Cell Phone Plans

[clickynext]

I was looking into getting a new phone and plan, and was wondering what the general concensus is on these things. What in your opinion is the best thing to do out of these three?

1) Buy an individual phone and not be tied to a contract
2) Get a 3-year term and a free phone
3) Get a shorter term (probably 2 year) and a cheap phone

I'm kind of leaning towards the 2 year. I'm afraid that after three years, the phone will probably suck, have a dead battery, and there will be much more desirable phones out there.

 

[duragezic]

Yep do option 3, or even pay a bit more for a phone and get the 1yr. Often the activation fee is waived if you get a 2yr. Don't worry about the most expensive, fancy phone. Just get something that has simple features you need and has gotten decent reviews. Any phone you take care of should be fine after 2 years, but I agree 3 yrs is getting too much.

One thing though, if you have any friends, roommaes, family members, etc that want one as well, try and get on the same plan. My brother and I and two roommates are all on the same plan. It's been only $27/mo for the past 2.5 years, and we have never ever gotten near our alloted anytime minutes. Damn nice to have a $27/mo plan with minutes that I never once had to consider and be like, "can't talk too long cause of minutes" or crap like that. Plus in a small area with only one crappy competitor, there is no the competitive price plans like you find in cities, so we got a killer deal.

 

[sniperruff]

i think if i were to get an individual plan, the spirint SERO $30/month plan sounds awesome. seems like you'd have to either settle for an older phone or pay a little for a phone though.

btw... just don't get cingular. IMO

verizon > sprint > t-mobile > cingular

 

[Ika]

Stick with 2-year or even 1-year. In retrospect, I would much rather have paid $100 for a RAZR than get a free V276, but now I'm stuck with this crappy phone for another year. I can't wait to ditch it...

 

[FoBoT]

only do a 1 yr contract if you are new to the service

once you have used something for a while, then 2 or more years is ok if you don't plan on changing

 

[Reckoner]

Sprint Sero ftw, thanks, g'bye, and god bless.

 

[Colt45]

I just buy phones outright, so I'm not stuck with a contract and a ****** phone thats outdated when I get it.