Pre-Paid Cell Phone Plans Can Be More Economical Without Credit Checks.

If you are an infrequent user or if you want to manage your wireless spending, prepaid cell phone plans can be ideal for you. With pre-paid cplans, you can buy minutes ahead of time and replenish them as needed, instead of signing up for long-term contracts. Already widely used in Europe, prepaid wireless plans have become the fastest-growing segment of the wireless marke in the US. More companies offer more attractive and competitively priced prepaid calling plans.

Possibly the best thing about prepaid cell-phone plans is what it doesn't have. There are no contracts to sign, no monthly bills, no long-term commitments, no credit checks, no age limit and no hidden fees. These features are what make prepaid wireless plans so attractive.

Prepaid cell phone can stop you or your family members from wasting money. With prepaid cell phone plans, you're going to pay as you go along. So you know how much you are spending.

Similar to a prepaid long distance calling card, you buy the phone, activate it, and then pay to put minutes or "units" on your account. As you use the phone, minutes are subtracted from your account. When you run low on minutes, you pay to add more minutes.

Prepaid cell phone plans are ideal if...

• you want a cell phone phone but would like to budget your usage.
• you want a cell phone phone for safety without the monthly bill or long-term contract.
• you don't like the hassle of a credit check.
• you want to buy a cell phone for your children, but want to control their usage.

Prepaid Service Providers

	AT&T (Cingular)
	NET10
	Tracfone
	Verizon Wireless INpulse
	T-Mobile
	Virgin Mobile

Prepaid Minutes Expire; Refill Before Expiration Date.

There are two disadvantages to prepaid wireless. First, although per minute rates have come down, they remain higher than traditional postpaid service. Second, your minutes are good for only a limited time. , usually 30 to 90 days. If you don't buy more minutes to your account before they expire, you lose them.

At most carriers, minutes are easy to purchase online, by phone, or via prepaid cards sold at numerous retailers. Some carriers also offer plans that automatically charge credit cards to replenish minutes.

Selection Tips

Consumers considering a prepaid plan should consider their calling needs carefully. Prepaid is appealing to people who want a phone to use occasionally, but it can become expensive if the user gets hooked on wireless calling and starts spending far more than he would with a standard contract.

Which carrier should you choose?: Depends on your priority

• For infrequent users (emergency users, seniors): choose a carrier that offers longer airtime - Tracfone offers refill cards valid up to one year.
• For teens and people who talk a lot on the phone: choose a carrier that offers cheap per minute rates - Cingular and Verizon Wireless INpulse offers rates as low as 10¢ per minute
• For credit challendged people who want regular postpay style calling plans: choose Cingular (GoPhone Pick Your Plan) or Verizon Wireless (EasyPay Plan)

As the prepaid business expands and new companies enter the market, calling rates keep coming down and the length of time before minutes expire keeps going up.