"Doc" <docsavage20@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:39351e0e-6585-4187-9e0b-792ec57599f3@a35g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> There are maybe half a dozen or fewer times a year when it might be
> convenient to have a cel phone, but I don't feel like tithing for a
> monthly fee for this little usage. Any opinions as to the best
> provider for a very occasional user?
>
> WalMart had something like 9 vendors on display, some of which seemed
> very pointedly aimed at the Hispanic market.
>
> Also wondering about issues like whether the given service is likely
> to be around for a while, how the service compares to other providers,
> if the phone itself is likely to work when I use it, etc. One of the
> complaints I keep seeing is customer service - activation being a
> hassle, reps somewhere in S. American who barely speak English.
>
> Thanks for all input.
Prepaid comparison at
http://www.cellguru.net/prepaid_compare.htm .
Best deal is PagePlus cellular using the Verizon network. Buy a cheap
Verizon phone on Ebay, then buy a PagePlus activation on Ebay for $5.00 or
less and add $10.00 in airtime every 120 days to keep the phone active. The
activation was easy and last time I called customer service the rep was
bilingual. The difficult part is remembering to add time every 120 days so
as not to lose your accumulated minutes.