? for Disney Steve or anyone else

[Lauri D]

I know I have read that Disney Steve and maybe others have bought there cell phone some where other than the carriers so the didnt have to sign a 2 yr contract can anyone tell me where to do this? Thanks in advance

[kork13]

There are tons of options for a cell phone besides a contract. AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint (via Virgin Mobile) all have pre-paid, no-contract options that are mostly quite good. There's also Cricket, ClearWire, TracFone, Boost Mobile, and others. If you google any of them you can find what they specifically offer.

Personally, I'm moving back to the states this week, and will be using AT&T's no-contract plans. $25/mo gives you 250 minutes and unlimited texting, which perfectly matches my normal use. If you're the smartphone type, AT&T also does $50/mo with unlimited everything (voice, texts, data). And the best part: NO CONTRACT!! So if I deploy, or travel overseas, or just find that I don't want to keep using AT&T, I can stop paying for the monthly plan and it's as simple as that.

The biggest thing that surprises people who switch from a contract to no contract is that you have to buy the phones. So whereas you used to get a free phone, or pay just $40 for a tricked out smartphone, you now have to pay anywhere from $100 to $400 for your phone. However, that's a one-time expense, and if you keep the phone for a few years, it's still significant savings over using a contract plan.

[disneysteve]

Actually, I've never done that so you may be confusing me with someone else. All of our phones were purchased from AT&T and all are under contract.

That said, you can buy phones online, like on ebay, and as long as they are programmed for your carrier, you just pop your SIMM card in and off you go.

[Lauri D]

Sorry Disney Steve I misunderstood.

[Petunia 100]

I recently switched to Ting. They are a new company, but use Sprint's network. You must buy your phone from them, or a used Ting phone from someone else. There are no contracts.

I have just received my second bill. The two bills averaged $41.38 per month. This is for 3 people, no smart phones. We get 1000 shared minutes and 1000 shared texts for that.

I'm extremely pleased so far.

http://ting.com

[cypher1]

I currently pay $45 a month for 1200 anytime min/unlimited SMS/internet with Virgin Mobile (Sprint), no contract, free activation. Only catch is buying phone outright, and most are slightly older models available. Otherwise I'm thinking of doing Straighttalk (T-Mobile provider I believe), $45 a month, unlimited everything, no contract. You pay $15 for the SIM and can either buy phone separate or order through their service.

[eeyoresmom]

I am very interested in this also. We have a contract with Verizon but already have 5 family members on it which is their maximum. My son really needs a phone. He will use it mostly for texting. Does anyone know if I get him an AT&T phone ( or another provider) as mentioned earlier, if he will be able to text Verizon customers with the unlimited texting AT&T offers? I have been looking on/off for several months and really have to get this done! Thank you

[disneysteve]

if I get him an AT&T phone ( or another provider) as mentioned earlier, if he will be able to text Verizon customers with the unlimited texting AT&T offers?

Unlimited texting is not carrier-dependent. We have AT&T and can text anybody regardless of what carrier they are with.

[eeyoresmom]

Thank you :>

[JoeP]

T-Mobile has a prepaid plan where you bank minutes. They last a year I think. I'm a fairly light cell phone user and spend maybe $80 a year on cell service. My wife is somewhere around $100 a year.

This is a little different from the no-contract plans, where you have to feed the beast every month to maintain service.

If you're like me and you don't care if you rock a flip phone, and you don't want or "need" data, this makes a lot sense. My cell phone is off and in my car; it is on only when I may need to make a call or I am expecting a call.

[dawnwes]

I have been researching this to death as my Mom (81) wants a cell phone. I don't want to add her to my plan because she will use about 10-50 minutes per month, has no idea how to text and doesn't want to learn, and has no need for data as she doesn't even use the internet.

In my search, I have found that really *I* should switch to a pre-paid too at some point. It will save us quite a bit. But I am still in contract with Sprint so I will wait it out for now.

Tmobile has a best plan for my mother. This is because they have something called a "gold" status. Once you spend $100 in calling minutes added, you then have 365 days to use them, AND, as long as you top off, even with another $10, you don't lose your minutes and the next $10 lasts another 365 days.

So, for very infrequent use, emergencies and such, Tmobile is the way to go. Each minute is .10, so $100 is 1,000 minutes. She will probably take a couple of years to use that.

All the other plans for pay as you go that I looked into require topping off more frequently and with more $$ for more minutes than she will use.

ATT is a great prepaid through their GoPhone. If you buy a SIM card and activate it, you can use it on any ATT phone. Get yourself an older iPhone off of CL or ebay and plop it in there and you are good to go. You an even do the .10/min. plan and just use the internet on wi-fi and not pay for data if you so desire.

There are about 20 other options out there.

But, before I go on and on, please tell us what you wish to have in a phone? Unlimited talk? Unlimited Text? Data? Or do you prefer an emergency/occasional use phone that is more pay as you use?

Dawn

[disneysteve]

I have been researching this to death as my Mom (81) wants a cell phone. I don't want to add her to my plan because she will use about 10-50 minutes per month, has no idea how to text and doesn't want to learn, and has no need for data as she doesn't even use the internet.

That sounds like the perfect person to add to your plan. With AT&T, it only costs $9.99 to add a line. My mom (who turned 82 yesterday) has been on our plan for years. She has a basic flip phone, no data, no texting (well, she has texting but doesn't use it). It costs us $10/month plus tax.

[JoeP]

Tmobile has a best plan for my mother. This is because they have something called a "gold" status. Once you spend $100 in calling minutes added, you then have 365 days to use them, AND, as long as you top off, even with another $10, you don't lose your minutes and the next $10 lasts another 365 days.

So, for very infrequent use, emergencies and such, Tmobile is the way to go. Each minute is .10, so $100 is 1,000 minutes. She will probably take a couple of years to use that.

This is the plan we have and love it. Perfect for those who rarely use their cell phone, and don't want to worry about running short or out when you do want to use it. Also, what is convenient is that you can add minutes using the phone itself, with a code from a recharge card, or directly from a debit account. No web needed (although you could do it that way as well).

[dawnwes]

Sprint charges $19.99 per phone. Not the plan I intend to keep anyway. Once we are out of contract, I am bailing.

And my mom will use (seriously) about 10 min. per month. If she goes up to an hour in one month it would very much surprise me. She is home 99% of the time and uses the home phone.

Dawn

That sounds like the perfect person to add to your plan. With AT&T, it only costs $9.99 to add a line. My mom (who turned 82 yesterday) has been on our plan for years. She has a basic flip phone, no data, no texting (well, she has texting but doesn't use it). It costs us $10/month plus tax.

[dawnwes]

My mom lives 2000 miles away so I will monitor online for her as she probably won't be able to figure out how to add minutes! Also, I am paying for it, so I will need to do it.

But good to know in case we end up getting this plan for someone else.

This is the plan we have and love it. Perfect for those who rarely use their cell phone, and don't want to worry about running short or out when you do want to use it. Also, what is convenient is that you can add minutes using the phone itself, with a code from a recharge card, or directly from a debit account. No web needed (although you could do it that way as well).