[Chroniclez06]

My girlfriend and I want to change cell phone plans (strictly a pay as you go service)

We are currently both using a virgin mobile plan $0.25 a min to talk, $0.10 to send a text and Free to recieve. Its a decent plan but we get horrible reception.

Would TracFone be a good choice for us?

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› See More: Advice on a new phone and plan.

[Bourn Identity]

My girlfriend and I want to change cell phone plans (strictly a pay as you go service)

We are currently both using a virgin mobile plan $0.25 a min to talk, $0.10 to send a text and Free to recieve. Its a decent plan but we get horrible reception.

Would TracFone be a good choice for us?

I'm pretty sure Tracfone will be even more expensive then Virgin Mobile. If your area is covered by T-Mobile, that's what I would recommend. The higher value card you buy, the cheaper it is per minute, for example a $10 card is 30 min.($.33/min.). while $100 card is 1000 min.($.10/min.). Another good thing about T-Mobile ToGo is that when you spend $100 on your account, you minutes will not expire for 1 full year.

The text messaging is the same as Virgin, $.10 to send free to receive.

Your area doesn't offer metroPCS by any chance does it?

[Chroniclez06]

Thanks a bunch. MetroPCS isnt offered in my area.

[Bourn Identity]

Thanks a bunch. MetroPCS isnt offered in my area.

You're very welcome! Nevermind about the metroPCS then.

[roberts1953]

Beware. Tmobile prepaid is rumored to start charging $.05 for INCOMING sms starting July 1st!!! As well as keep the $.10 for outgoing SMS. Only a rumor but some customer service reps have mentioned this. Call yourself to verify, or hold off until next month to see if this comes to fruition. No changes shown on their website yet.

BTW virgin mobile recently lowered their payg minute rate from $.25 to $.18/min. Also instead of SMS at $.10 out/free in it is now $.05 in AND out.

The only 2 services still offering free in is boost mobile and some tracfones. If you mostly get incoming and don't use much voice then one of these might work. But I've heard horrible things about Boost's SMS service.

Best bet would be a plan with cheap in and out. Net10, Speak Out Wireless, and Cingular PAYG all charge $.05 in and out. That is also the order that I like these plans.

Net10 voice is always $.10/min. But the cheapest/month cost is $12.50. So if you will use around 125 min or more a month this is about as cheap as it gets. You will also get a very extensive GSM coverage area.

Speak Out is always $.20/min and runs on Cingular's network.

Cingular PAYG is $.25/min.

Another option is Alltel U prepaid. $.75 a day ($22.50/month) gets you 2 of these 4.
1. unlimited calling to 1 number
2. unlimited SMS
3. unlimited N/W
4. unlimited M2M

Or Alltel U's regular PAYG plan is $.15/min voice and $.05 SMS in and out.
Minium cost is $.15/month (you have to make 1 call to keep the service alive).

[Tarchi]

i used to have virgin and it has awesome reception, my brother was in the marines with it, and talked to us in arizona, while he was in germany and we heard him, and he heard us prefectly xD =P

[haydeno]

Try pageplus. only neg is sms is .08\.08

BTW: Virgin charges .05 to receive now and t-mobile WILL charge starting 8\15(not rumor)

[diehard.iden]

Try PagePlus or Amp'd Mobile:

PagePlus - Min. $30 / Yr. - 8c texting
Amp'd - Min. $120 / Yr. - 10c texting - data - PTT for $1/day
Both use Verizon's great coverage