Unlocked Palm + Prepaid Plan?

Before anyone starts ranting about how bad prepaid smartphones are, let me save you the trouble. I've already heard all the bad hype. I can't afford to pay for any sort of hundred-dollar-per-month unlimited everything plan, and prepaid seems to be the option that works best for me. I want a phone from which I can make calls and text messages, and do internet stuff only occasionally - after all, I already have a desktop, laptop, and iPod touch for my internet needs wherever there's wi-fi.

I've owned Palm PDAs in the past - a Zire 72 was my first handheld, and I loved it until the screen cracked. Then I got a TX, which I eventually sold in order to buy my iPod Touch. Now that I'm seriously considering a smartphone, I see unlocked Treos and Centros (maybe even Pres?) available all over the internet, and I'm immediately drawn back to Palm.

Here's my question. What is the procedure for setting up a prepaid plan on one of these phones? I've been talking to some friends and glancing at a few carrier web sites, and it looks like prepaid isn't a normal option. However, if I bought an unlocked smartphone, is there any reason why I couldn't just take it into a carrier's store and get them to hook me up with a plan?

I'm sure this depends specifically on the phone and the carrier, too. I don't know much about carriers, so I don't really care - there are Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and US Cellular stores all in the area, and I would be willing to try any of them which you guys recommend. I'm sorta having trouble deciding between the Centro and the Treo as well - what are your recommendations there?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

~Matt

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The problem with the Smartphones is alot of the function's on a smartphone require data, which is very expensive on a pre-paid plan. US Cellular doesn't appear to have a great pre-paid program either, not as good as the other 3 you mentioned, on their website.

Are you in a Metro PCS area by chance?

If not, you may have to just live without having the Smartphone until someone supports having it on a Pre-Paid account.

Only other option, would be to try and get an unlocked CDMA phone, and try to activate it with US Cellular prepaid. They may or maynot be able to tell if its a Smartphone, but I am not sure if this will work. Someone familiar with US Cellular maybe able to help you better.

Good luck!!

Originally Posted by BigJames523

The problem with the Smartphones is alot of the function's on a smartphone require data, which is very expensive on a pre-paid plan. US Cellular doesn't appear to have a great pre-paid program either, not as good as the other 3 you mentioned, on their website.

Are you in a Metro PCS area by chance?

If not, you may have to just live without having the Smartphone until someone supports having it on a Pre-Paid account.

Only other option, would be to try and get an unlocked CDMA phone, and try to activate it with US Cellular prepaid. They may or maynot be able to tell if its a Smartphone, but I am not sure if this will work. Someone familiar with US Cellular maybe able to help you better.

Good luck!!

The OP said he had owned Palm PDAs - therefore he must have the software. If the phone will allow the software to be hotsynced in from a computer - why do you need air time?
I also owned Sony Clies. I have the software that I bought. It does not need airtime to run and you update via hotsync from a computer.
If the phone will accept data this way, and you just want voice only service, can't the carrier turn off the data?
Beta

Good luck!