[8899]

Hello everyone, I'm currently on my parent's cell plan and will be graduating next week and going off on my own; losing all the luxuries provided by my parents, including the free cell phone.

I'll be living and working third shift in Peoria, IL. So my call schedule will probably be when I get off work between the hours of 7:30AM and 3PM or so. I won't know anybody in the area and most of my friends are staying back in Indiana so I don't see myself making many calls, other than to my parents who also live in Indiana. Maybe 60 minutes per month. I also do some texting. Don't care about picture messaging, ring tones, international, roaming, 411 calls.


I think I need a prepaid phone, don't really feel like spending the money for a full plan. I've done research on the major carriers and found the following pros/cons:

AT&T has reduced rate nights/weekends, but 10 cents incoming texts.
Tmobile has free incoming texts, but a small network. Minutes expire somewhat quickly.
Verizon has access fees regardless of whether I use the phone with expiring minutes.
Alltell has lots of roaming charges it looks like.

Anyway, I hear about Oxygen and Tracphones as well but would like to get your opinions on the best plan given what you know about prepaid phones...what do you guys think? From the looks of it, AT&T seems like the better deal - Tmobile pay as you go looks decent too- but I'm sure some of you with more experience could point things out to me, Thanks.

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› See More: Prepaid in Illinois - good plans?

[gpatrick900]

Checkout Page plus cellular. (not page plus wireless)

I would choose the minutes plan. The 300 minute plan for 120 days on $25.00 and you can roam. Roaming starts out at 59cents then goes down, depending on what refill card you purchase.

It 8 cents per text message.

However, I think they may have new rates and package this year.

One bad thing. Is you will only get 50 free minutes on Some activation. Subject to change.

Village Pantry sell some of the Pageplus Cell phones that are supposed to be pre-activated.


Pageplus customers service is fair.


I just had two places I could not use the phone, otherwise the coverage is great and its most likely the phone.

[pageplusguy]

I agree with gpatrick900. Page Plus Cellular is a great choice. You can buy one $10 card every month. That will give you 83 minutes. If you talk for 60 minutes, you will be able to send/receive 35 text messages. Please note that if you use any other feature, including roaming, you will not be able to talk or text as much. If you want to save even more money, purchase a higher card. I hope I was able to help. If you have any more questions, just ask.