prepaid questions. help?

[guapo337]

I am going to be getting a cell phone, but I am not going for a contracted agreement. I need prepaid, as that is the only thing that will work for me right now. However, there is a plethora of prepaid options, and I am having trouble deciding which one is truly the best option. The following are what i have come up with...

1) www.ecallplus.com. eCallPLus uses the AT&T TDMA network, and one can activate any TDMA phone under eCallPLus. For activation, it costs 25 dollars, and one recieves 100 minutes. Free roaming, free long distance nationwide. Minutes last for 90 days after purchase, and they roll over with the addition of new minutes to your account.

2) Verizon FREEUP. Verizon is CDMA, and I can activate two different phones on the FREEUP plan. These phones are the Motorola T720 and V120c. The T720, although it's a beautiful phone, costs way too much. I can get the V120c from them, with a $15 card, for 49.99 (after rebate). This $15 phone card will last me 30 days, and I will get 50 weekday minutes from it, or 100 night/weekend or mobile2mobile minutes.

3) AT&T Prepaid. ATT doesnt seem like a very good deal to me, and I can get the same network, plus more phones, from eCallPlus. Unless I hear otherwise, I will disregard AT&Ts current Prepaid offering.

4) Tracfone also seems to be a rip-off.. Unless I hear otherwise, I will disregard Tracfone's current offering.

So basically, it comes down to this:

TDMA, any phone, and a better overall deal money/time wise..?

..or..

the longer-living (and "better") CDMA technology, plus the V120c, and a not-as-good time/money deal?

Also, for TDMA, which phones do you recommend? (the v60 seems a bit to expensive for me.. right now im focused on the 120t and the nokia 6360.. any others?)

[WirelessBeachBum]

Where will you be using the phone? And how much do you expect to use it? (All the time...or just for security etc.?)

[guapo337]

i will be using it in Maine (southern maine; in and around portland and the suburbs).

i will be using it fairly often, but not a ton. mainly when im out, trying to find/hook up/hang out with friends, calling the parents from wherever i might be, etc..

[Airb330]

I responded to your post in howards, but here I go. Ecalls is good cause it uses ATT. But since you are in southern Maine Verizon could be a choice. i strongly suggest looking at the coverage areas, since Verizon's FREEUP is the cheapest (i use it), but has limited coverage in maine (just southern maine). Let us know what u decide, whether here or at howards.

[HumpMan]

Although most of Maine doesn't seem to be covered by Sprint PCS, a little of southern Maine does seem to be covered, so Virgin Mobile is a viable option. In case you are not familiar with this service, the plan is basically

1) 0.25 per minute for the first 10 minutes of each day, then 0.10 minutes for the rest of that day

2) Two Kyocera phones available, the 2119b "Party Animal" and the 2255 "Super Model". Both are very widely available at Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Sam Goody, etc. Since Virgin is using Sprint's PCS network, these phones are CDMA. Current cost of these phones is like $59 and $79 right now, although that might go up soon. Used phones are available on eBay, and although you do need to be careful, you can get a bargain there. My 2119b cost me a total of $32, although you don't get the $10 activation credit when you activate a previously activated phone.

3) Minimum "top up" is $20 and at least that much needs to be added every 90 days to keep service active. Unused funds roll as long as you keep current. (Actually you have an additional 60 days after the 90 to get back on, I believe).

4) SMS text messaging is included, with incoming messages free and outgoing at 0.10 each. Normal stuff like voice mail, nationwide long distance and caller ID are all included.

5) Absolutely NO off-network (Sprint PCS) roaming included.

the HumpMan

[Highlander]

Since Portland, ME area has AT&T coverage, you will have good coverage with eCallPlus service there.

If you're going to buy a TDMA phone, you can take advantage of eCallPlus' 50% off sale on the Starter Kit, and get activation plus a $35 airtime card for $25.

Considering the low start-up cost, coverage issue and the 90 day expiration period, I think the eCallPlus.com would be a better choice over the Verizon FreeUP.


Highlander