Cell phone plans, how cheap can they get?

[pX]

Alright, heres my dilemna. I really need to get a co-op job for the summer and fall; and I really need to get one this time with whoever I think I want to work with after a graduate, so it is important to me. OK, there are a few job fairs I'll be going to later this month. However, I have no phone! I have to be able to give would-be employers a phone number to set up an interview. I could get one setup in my apartment I suppose, but you have to sign a one year contract (I know, its ridiculous, but thats what they told me),, and I will be moving out in May,, and anyway a cell phone would be pretty cool..

anyway, I don't know where to even start looking for plan-deals, I don't know what is good and what is not. I am looking for something like 20-25 a month, I could handle that. I wouldn't have to have hardly any minutes on it either, like 60 maybe if I had free weekends or something to that effect. W/ a cell I could handle paying for it for the next 5 monthes I think, because after that, with a real job it shouldn't be a problem paying for it.

Does anyone know if there are any out there, that are like 20 or so a month? You don't have to walk me thru it or anything, just point me in the right direction.
thanks

 

[Ns1]

cingular's bottom end plan is 20/month, 50 minutes anytime 350 night/weekend

you could always do prepaid wireless ^_^

 

[pX]

w/ prepaid can people call me? how does the final rate compare to normal wireless,,, after seeing the prices of those tracfones I was thinking there wasn't much difference other than the freedom of not having to stick with a plan for a year or whatever.

 

[Ns1]

it really depends on your usage

i mean if you're gonna use like 1 minute a month it's kinda not feasible to get a plan

but prepaid is like 50 cents/minute

 

[Renob]

My wifes phone is 19.99 a month with 20min she never uses her phone

 

[JW310]

I just switched to Verizon Wireless's new America's Choice plan. It's $35/month and is a nationwide plan. It includes 300 anytime minutes and 3000 night & weekend minutes. All the details are at Verizon Wireless. There are some areas with spotty coverage, but depending on where you are, this plan should work for you. One thing worth mentioning is that with the prepaid services, the price/minute is much higher than the price/minute you would pay for a regular, contract cellphone plan.

JW

 

[pX]

well cingular looked great, but its not in my area, so damn.
looks like 30 is the cheapest, which for some reason is too much for me.

anymore?

 

[erub]

you could get a prepaid package (not tracfone) like AT&T's Free2Go or Verizon Wireless' FreeUP. The startup cost is high though, although if you dont use it, I think it only costs $8/month to keep the plan active (check em out, make sure to check to see how often you have to refill the cards). Your quality of service will depend on your location - the big ones are Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, AT&T Wireless, Cingular and Voicestream. Usually these all should provide satisfactory service in metro areas, its when you go out in the country or try to use the phone during heavily peak hours (usually when the free night minutes begin) that you run into trouble. They should all have $19.99 plans - with tax it will come out to around $25..don't go over your minutes, or its usually around ~$.50/min! Also don't forget to figure in the cost of the phone (you can get heavily discounted w/ many carriers with a 2 year agreement, I'd check your local paper), and the activation fee (waived on a few 2 year contracts, a fee you will hafta pay if you only sign a 1 year agreement).

 

[spartacuskzm]

How about setting up some voice-mail with some sort of unified messaging service...if those even exist anymore?

Just did a search - how about this

http://www.onebox.com/

Good luck

 

[JEDI]

tracfones dont have voicemail.