Prepaid service + quality phone -- just a dream?

[cmtrev]

Seems to me that the phones they try to sell with the prepaid service leave a lot to be desired. I'm no kid, so the games & ringtones don't blow my hair back -- I want a real phone!

Can I purchase a compatible (read GSM, CDMA, etc.) phone and SIM card of my choice and use it as a prepaid?

What's the best way to do this? Shop eBay? Go to a service center (please, no, anything but that!)?

[Andy]

You can get any unlocked GSM phone, off ebay or anywhere else, that has the 800/1900 bands on it, and purchase a prepaid SIM card, and everything should work fine. It's gonna cost $$$, but it's possible.

[cmtrev]

Originally Posted by Andy84094 You can get any unlocked GSM phone, off ebay or anywhere else, that has the 800/1900 bands on it, and purchase a prepaid SIM card, and everything should work fine. It's gonna cost $$$, but it's possible.

What is your opinion of the phones that come with the prepaid plans? Again, I'm after quality reception & clarity.

Audiovox 8500 (Virgin)
Kyocera K7 (Virgin)
Kyocera K9 (Virgin)

Nokia 3595 (TMobile)
Nokia 6800 (TMobile)
Motorola v300 (TMobile)
Seimens CF62T (TMobile)

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Gideon H]

The Audiovox 8500 with Virgin is horrible... I have had it and it was the worst phone I ever owned. And there's no use in getting the K7 when there's the K9, and both are good phones. If you to the Tmobile pre-paid way, I reccommend the Nokia 6800. If you have any specific questions about the phones (I am willing to give a full review ), please ask!

[cmtrev]

Originally Posted by Gideon H The Audiovox 8500 with Virgin is horrible... I have had it and it was the worst phone I ever owned. And there's no use in getting the K7 when there's the K9, and both are good phones. If you to the Tmobile pre-paid way, I reccommend the Nokia 6800. If you have any specific questions about the phones (I am willing to give a full review ), please ask!

This reply was the most helpful one I've had yet . . . thanks!

Do you have any opinions on Virgin vs TMobile? If wishes were horses, I'd go with Verizon prepaid, but as of yet, they charge a buck a day whether you use the phone or not, so why go prepaid? I'm looking for emergency (or at least urgent) & travel use, so maybe analog signals should be part of the mix. What do you think?

[wgray8231]

Originally Posted by cmtrev This reply was the most helpful one I've had yet . . . thanks! Do you have any opinions on Virgin vs TMobile? If wishes were horses, I'd go with Verizon prepaid, but as of yet, they charge a buck a day whether you use the phone or not, so why go prepaid? I'm looking for emergency (or at least urgent) & travel use, so maybe analog signals should be part of the mix. What do you think?

They charge 99 cents a day to have the IN option and 99 cents a day to have the unlimited N&W option. If you want either, you may as well go with a regular $39.99 plan and get both.

Analog is becoming less important. The only place I would regularly need it is along US-331 between Montgomery, AL and the gulf twice a year (trip down & trip back).