| At the moment, it is the sixth biggest | | | | you run short of minutes before it is |
| mobile network operator and the largest | | | | time to pay the subscription again, you |
| mobile virtual network operator in the | | | | can add more minutes by calling in and |
| U.S. By way of nearly 9 million | | | | paying an additional amount. You can |
| customers, it has dominated the entire | | | | also just wait and pay at the regular |
| U.S. cellular market. | | | | time and simply do without the phone |
| As cell phones become more than just a | | | | until then. |
| convenience, People who had not | | | | Prepaid cell phones with redeemable |
| considered getting one before are now | | | | airtime cards are perhaps the fastest |
| seriously looking at the various options | | | | growing of the prepaid cell phones. |
| open to them. Though contract cell | | | | These work by redeeming an airtime card |
| phones are still the most common, | | | | with a certain number of minutes. The |
| prepaid cell phones are gaining | | | | number of minutes available on these |
| popularity. | | | | cards ranges from 20 on up. Some have as |
| Many people looking at getting their | | | | many as 500 minutes. |
| first cell phone are hesitant about | | | | Some, like Tracfone, have cards that |
| getting locked into a two year contract | | | | keep your phone activated for one full |
| when they are not sure just how much | | | | year, even if you run out of minutes. If |
| they will actually use the phone. Even | | | | you don't get the one year activation |
| people who have had contract plans are | | | | card, you need to redeem a new card at |
| looking to go with prepaid when they | | | | least every sixty days to keep your |
| find they either don't use the cell | | | | phone active. If it goes inactive, it |
| phone enough or just want to get away | | | | can be reactivated but you will most |
| from the monthly bills. Prepaid cell | | | | likely have a new phone number. Many |
| phones are cell phones that don't have a | | | | companies besides Tracfone offer this |
| contract that requires paying a monthly | | | | kind of prepaid phone. Among them are |
| bill even if you don't use the phone. | | | | Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile, and AT&T. |
| There are basically two types of prepaid | | | | With prepaid cell phone plans, you most |
| phones - prepaid with monthly plans and | | | | often buy the phone outright but there |
| prepaid with redeemable airtime cards. | | | | are often specials that include a free |
| The prepaid cell phones with monthly | | | | phone with the purchase of a high minute |
| plans are like month to month | | | | plan or airtime card. Prepaid cell |
| subscriptions that can be ended at any | | | | phones are often preferred by people who |
| time. These plans often have many of the | | | | need a cell phone but are watching their |
| same advantages that contract cell phone | | | | budgets and don't want to have a monthly |
| plans have, such as free night and | | | | bill they have to pay. Prepaid gives the |
| weekend minutes and free mobile to | | | | option of not having to pay a penalty |
| mobile. Several of the major carriers | | | | for ending a contract before it is up. |
| have such plans but the most notable is | | | | Just simply not buy more minutes or end |
| AT&T, formerly Cingular. | | | | the subscription. These are ideal for |
| With their Go Phones, you would have | | | | keeping the use of cell phones by |
| several plan options to choose from. | | | | teenagers and pre-teens from getting out |
| These are based on the number of anytime | | | | of hand. When the minutes are gone, they |
| minutes, options such as free nights and | | | | are gone. |
| weekends and free mobile to mobile. If | | | | |