Plan : $89.99
Family Unlimited Text/Pic Messaging : $19.99
For the two additional lines $9.99 each.

I have not found anything that can compare to what we are paying.

Tanya

[jonathan]

I use Sprint. I just copy and pasted my plan from their site. I'm happy with it- especially now that it includes Any Mobile, Anytime. Bonus was that I got my phone for a penny.


* Everything Plus 500 Blackberry
* $59.99 Minimum Monthly Charge
* 500 Anytime Minutes
* Nationwide Long Distance Included
* AMERICA - ROAMING Included
* Unlimited Any Mobile, Anytime
* Unlimited Sms
* Unlimited Blackberry Internet Service (bis)
* Sprint Navigation
* Caller ID
* Call Waiting
* Three-way Calling
* Voicemail

Monthly charge for service plan
$59.99
Plan add-ons for BLACKBERRY TOUR

* Picture Mail: Included
* Nights and weekends starting at 7pm: Included
* Total Equipment Protection 7.00
* Sprint Service: Included
* Any Mobile, AnytimeSM: Included
* Sprint Navigation: Included

[ready2puke]

Someone was talking about Page Plus earlier and were going to try it out..They have ulimited minutes and texting for $39.99 month..
Anyone using this or know someone with a review.
I've been with Verizon for ever and cant stand paying $120. month for unlimited..
Page Plus is supposed to use verizon..
Thanks