Cheap Phone Plan

[lxskllr]

I need to find a phone/plan for my mother. She had Virgin, but they're expensive, and a PITA to deal with. She hardly ever uses her cell, and it's mostly just for emergencies. What I want is some kind of dumbphone which doesn't matter much, and a plan that's cheap and easy to deal with. I was looking at Verizon, and I can prepay $100 to last a year before it has to be dealt with again. I like the idea of paying a year in advance. Is there anything similar from other companies?

Again, this is a phone for someone that doesn't use a phone. Expensive per minute rates are fine if the overall price is low, and it needs to be easy to handle. Not a crappy pseudo hip website like Virgin, and ideally, no website at all. A yearly phone call, or picking up a commonly available minute card would be best.

 

[Crono]

http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/genericregular.aspx?passet=Pro_Pro_GoldRewards

$100 for a year. Easy to refill over the phone or by buying refill cards.
Plus a cheap dumbphone. I have a Yezz phone that I picked up from NewEgg for $20, perfect for emergencies and it lasts about a week on a charge. They no longer have the model I have in stock, but something like this would work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875561072

 

[lxskllr]

http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/genericregular.aspx?passet=Pro_Pro_GoldRewards

$100 for a year. Easy to refill over the phone or by buying refill cards.
Plus a cheap dumbphone. I have a Yezz phone that I picked up from NewEgg for $20, perfect for emergencies and it lasts about a week on a charge. They no longer have the model I have in stock, but something like this would work:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16875561072

What network do they use? I have a few phones that could be used if they're compatible, or be made so. I have stuff from Virgin, Net10, and Sprint.

 

[Crono]

What network do they use? I have a few phones that could be used if they're compatible, or be made so. I have stuff from Virgin, Net10, and Sprint.

Virgin operates on Sprint (CDMA), so those phones wouldn't work with the T-Mobile plan I linked to (unless the Net10 phones are AT&T/T-Mobile based - I'm not familiar with what networks they use specifically). They could work with Verizon (also CDMA) if unlocked. If they weren't purchased factory locked, you can get unlock codes online. Depending on the model/age of the phone(s), codes can be had for cheap (usually a few dollars) or sometimes even free.

 

[lxskllr]

Virgin operates on Sprint (CDMA), so those phones wouldn't work with the T-Mobile plan I linked to (unless the Net10 phones are AT&T/T-Mobile based - I'm not familiar with what networks they use specifically). They could work with Verizon (also CDMA) if unlocked. If they weren't purchased factory locked, you can get unlock codes online. Depending on the model/age of the phone(s), codes can be had for cheap (usually a few dollars) or sometimes even free.

Sounds like your linked phone is better. ~$20 is cheap sanity insurance :^D

 

[notposting]

You can also find very cheap Verizon flip phones on eBay, Like $20-30. What is coverage like in your area for the big 4? Anywhere I've been thus far, Verizon has still been the best.

 

[lxskllr]

What is coverage like in your area for the big 4?

Sprint isn't terrific cause that's what Sprint is, but otherwise, everything's acceptable. I've never personally used Verizon or ATT, but have known people that did, and they never had significant complaints. I haven't known anyone that uses Tmobile, but I'd expect it to be sufficient. I live in a fairly dense area close to big spenders, so as long as you stay away from the more desolate/rugged areas. service is generally good.

 

[ponyo]

My daughter is on H2O Wireless prepaid. It uses AT&T network so you can use any AT&T compatible phone. We gave her my wife's old iPhone 4S and selected the $10 plan. https://www.h2owirelessnow.com/mainControl.php?page=planMin
$10 is good for 90 days/ 200 minutes of talk. It's 5 cents a minute for talk, 5 cents text, and 10 cents/MB data. They also have $100/ 2,000 minutes/ 1 year plan but that's overkill for my daughter. I rather refill $10 as needed since each refill lasts 90 days. You can pickup new SIM kit from Ebay or Amazon for $1 or less. I bought the SIM kit for $1 on Ebay but I saw the SIM kit for 1 cents and free shipping on Amazon. There is no need to buy the $10 or $15 simcard direct from H2O.

 

[paperwastage]

http://www.t-mobile.com/promotions/genericregular.aspx?passet=Pro_Pro_GoldRewards

$100 for a year.

T-mobile has a new prepaid service: http://www.tmonews.com/2014/08/t-mo...lue-prepaid-plans-0-10-per-textmin-flat-rate/

$3/month minimum ($3 can be used towards minutes or texts), $0.10/min, $0.10/text. Could be better/worse than the $100 minimum deposit per year, depending on what you use (eg if you care only for emergency use, $36/year is cheaper than $100/year... but the $100/year will rollover forever if you don't touch it, while T-mobile will deduct $3 monthly for the first one)



look at your region/area (on sensorly/opensignal). Typically T-mobile doesn't get service in rural areas, and AT&T/Verizon /Sprint is your best bet. Verizon's $100/year & $0.25/minute & $0.20/text seems fine

 

[cardiac]

Page Plus. Uses the Verizon network, and you bring your own phone. I use Kitty Wireless for my plans: http://www.kittywireless.com/pageplus/plan-standard.html
They have an $80 card that lasts a year, and is used at the rate of $.04/minute. Great Verizon coverage.

 

[shimpster]

Good comparison here;

http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/