| For many people in the UK, the traditional concept of | | | | pre-paid mobile phones work and they work in a |
| the mobile phone is what they are familiar with. That is, | | | | reliable fashion. As long as this aspect of the phones |
| they will purchase a fairly costly phone and then sign a | | | | remains constant they will have benefit and value. Also, |
| contract on a monthly basis for mobile phone service. | | | | pre-paid phones can be fully operational within minutes |
| Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with this. In fact, | | | | after purchasing them. That means if you lose your |
| they might be able to acquire an excellent phone and a | | | | mobile phone you can always purchase a pre-paid |
| service plan that will yield many great benefits. | | | | phone. This will ensure you are never out of the |
| However, there is also another option that some may | | | | proverbial loop and can always contact others or be |
| be unaware of. This would be the ability to purchase a | | | | contacted yourself. And, no, you need not purchase a |
| pre-paid (aka "pay as you go") mobile phone. | | | | pre-paid phone only when an emergency arises. You |
| As the name implies, pre-paid phones are mainly | | | | could always keep such a phone as a backup and |
| "disposable" phones that are purchased at a very low | | | | use it when necessary. |
| cost. The quality of the design of these mobile phones | | | | The number of plans for a pay as you go phone will |
| is really nothing terrible. Granted, they are minimalist in | | | | vary from phone service to phone service. The |
| design and produced mainly out of plastic; but, they | | | | amount you pay per minute, the minimum number of |
| work fine when used and can last a surprisingly long | | | | minutes you can buy at one time, and any automated |
| time. | | | | monthly debits to your account will vary from phone |
| Now, in terms of the actual service of the phone, they | | | | service to phone service. It is safe to say that will the |
| will operate on a pre-paid balance. Usually, the minimum | | | | variety of pay as you go phones on the market that a |
| amount of money you need to pay per month is very | | | | consumer can eventually find a phone service that fits |
| low. The number of minutes you receive based on | | | | his or her individual needs. |
| what you pay will not be the greatest deal in the world, | | | | Are these types of mobile phones cheaper than |
| but it will not be a "rip-off" either. Basically, you are | | | | traditional phones? They can be if they only require a |
| purchasing a cheap phone with limited service. | | | | minute payment for a couple of hours worth of |
| However, there will be no contracts, monthly bills, or | | | | minutes. Of course, the amount of minutes you use |
| any of the other required commitments that come with | | | | per month and how often you need to purchase |
| a standard mobile phone service. | | | | minutes will be factors in the overall cost comparison. It |
| Of course, some may look at this very minimalist | | | | is safe to say, however, these phones can be |
| concept and wonder what the value is. First, it is | | | | inexpensive depending upon how their use is allocated. |
| important to understand a very simple and basic fact: | | | | |