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Prepaid cell phone plans - a new trend in the United States

March 21, 2010
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By LaTina Emerson

Despite my attempts to lower my monthly cell phone bill, it is still higher than I'd like it to be. I've read that prepaid phones have discount deals, so I did some research to find out what the companies have to offer.

A study indicates prepaid service is growing in popularity as a way for us to save money on wireless bills, according to International Data Corp. Of 4.2 million new retail subscribers at top wireless carriers in the United States during the fourth quarter of 2009, 65 percent were prepaid users.

Big-name carriers often have costly plans that include long-term contracts and roaming fees. Prepaid plans, on the other hand, usually don't require contracts or credit checks.

Based on how much you use your cell phone, prepaid phones could be a great way to save money, particularly if you use the phone sparingly.

- Boost Mobile had the best offer I found for prepaid, unlimited service, with a $50 plan for nationwide unlimited talk, text messaging and access to mobile Web. Boost Mobile phones can be bought at Best Buy, Food Lion, Radio Shack, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Family Dollar and Walgreens.

- AT&T has an Unlimited Talk and Text Feature package for $60 a month. This includes anytime minutes at no additional cost, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, and no roaming or long-distance fees.

For those who might not use their phone daily, AT&T has a $3 Unlimited Calling Plan, which includes anytime minutes at no additional cost, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, and no roaming or long-distance charges. Customers pay $3 a day on days they use the phone.

The company has a $1 Mobile to Mobile Plan, which includes anytime minutes at 10 cents a minute, unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes, and no roaming or long-distance charges. The fee is $1 a day on days that customers use the phone.

- Net10 has an Easy Minutes plan for 10 cents a minute. Net10 phones are available at Dollar General, Family Dollar, Target, Kmart, Sam's, Office Max and Walmart.

- Verizon Wireless has unlimited talk for $3.99 a day. Customers pay only for the days they use the phone. Text messaging is 1 cent per message. With the unlimited plan and cheaper plans such as Plus ($1.99 a day) and Core (99 cents a day), customers get unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling.

- T-Mobile has Pay by the Day, in which customers get unlimited nationwide calling from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. to any T-Mobile number. All other domestic calls cost 10 cents a minute. There is a $1 daily charge on days when customers use the phone. Under its Pay as You Go plan, customers can refill their phone with 400 minutes for $50.

The Augusta Chronicle

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