How to Choose the Best Pre Paid Cell Phone for You

Steps

1. Decide first exactly what you need out of your cell phone.
   • Will you be texting?
   • Will you be calling out of country?
   • Will you be roaming?
   • Will you have the ability to get ring tones at a reasonable price?
2. According to wirelessguide.org[1], the reason people might want to use a prepaid phone is as follows:
   • No contract to sign or be committed to.
   • There is no monthly bill to worry about.
   • You are able to keep on top of your costs more effectively.
   • No credit checks (on most prepaid phones).
   • No security deposits.
   • Easy to 'top up' your phone. Topping up is basically adding minutes when needed.
3. Go to your favorite, or closest, all purpose store, like Target or Walmart, and look at their phones that they have there. (All of them should have pamphlets.) Take the pamphlets home and study them.
4. Assuming you have access to the Internet, check out each service's plans.
5. Using various Internet resources, not those related to the phones, do more research.
   • About.com has a test[2] that will help you determine which might be the best for you. Also, you can compare prepaid versus annual contract plans[3]
6. According to Paygmobile.com[4], if you use a cell phone for over 400 minutes, you are better off with a 'postpaid' cell phone. Those are the ones with the contracts.

Tips

• Some prepaid cell phones have a plan that allows you to pay for your services monthly, without the obligation of annual contracts. Check those out and see if they will suit you.
• Cell phones are always helpful in a dangerous situation, but they have to be charged. Get in the habit of keeping it charged up.
• Try turning your phone off at least once a week...they are small computers, and benefit from occasional 'rebooting'.
• Get reviews from impartial sources[5] or Prepaid Reviews[6].

Sources and Citations

1. ? http://www.wirelessguide.org/plan/prepaid-monthly.htm
2. ? http://cellphones.about.com/od/prepaid_phones/qt/prepaid_plans.htm
3. ? http://cellphones.about.com/od/serviceplananalysis/a/payasyougo.htm
4. ? http://www.paygmobile.com/
5. ? http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/prepaid-wireless/
6. ? http://www.prepaidreviews.com/

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