Tracfone per-minute billing question

I am NOT a big user of telephones, but see a need to have a cellular
phone and am considering Tracfone as a provider.

Question: how is the per-minute billing charged... i.e., if I make (or
take) a call that lasts only 30 seconds, am I billed only for that 30
seconds or is time billed by pre-set increments no matter the actual
time used?

TCC

---

› See More: Tracfone per-minute billing question

"The Cuddly Curmudgeon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am NOT a big user of telephones, but see a need to have a cellular
> phone and am considering Tracfone as a provider.
>
> Question: how is the per-minute billing charged... i.e., if I make (or
> take) a call that lasts only 30 seconds, am I billed only for that 30
> seconds or is time billed by pre-set increments no matter the actual
> time used?
>
> TCC
>
1 min unless roaming then 2 min
http://www.tracfone.com/rates.jsp?ne...jsp&task=rates
Almost all providers bill in 1 min increments.

Stanley Reynolds wrote:

> > Question: how is the per-minute billing charged... i.e., if I make (or
> > take) a call that lasts only 30 seconds, am I billed only for that 30
> > seconds or is time billed by pre-set increments no matter the actual
> > time used?
>
> 1 min unless roaming then 2 min

Cool.

Thanks.

"Joseph" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You are billed in full minute increments and also billed "send-to-end"
> meaning that if you start to process a call not only are you billed
> when the end party answers (or you encounter an answering machine or
> voicemail.) You are not billed if the end number does not answer but
> you are billed the actual talk time plus ringing time and the time it
> takes to "take down" your connection. This means that all calls will
> bill for at least one minute since there's full minute increment
> billing and depending on when the line is answered after it starts
> ringing the billing of the call may in part be determined on the time
> before actual talk time ensues.

Not entirely correct with TracFone.

With TracFone CDMA models you are charged one unit per minute (2 units per
minute if roaming) after the first 14 seconds whether the other person
answers or not. If you End the call before 14 seconds is up, you are
charged nothing. When receiving a call, you are charged one unit (2 units
if roaming) the second you answer the call. For each additional minute
(after the first minute) you will be charged 1 unit per minute (2 units per
minute if roaming).

With TracFone GSM (single rate) models when placing calls you are not
charged until the other person answers the phone, then you are charged one
unit per minute whether you are in your local calling area or roaming. When
receiving calls you are charged one unit per minute the second you answer
the call.

With TracFone TDMA models (I am not sure about TDMA TracFones), but I think
TDMA timing rules are a cross between the GSM single rate plan and CDMA
where 1 unit per minute if local & 2 units per minute when roaming. When
placing calls you are not charged anything until the person answers the
phone, then charged 1 unit per minute (2 units per minute if roaming) for
each additional minute. When receiving calls you are charged 1 unit per
minute if local and 2 units per minute if roaming the second you answer the
TracFone. For TracFones, TDMA models local calling areas are usually larger
than CDMA models local calling areas, but not always.

JoshIII
[email protected]
Activating a new or refurbished TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from a
TracFone user and you'll both receive 100 FREE
minutes airtime! Check out the refurbished
Nokia 2285/1221/1100 *give away* specials at:
www.tracfone.com
TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon, Cingular, AT&T,
T-Mobile, and Suncom wireless networks, just to
name a few. I've been a satisfied TracFone user 4 yrs.

CDMA?

GSM??

TDMA???

All that I want is a phone that works in the Chicago urban/suburban
area and that only charges me for time spent talking/listening... i.e.,
I don't wanna pay for a call IN that rings my line more than a few
seconds.

AND I have a question about voice mail: do I pay for the time a person
spends leaving me a message, or for the time I spend listening to it?

Thanks

"The Cuddly Curmudgeon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> CDMA?
> GSM??
> TDMA???
> All that I want is a phone that works in the Chicago urban/suburban
> area and that only charges me for time spent talking/listening... i.e.,
> I don't wanna pay for a call IN that rings my line more than a few
> seconds.

Different carriers use different technologies: Some carriers use more than
one technology.
CDMA (Verizon, Alltel, Sprint, Cellular One, Suncom, others)
TDMA (Cingular, AT&T, others)
GSM (Cingular, T-Mobile)

Note: TracFone airtime cards are available at Walmart, Target, Kmart,
grocery stores, just about everywhere. Not so with other prepaid plans.

I would recommend choosing a TracFone model that supports either CDMA or
GSM. TDMA is slowly but surely being phased out, and will be gone in a
couple of years.

For Zip Code 60622 (Chicago, IL), going to the www.tracfone.com website it
shows you can activate TracFone models that use CDMA or TDMA or
GSM.technologies.

If coverage is most important to you, but roaming rate is twice the local
rate, choose one of the following CDMA TracFone models (c343, 5180i, 120,
2285)

If you want coverage in Chicago (urban/suburban), and near interstate
highways, but poor rural area coverage, choose one of the following
single-rate (free roaming) GSM TracFone models (c155,v170,2600,1100).

You never are charged minutes when others call you, until you answer the
phone. That is when the airtime clock starts. If you don't answer, they
are sent to your voice mailbox, where they can leave a message.

>
> AND I have a question about voice mail: do I pay for the time a person
> spends leaving me a message, or for the time I spend listening to it?

If you use your TracFone to listen to your voice mailbox messages, you
airtime deducts for the time you are in the call to your mailbox. If you
use a landline phone to listen to your voice mailbox messages, you are not
charged any minutes on your TracFone. You are not charged minutes when
others leave messages on your voice mailbox.

Send me an email if you like.

joshiii
[email protected]
upstate south carolina
Activating a new or refurbished TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from a
TracFone user *before* you activate and you'll
both receive 100 FREE minutes airtime! Check
out the refurbished Nokia 2285/1221/1100
*give away* specials at: www.tracfone.com
TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon, Cingular, AT&T,
T-Mobile, and Suncom wireless networks, just to
name a few. I've been a satisfied TracFone user 4 yrs.

JoshIII wrote:

> Different carriers use different technologies: Some carriers
> use more than one technology.
> CDMA (Verizon, Alltel, Sprint, Cellular One, Suncom, others)
> TDMA (Cingular, AT&T, others)
> GSM (Cingular, T-Mobile)

Understood.

> Note: TracFone airtime cards are available at Walmart, Target, Kmart,
> grocery stores, just about everywhere. Not so with other prepaid plans.

Understood.

> I would recommend choosing a TracFone model that supports either CDMA or
> GSM. TDMA is slowly but surely being phased out, and will be gone in a
> couple of years.
>
> For Zip Code 60622 (Chicago, IL), going to the www.tracfone.com website it
> shows you can activate TracFone models that use CDMA or TDMA or
> GSM.technologies.

FINE. How do I know which phone is which? I've been to the tracfone
site a freakin' dozen times and see no reference (maybe I'm blind) to
CDMA, GSM, etc.

> If you want coverage in Chicago (urban/suburban), and near interstate
> highways, but poor rural area coverage, choose one of the following
> single-rate (free roaming) GSM TracFone models (c155,v170,2600,1100).
>
> You never are charged minutes when others call you, until you answer the
> phone. That is when the airtime clock starts. If you don't answer, they
> are sent to your voice mailbox, where they can leave a message.

AHA!... the 2600 is available locally in stores. Not sure about the
1100.

[snip of some very helpful stuff about voicemail charges]

> Send me an email if you like.

No need (YET!). You've been very helpful.

OOPS! I'll be contacting you about the 100 "free" airtime minutes, I'm
sure.

JoshIII wrote:

> With TracFone GSM (single rate) models when placing calls you are not
> charged until the other person answers the phone, then you are charged one
> unit per minute whether you are in your local calling area or roaming.

According to this site:

http://www.cellguru.net/tracfone.htm

an outgoing call on a GSM (single rate) plan is charged even if the
line is busy or if there is no answer.

If that's true, then Virgin Mobile is looking better here.

> JoshIII wrote:
>
> > With TracFone GSM (single rate) models when placing calls you are not
> > charged until the other person answers the phone, then you are charged
one
> > unit per minute whether you are in your local calling area or roaming.


"The Cuddly Curmudgeon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> According to this site:
>
> http://www.cellguru.net/tracfone.htm
>
> an outgoing call on a GSM (single rate) plan is charged even if the
> line is busy or if there is no answer.
>
> If that's true, then Virgin Mobile is looking better here.
>

I have a Nokia 1100 GSM TracFone (single rate) that was activated on the
Cingular network. Cellguru is wrong in this particular instance.

T-Mobile also supports TracFone GSM models, and I can't vouch for GSM
TracFone's activated on the T-Mobile network.

If you are worried about Cingular GSM coverage in rural areas, then stay
away from Virgin Mobile (that only uses the Sprint network). No roaming
allowed on other networks with Virgin Mobile. Cingular GSM network coverage
isn't great yet, but its better than Sprint's.

Good Luck!

JoshIII
[email protected]
upstate south carolina
Activating a new or refurbished TracFone soon?
Be sure to get a referral (by email) from a
TracFone user *before* you activate and you'll
both receive 100 FREE minutes airtime! Check
out the refurbished Nokia 2285/1221/1100
*give away* specials at: www.tracfone.com
TracFone uses Alltel, Verizon, Cingular, AT&T,
T-Mobile, and Suncom wireless networks, just to
name a few. I've been a satisfied TracFone user 4 yrs.

JoshIII wrote:

> I have a Nokia 1100 GSM TracFone (single rate) that was activated on the
> Cingular network. Cellguru is wrong in this particular instance.
>
> T-Mobile also supports TracFone GSM models, and I can't vouch for GSM
> TracFone's activated on the T-Mobile network.

Looks like Tracfone uses Cingular in my area (Chicago).

I'm wondering about Cellguru's caution/warning about Tracfone's
in-the-phone time-accounting system. What are the disadvantages...
other than if the phone craps out and/or somehow loses that info?

> If you are worried about Cingular GSM coverage in rural areas [snip]

Nope. Stay close to home (am practically a codger!) - don't even own a
car or drive any more. Probably won't even use the minimum minutes,
which is one reason I'm thinking of going with Virgin. Only costs $15
every three months to maintain activation on their min2min program, and
I can set it to auto-refill whenever the period is about to expire or
whenever my balance gets as low as $5. That should become even more
important as Alzheimer's begins to set in <VBG>.

I can see how Tracfone might be a good option for you, what with the
100-minute bonuses for new sign-ups. I don't have the time or the
inclination to pursue them. Question: do Tracfone's unused minutes
rollover as long as you keep the account activated?

"The Cuddly Curmudgeon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm wondering about Cellguru's caution/warning about Tracfone's
> in-the-phone time-accounting system. What are the disadvantages...
> other than if the phone craps out and/or somehow loses that info?

JoshIII wrote:
Losing a TracFone with a few minutes isn't a problem. Refurbished
TracFone's are free with purchase of a 40 minutes airtime card for $20.

Losing a TracFone with a lot of minutes is a problem, because the minutes
are stored in the phone, and TracFone will not reimburse you for lost or
stolen minutes if you loose your phone.

>Cuddly wrote:
><snip>
>.... Stay close to home (am practically a codger!) - don't even own a
> car or drive any more. Probably won't even use the minimum minutes,
> which is one reason I'm thinking of going with Virgin. Only costs $15
> every three months to maintain activation on their min2min program, and
> I can set it to auto-refill whenever the period is about to expire or
> whenever my balance gets as low as $5. That should become even more
> important as Alzheimer's begins to set in <VBG>.

JoshIII wrote:
Yes, Virgin's minimal cost per month figure is better than TracFone's
minimal cost per month figure, barring all the TracFone promotions and free
minute offers. TracFone has free minute offers and promotions all the time,
not just the refer-a-friend 100 free minute promotion. There are other
trade-offs, not the least of which are differences in coverage.

Its clear, minimal cost per month is the driving factor in your case, so you
should also consider Pharos International, CallPlus, and Beyond Wireless
prepaid. They can easy equal if not beat Virgin Mobile on the minimal cost
per month figure. You can keep these activated for as little as $3.33/month
(minimum cost).

> Cuddly wrote:
> I can see how Tracfone might be a good option for you, what with the
> 100-minute bonuses for new sign-ups. I don't have the time or the
> inclination to pursue them. Question: do Tracfone's unused minutes
> rollover as long as you keep the account activated?

JoshIII wrote:
Yes, month-to-month or year-to-year you minutes rollover. You never have to
forfeit your unused minutes with TracFone, unless you exceed your due date
or your phone is lost or stolen.

JoshIII wrote:

> Its clear, minimal cost per month is the driving factor in your case, so you
> should also consider Pharos International, CallPlus, and Beyond Wireless
> prepaid. They can easy equal if not beat Virgin Mobile on the minimal cost
> per month figure. You can keep these activated for as little as $3.33/month
> (minimum cost).

Beyond Wireless: W O W ! !

Minutes NEVER EXPIRE as long as one-minute billable call is made every
60 days!!?

If I only used it a few times a month (I used my last cell phone about
15-20 minutes a month), a year of usage (not counting the cost of the
refurbed phone) would cost me less than $30!! Virgin Mobile would cost
me at tad over twice that (still not a lot).

Hmmm...

TDMA vs GSM. Re-furbed phone vs a new one. Yada Yada Yada...

If I a was a complete cheapskate (which I'm not in most matters - heck,
I just finished a cigar that cost me more than I'm gonna spend on a
month of cell service), Beyond is freakin' AWESOME.

But I'm inclined to think that "size DOES matter", so I'm still leaning
towards Virgin.

Thanks for your help.

> But I'm inclined to think that "size DOES matter", so I'm still leaning
> towards Virgin.
>
> Thanks for your help.
>
STI mobile also resales sprint network and has stay active with one call
every 60 days. New phone was free with rebate, and yes I got the rebate.
I've been happy with cheap phone cards dot com google for conpon codes.

http://cheapphonecards.com/cccart/cu...?productid=168

Stanley Reynolds wrote:

> > But I'm inclined to think that "size DOES matter", so I'm still leaning
> > towards Virgin.
> >
> > Thanks for your help.
> >
> STI mobile also resales sprint network and has stay active with one call
> every 60 days. New phone was free with rebate, and yes I got the rebate.
> I've been happy with cheap phone cards dot com google for conpon codes.

Went with Virgin Mobile. A couple bucks more per month than the
cheapest, but definitely a better long-term prospect IMO.

Phone is charging as I post.