Prepaid Cell Phones
Understanding Prepaid Cell Phones
Almost no one old enough to dial a telephone is without a cell phone. From kids to grandparents, cell phone use is on the rise. In fact, most phone companies anticipate the traditional land line becoming obsolete in the next several decades.
You may have considered prepaid cell phones. How do prepaid cell phone programs work, and are they right for your needs? Understanding the following factors can help you make a decision.
The Basics of Prepaid Phone Use
The easiest way to get a prepaid cell phone is to pick one up at a department store or other retail outlet. Even dollar stores sell prepaid phones. To get started, you will need a phone handset and a card that is loaded with airtime usage minutes.
Cell phones vary in price, but as of December 2009, the most basic models cost $10-15. You can buy top of the line and full featured phone models for upwards of several hundred dollars.
Prepaid phone cards with airtime minutes begin at $20 for 60 minutes of airtime. This varies between companies, and incentives are often given for purchasing more minutes at a time.
Getting Started with a Prepaid Telephone
Getting started is simple. Once you open up the package that holds the phone, you can attach the battery in the correct spot and plug in the phone. You will then proceed to register the phone and obtain your number.
You’ll be given a local area code that will be determined by your zip code. This can be done most easily on the Internet by going to the website for your prepaid cellular phone provider.
The process usually takes about five to ten minutes to complete, and once finished, your prepaid cell phone is ready to use. To load the minutes on the activated phone, type in the airtime code from the card that you purchased. This will give you a specific number of minutes, as well as several months of service.
The average prepaid phone service gives three months of service for purchasing the phone and another three to six months for each airtime card purchased. With careful use, this can be significantly cheaper than using a standard cell phone provider, especially when the phone is for occasional or emergency use.
Pitfalls of Pre Paid Mobile Phones
If prepaid cell phones are so easy to get and to use, why don’t more people don’t go this route for their primary phone account? You need to be aware of exactly how the pitfalls of prepaid mobile phones work.
With heavy use, you may not save of money over having a normal, post-paid cell phone provider. Most cellular companies offer competitive packages including unlimited nights and weekends. Many companies also give you unlimited airtime when calling a specific contact list. A prepaid phone won’t offer any of these perks.
Another pitfall with a prepaid cell phone is the text messaging feature. Heavy users can sends thousands of text messages a month. These will be deducted from the airtime tally on the prepaid phone per the terms the company specifies.
The popular prepaid provider, TracFone, for example, gives users three text messages per each airtime minute. Other companies may charge differently, but that gives you a basic idea of what to expect. For those that send and receive a lot of text messages, an unlimited plan is much more affordable than paying per message.
Can You Get the Best of Both Worlds?
When prepaid cell phones were introduced, the service terms were basic. But companies offer more to consumers who use a prepaid cell phone. This allows you to get the convenience and cost control of using a prepaid phone, while enjoying the perks of having a subscriber service.
Realize that each company handles this part of the program differently. Some companies, like TracFone, only offer basic service, though bundled packages of minutes will be cheaper. Other companies, such as Virgin Mobile, offer a full range of options, including packages that include unlimited texting.
These are still prepaid cell phones, as the bill is taken care of up front, instead of being paid for after the fact. It is easier to see what is being used and manage the account more effectively than waiting until after the fact to assess the use of each phone and take care of the ensuing costs.
There are even options to sign up for a contract, making these even more like a standard cell phone plan. You will need to carefully read each program and decide which one is more in line with your anticipated phone usage.
Prepaid Cell Phones and Kids
For parents, the cell phone use of their children is the biggest worry that they have concerning the phone accounts in the household. Using a prepaid phone is an excellent way to keep this under control. It can also be effective at helping the minors budget their time and phone costs.
Decide together on a reasonable program and make a budget. With a prepaid phone, there is no unexpected expense when the cell phone bill comes. Instead, once the allotted minutes have been used, the phone will no longer send or receive calls until new minutes are loaded.
In this situation, it gives parents and children a chance to discuss the phone usage and hold them accountable. You can either choose to have the kids pay for a airtime card to complete the month, or they can go without phone service until the new period begins. This makes kids much more aware of how much they are using the phone service and can lead to more responsible phone use.
Another ideal situation for using a prepaid phone with kids is in the home. If you are one of the families that has done away with a land line phone, there are probably times when you wish to reach your children when they are at home.
Options, Solutions, and Situations
A prepaid phone that is used for only this purpose is the most affordable option. A basic phone with service can be purchased for under $40 and easily provide six months of use. This brings the cost to less than $10 a month.
No one size fits all solution works for every cell phone usage situation. But a prepaid cell phone can be an excellent tool. It is the ideal solution for those that only need cell phone access occasionally or for a person who doesn’t send or receive many calls.
It is also a good choice for parents who want to teach their children to take responsibility for their phone use and avoid unexpected and prohibitive charges.
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