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Page: 5 of 6
In this report
- Introduction{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Prepaid Phone Plans{18 mentions}{1 mention}{6 mentions}{5 mentions}{12 mentions}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Global Cell Service{1 mention}{1 mention}{1 mention}
- Contract vs. Prepaid
- Useful Links
- Our Sources
What prepaid wireless offers
This report just covers prepaid cell phone plans. Regular cell phone plans require a one- or two-year contract, but they may offer better phones, services or network coverage. See our companion report on cell phone plans. We also have more than 300 cell phone reviews. See our lists of best prepaid phones and best smartphones.
Your choice of phone depends firstly on the service you choose. Once you've chosen a carrier and your phone choice has thus been forcibly narrowed, CNET, PCMag.com and PhoneScoop.com are good resources for individual phone reviews. ConsumerReports.org also has a comprehensive report on cellular phones, but you have to be a subscriber to read the report.
If you are interested in cell phone technology and how mobile phone services work, an excellent place to start is HowStuffWorks.com. Editors have compiled a lengthy article that explains how they evolved, how Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) networks are different from Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems and many other essentials.
Another interesting article on the same site explains how prepaid cell phones work, and their advantages and disadvantages.
About.com's wireless usage quiz is handy if you're trying to figure out what type of prepaid plan works for your calling habits.
Will a prepaid plan work for you? SmartMoney magazine lists six things to consider, such as how many minutes you usually talk each month and the number of phones your family needs.
Engadget Mobile posts news of the prepaid wireless world on its blog, including editors' take on some of the new unlimited monthly prepaid plans.
You can compare prepaid plans at the Prepaid Reviews website, where you select which wireless carriers you're interested in and then you're given a comparison table of the features of their prepaid plans.
Prepaid cell phone plan carriers
You can get detailed pricing and coverage information on the website of each wireless service provider. It's a good idea to check with carriers, since terms and rates change constantly.