[russ72]

Hi,
I currently have Virgin Mobile as my carrier w/Shuttle as my phone. Its a nice little phone and very durable,but not good for texting.
I hardly use the phone maybe 10mins or so a month,and I text more often than not. I currently have to pay 20bucks a month to keep phone number/account active I think.
I know this is wishfull thinking,but is there a provider that I don't need to keep adding payments every month to keep number active? Something where I can keep money on account to pay for texting,but not having too keep adding and only have to add money when I actually need it(I probably could go a few months on 20bucks for texting + whatever limited calling I do).
Next is reception is this mainly based on quality of phone or the provider or both? My Shuttle/Virgin Mobile is okay,but it does drop bars depending.
Basicly is a better provider than Virgin mobile and what is a good phone to get prefer pay as u go..I did look around but they all almost seem the same to me..thnks for any imput.

[nicknrm]

Maybe look into tracfone.

TracFone used to require everyone buy a card that was valid for one year to even be able to use the phone AT ALL. Now, they have the one year card optional. If you buy a one year card, it gives you lots of minutes but it also doesn't expire for a year.

They offer two options which may fit your needs.

Most valuable:

Double Minutes for the Life of your TracFone

• $124.99
• 365 days of service
• 800 minutes
• every card you buy in future is double the minutes (so if you buy a 20 minute card, you pay the 20 minute card price...but you get 40 minutes...for the life of your TracFone)

1 year + minutes option

• $99.99
  
• 365 days of service
• 400 minutes

They have other minute cards which allow you to have anywhere between 30-90 days of service before the need to add another card arises.

Pricing above DOES NOT include the phone. Some phones are defaulted with the double minute plan, so if you're interested in that plan...you may be able to just buy a device that comes with that service and then just buy the $99.99 card.

Devices are available online, at Wal-Mart, Target, Circle K, Best Buy, various gas stations, and other locations. The minute cards are available wherever the phones are available.

The TracFone coverage area will operate on the Verizon Wireless national network or the AT&T national network, depending on which phone you buy. They offer both GSM and CDMA devices.

[wcellgirl]

Originally Posted by russ72

Hi,
I currently have Virgin Mobile as my carrier w/Shuttle as my phone. Its a nice little phone and very durable,but not good for texting.
I hardly use the phone maybe 10mins or so a month,and I text more often than not. I currently have to pay 20bucks a month to keep phone number/account active I think.
I know this is wishfull thinking,but is there a provider that I don't need to keep adding payments every month to keep number active? Something where I can keep money on account to pay for texting,but not having too keep adding and only have to add money when I actually need it(I probably could go a few months on 20bucks for texting + whatever limited calling I do).
Next is reception is this mainly based on quality of phone or the provider or both? My Shuttle/Virgin Mobile is okay,but it does drop bars depending.
Basicly is a better provider than Virgin mobile and what is a good phone to get prefer pay as u go..I did look around but they all almost seem the same to me..thnks for any imput.

Maybe you should try using Wcell. They have no monthly bills and no contracts. It's new and you will save so much money using them!!

[Chris Chan]

I decided to dump my AT&T phone for a prepaid phone. Got a Tracfone for 30 bucks but it was kinda-sorta free since it came with 30 bucks worth of air time.

Now I budget my phone use by buying the amount of time I want, up front. I also got a double minutes card which makes it an even better value.

[electrocole]

Originally Posted by Chris Chan

I decided to dump my AT&T phone for a prepaid phone. Got a Tracfone for 30 bucks but it was kinda-sorta free since it came with 30 bucks worth of air time.

Now I budget my phone use by buying the amount of time I want, up front. I also got a double minutes card which makes it an even better value.

This is really what I find to be the best thing about TracFone. I used to use my phone for practically everything (since I had an iPhone), but when it came down to the actual minutes, I would only use around 200 a month. A TracFone is great for those who don't call that often and still need a plan, and you just can't beat it for budgeting.

[tna-2xxtrem]

If prepaid.. look at Tmobile and their option on their prepaid plan