Pre-paid Cell Phones... any recommendations?

[gmoney]

During a recent move, I managed to lose my cell phone that I'd been paying about $35 a month for, so rather than get a traditional plan, I'm looking at the "pay as you go" phones like Virgin Mobile or TracFone...

I figured someone here has already done the detective work to figure out which is best, so I thought I'd ask for advice/opinions.

I barely used it before the move, and since the move cuts my commute down to about 5 minutes, I'll probably use it even less. But I have an older car, so I like the idea of having a cell phone in case I break down someplace on the highway or whereever.

I'm leaning towards Virgin Mobile, but the only thing I'm not wild about is that the first 10 minutes of the day are 25 cents a minute, but it seems unlikely that I'll use 140 minutes a month, so I'll still be money ahead.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/stories you care to share...
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[Spinzonner]

1. I'm a very light user but I've been satisfied with T-Mobile To Go plan

[Floogeldy]

4. YES, ME TOO. T-MOBILE.

I'M PAYING TEN CENTS A MINUTE FOR IT. IT WORKS IN THE METRO AREA AND ALONG ALL OF THE MAIN HIGHWAYS BUT IT DOESN'T WORK OUT IN THE STICKS, I'VE BEEN TOLD.

[DS1]

2. TracFone is working out fine w/me

:hi:

[physioex]

3. Couple of Options....

If your provider was Sprint or Verizon, you can purchase another phone to replace your old phone and go back to your traditional package. Do not cancel your old package early as there maybe some large fees if your contract has not expired. You can also replace your phone with other providers, but Cingular uses SIM Cards so it is more difficult to purchase a phone and do a replacemnt.

If you talk on the phone a lot or on the nights and weekends, I would stay away from the prepaid package. I don't like Virgin Mobile because they use the same network as Sprint and they are the worst carrier in my opinion. And I am not a big fan of prepaid unless the phone is for very short conversations/emergencies.

In the final conclusion, no provider will work everywhere you go. Get one that works well in places that you are most of the time like your home, work, and family.....And to me the most important thing is that it works well at home.

[Heyo]

5. Sweet!

and go back to your traditional package

Hehehe.. "package"

:woohoo:

Heyo

[doc03]

6. I have Alltel prepay

I have had the Alltel for about 2 years. At the time I was shopping for Prepay the others I checked their cards expired after 45 days and you lost all unused minutes so basically you are paying a fee every 45 days. The Alltel card may cost more at .35 a minute but you can use them up in 30 days or a year it never expires. I rarely use my cell phone and this works fine for me.

[gmoney]

7. Thanks folks for your thoughts...

...time to bite the bullet and maybe talk to a -- gasp -- salesperson. Yuck.

[BiggJawn]

8. I use Simple Freedom

It's from Alltel, 25 cents a minute, you have to "recharge" the phone every 60 days, you don't lose your minutes, and the coverage is pretty good. I seldom find myself in "roaming" territory, and when I do, I notice that my Nextel work phone usually doesn't even HAVE coverage.