There is a resounding trend happening in the prepaid industry. Most of the prepaid companies allow you to convert big name phones to use their service.
For example:
A Verizon flip phone has the ability to be converted to use Page Plus Cellular minutes.
AT&T phones can be converted to use H2O Wireless and Air Voice minutes with a respective sim card
T-Mobile phones can be converted to use Simple Mobile with a respective sim card.
In most cases, cell phones are locked/blocked which will prevent the conversion. There are a number of reasons why a cell phone will be blocked, but regardless it will still need to be unblocked before you convert it. Unlocking/Unblocking phones has usually been the privilege of cell phone $pecialist. "Unlock By Pin" makes it possible for anyone to unlock a phone by simply following directions and purchasing the pin. To get this instruction, click on the “Myminutes.com” banner, click on wireless refill, and go to “Unlock by Pin”
Unlock by Pin will has the ability to unlock 90% of the phones that are out there. There are instructions on how to unlock the phone, and customer service to help as well, but give yourself 30 minutes to make it happen so you don’t get over anxious. Also, if it’s a complicated phone (smart phone, I-pod, etc) you may need to call customer service to help you make the switch.
I’ve worked with a myriad of pawn shops and independent cellular stores and have taught them how to convert these phones by using “Unlock by Pin”. It brings new useful life into what most people would deem as a non-usable phone, just make sure that the battery can still take a charge before you spend any money.
If nothing else, you can sell your old phone(s) to most pawn shops and most independent cellular dealers, because they can turn it for a profit, and everyone is happy. (Just don't take them any water damaged phones)
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
H2O Wireless
H2O Wireless is a non-contract service
$960 = Unlimited talk (domestic) Unlimited Text (International) & $10 credit for international calling @ $40 x 24 months
$1,200 = Unlimited talk (domestic), Unlimited Text (International), $20 credit for international calling & 100mb of web @ $50 x 24 months
Sim cards go for about $10 - $15, and phones go from $20 - $150
H2O Unlimited is a brilliant concept for prepaid cell phones. They have great service plans which are popular for 3 reasons.
#1 It’s a great price for anyone who wants an unlimited talk and text plan
#2 It’s an expense saver for people calling from the USA to another country
#3 Most unlocked GSM phone(made for USA cellular service) is compatible a H2O sim card
Just about everybody has an old AT&T or TMobile phone. As long as it is unlocked (see “Unlock by Pin” in the archives) and is a handset made for USA cellular use, then you can have H20 service. H20 has phones available, but only on their website.
Benefits: H20 has gained a lot of popularity at pawn shops and independent cellular stores, because the phones are inexpensive. They are available nationwide. They are on the inexpensive side when it comes to the unlimited plans. Plans already include credit for international calling. Check the international rates on their website to see how much time $10 or $20 of credit will get you.
Drawbacks: They do not sell handsets anymore. You need to already have an AT&T or TMobile unlocked phone to make this service work. I-Phones can work on their service, but you will need special programming, AND you won’t get much use out of the internet because they only give 100mb per month.
$960 = Unlimited talk (domestic) Unlimited Text (International) & $10 credit for international calling @ $40 x 24 months
$1,200 = Unlimited talk (domestic), Unlimited Text (International), $20 credit for international calling & 100mb of web @ $50 x 24 months
Sim cards go for about $10 - $15, and phones go from $20 - $150
H2O Unlimited is a brilliant concept for prepaid cell phones. They have great service plans which are popular for 3 reasons.
#1 It’s a great price for anyone who wants an unlimited talk and text plan
#2 It’s an expense saver for people calling from the USA to another country
#3 Most unlocked GSM phone(made for USA cellular service) is compatible a H2O sim card
Just about everybody has an old AT&T or TMobile phone. As long as it is unlocked (see “Unlock by Pin” in the archives) and is a handset made for USA cellular use, then you can have H20 service. H20 has phones available, but only on their website.
Benefits: H20 has gained a lot of popularity at pawn shops and independent cellular stores, because the phones are inexpensive. They are available nationwide. They are on the inexpensive side when it comes to the unlimited plans. Plans already include credit for international calling. Check the international rates on their website to see how much time $10 or $20 of credit will get you.
Drawbacks: They do not sell handsets anymore. You need to already have an AT&T or TMobile unlocked phone to make this service work. I-Phones can work on their service, but you will need special programming, AND you won’t get much use out of the internet because they only give 100mb per month.
Net10
Net10 is a non-contract service
$600 = 750 minutes Talk, Text & Web @ $25 x 24 months
$1,200 = Unlimited Talk, Text & Web @ $50 x 24 months
Phones range from “Free” to $150
Even in 2009, it was common to have a plan with finite monthly minutes such as 700 minutes per month, or 1000 minutes per month. If you can commit to 750 minutes per month, then you could have a plan as low as $25 with text and web. If unlimited talk text and web is your thing, then their $50 plan is your best option. Net10 is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) of AT&T, so you may experience dropped calls.
Net10 also has a $30 plan that will give you 300 minutes that you have 90 days to use, and/or $60 will give you 600 minutes for 90 days.
Benefits: Net10 is widely sold at Walmart, Target and major grocery stores.
Drawbacks: Store employees are not reliable to give Net10 customer service, so you have to go online or call. They use the AT&T network which means you can expect the same network service ratings, which is fair. They offer lower grade phones, so you will get less web than you expect.
$600 = 750 minutes Talk, Text & Web @ $25 x 24 months
$1,200 = Unlimited Talk, Text & Web @ $50 x 24 months
Phones range from “Free” to $150
Even in 2009, it was common to have a plan with finite monthly minutes such as 700 minutes per month, or 1000 minutes per month. If you can commit to 750 minutes per month, then you could have a plan as low as $25 with text and web. If unlimited talk text and web is your thing, then their $50 plan is your best option. Net10 is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) of AT&T, so you may experience dropped calls.
Net10 also has a $30 plan that will give you 300 minutes that you have 90 days to use, and/or $60 will give you 600 minutes for 90 days.
Benefits: Net10 is widely sold at Walmart, Target and major grocery stores.
Drawbacks: Store employees are not reliable to give Net10 customer service, so you have to go online or call. They use the AT&T network which means you can expect the same network service ratings, which is fair. They offer lower grade phones, so you will get less web than you expect.
Tracfone
Tracfone is a non-contract service
Tracfone does not offer an unlimited plan. However, they are among the most noted of the prepaid cellular services, because they are offered at just about all major chain super stores. Best Buy, Office Depot, Walmart, Target, Safeway, etc., however they are among the most expensive pay-as-you-go companies out there. Their reviews are mixed. The older generation likes the service plans because they don’t speak much on a cellular phone. It’s a great starter phone, for people who are not familiar with cellular phones, but I don’t know anyone who uses Tracfone for years.
$19.99 = 60 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$29.99 = 120 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$39.99 = 200 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$99.99 = 400 minutes with a 365 day expiration
For clarification sake, these plans are finite. For $19.99 you will receive 60 minutes that you have to use within 90 days. If you do not use all 60 minutes, they will simply go away. This does not give you 60 minutes to use per month.
Tracfone does not offer an unlimited plan. However, they are among the most noted of the prepaid cellular services, because they are offered at just about all major chain super stores. Best Buy, Office Depot, Walmart, Target, Safeway, etc., however they are among the most expensive pay-as-you-go companies out there. Their reviews are mixed. The older generation likes the service plans because they don’t speak much on a cellular phone. It’s a great starter phone, for people who are not familiar with cellular phones, but I don’t know anyone who uses Tracfone for years.
$19.99 = 60 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$29.99 = 120 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$39.99 = 200 minutes with a 90 day expiration
$99.99 = 400 minutes with a 365 day expiration
For clarification sake, these plans are finite. For $19.99 you will receive 60 minutes that you have to use within 90 days. If you do not use all 60 minutes, they will simply go away. This does not give you 60 minutes to use per month.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Boost Mobile
Boost Mobile is a non-contract service
$1,200 .00 – Unlimited Talk, Text & Web @ $50 x 24 months
$1,440.00 – Unlimited Talk, Text & Web for Blackberry @ $60 x 24 months
Phones range from $50 - $300
For as low as $50 per month, Boost offers unlimited nationwide talk, text, web, 411, IM & email with no contracts. They offer to lower your monthly plan by $5 per month for every month you keep continuous service. This number is limited to $35 on the $50 plan, and $45 on the $60 plan.
You can add international calling to their approved international list for only $5 per month on top of a regular monthly plan
$1,200 .00 – Unlimited Talk, Text & Web @ $50 x 24 months
$1,440.00 – Unlimited Talk, Text & Web for Blackberry @ $60 x 24 months
Phones range from $50 - $300
For as low as $50 per month, Boost offers unlimited nationwide talk, text, web, 411, IM & email with no contracts. They offer to lower your monthly plan by $5 per month for every month you keep continuous service. This number is limited to $35 on the $50 plan, and $45 on the $60 plan.
You can add international calling to their approved international list for only $5 per month on top of a regular monthly plan
Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile is a non-contract service
$720.00 – 1500 Minutes, 1500 Texts & 30 mb data @ $30 x 24 months
$840.00 – 300 minutes, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $35 x 24 months
$1,080.00 – 1200 minutes, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $45 x 24 months
$1,320.00 – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $55 x 24 months
Virgin targets the younger crowds. They find their niche by keeping up with the younger trends, hence their data and texting plans. Virgin has many up to date phone to choose from.
$720.00 – 1500 Minutes, 1500 Texts & 30 mb data @ $30 x 24 months
$840.00 – 300 minutes, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $35 x 24 months
$1,080.00 – 1200 minutes, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $45 x 24 months
$1,320.00 – Unlimited Talk, Unlimited Text & Unlimited Data @ $55 x 24 months
Virgin targets the younger crowds. They find their niche by keeping up with the younger trends, hence their data and texting plans. Virgin has many up to date phone to choose from.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Verizon Wireless
Verizon – 2 Year Contract:
$1,679.76 - Unlimited Talk @ $69.99 x24 months
$720.00 - 2GB of data @ $30.00 x 24 months
$240.00 - Unlimited Text @ an average of $10.00 x 24 months
$240.00 – average monthly taxes @ $10 x 24 months
$150.00 – discounted price for the latest greatest phone
$3,029.76 – Estimated charges for with a 2 year contract
Verizon is widely known as having the largest and most consistent coverage. If superior quality is your goal, and you have a deep enough pocket to afford the service, then Verizon is company of choice. They have a few MVNOs who sell their services for less for a single user. Verizon becomes affordable if you do a family plan with 4 or more people.
Verizon's prepaid program is the most expensive of the prepaid services. They do not have an unlimited prepaid plan.
Benefits: LTE 4G coverage in many markets, everywhere else is 3G. They cover 97% of the United States population
Drawback: Termination fee. Higher prices for higher quality. Expensive prepaid service
$1,679.76 - Unlimited Talk @ $69.99 x24 months
$720.00 - 2GB of data @ $30.00 x 24 months
$240.00 - Unlimited Text @ an average of $10.00 x 24 months
$240.00 – average monthly taxes @ $10 x 24 months
$150.00 – discounted price for the latest greatest phone
$3,029.76 – Estimated charges for with a 2 year contract
Verizon is widely known as having the largest and most consistent coverage. If superior quality is your goal, and you have a deep enough pocket to afford the service, then Verizon is company of choice. They have a few MVNOs who sell their services for less for a single user. Verizon becomes affordable if you do a family plan with 4 or more people.
Verizon's prepaid program is the most expensive of the prepaid services. They do not have an unlimited prepaid plan.
Benefits: LTE 4G coverage in many markets, everywhere else is 3G. They cover 97% of the United States population
Drawback: Termination fee. Higher prices for higher quality. Expensive prepaid service
Sprint
Sprint – 2 Year Contract:
$1,919.76 - Unlimited Talk, Tex & Web @ $79.99 x 24 months
$240.00 – average monthly taxes @ $10 x 24 months
$150.00 – discounted price for the latest greatest phone
$2309.76 – Estimated charges for with a 2 year contract
Sprint has been a steady service. To supplement their success, they have contracted with multiple MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) which are mostly prepaid cellular services. Sprint has bought out 2 of these companies: Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile.
Benefits: Limited 4G coverage, and unlimited domestic services, including the only true unlimited data. Other companies will charge extra if you use more than 2GB of data
Drawback: Termination fee & less coverage than Verizon and AT&T
$1,919.76 - Unlimited Talk, Tex & Web @ $79.99 x 24 months
$240.00 – average monthly taxes @ $10 x 24 months
$150.00 – discounted price for the latest greatest phone
$2309.76 – Estimated charges for with a 2 year contract
Sprint has been a steady service. To supplement their success, they have contracted with multiple MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) which are mostly prepaid cellular services. Sprint has bought out 2 of these companies: Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile.
Benefits: Limited 4G coverage, and unlimited domestic services, including the only true unlimited data. Other companies will charge extra if you use more than 2GB of data
Drawback: Termination fee & less coverage than Verizon and AT&T
ATnT and GoPhone
Blogspot would not allow me to place an "&" in the title or label section
AT&T Wireless – 2 Year Contract
$1,679.76 - Unlimited Talk @ $69.99 x 24 months
$720.00 - Unlimited Text & 2GB of Data @ $30 x 24 months
$288.00 - estimated taxes @ $12 x 24 months
$200.00 - average phone with a 2 year contract
$2,887.76 - estimated balance for a 2 year contract over 24 months
AT&T Go Phone is a Non Contract service
$1,200.00 - Unlimited Talk, Text and basic web @ $50 x 24 months
$120.00 - estimated taxes @ $5 x 24 months
Phones are around $50 - $300
$1,520.00 - estimated balance for GoPhone over a 24 month period
The GoPhone’s $50 Monthly Unlimited plan includes unlimited talk, text, and access to Internet, email, social networks, and more! (Smartphone users must purchase a separate data package.) Most of the Smart Phones available now come with Wifi, which you can use on your home wireless network.
Or they have a 10¢ per minute plan which offers your choice of additional text and data packages.
Benefits: I-Phone for the contract service. You can also buy Smart Phones for their GoPhone service at Walmart and Target.
Drawbacks: AT&T service is graded “fair ”. AT&T has received excessive customer complaint about lack of network coverage. You will get extra charges of you exceed 2GB of data within your monthly allowance. Since the I-Phone was acquired by Verizon, AT&T has lost a good portion of their “New Activation” numbers.
AT&T Wireless – 2 Year Contract
$1,679.76 - Unlimited Talk @ $69.99 x 24 months
$720.00 - Unlimited Text & 2GB of Data @ $30 x 24 months
$288.00 - estimated taxes @ $12 x 24 months
$200.00 - average phone with a 2 year contract
$2,887.76 - estimated balance for a 2 year contract over 24 months
AT&T Go Phone is a Non Contract service
$1,200.00 - Unlimited Talk, Text and basic web @ $50 x 24 months
$120.00 - estimated taxes @ $5 x 24 months
Phones are around $50 - $300
$1,520.00 - estimated balance for GoPhone over a 24 month period
The GoPhone’s $50 Monthly Unlimited plan includes unlimited talk, text, and access to Internet, email, social networks, and more! (Smartphone users must purchase a separate data package.) Most of the Smart Phones available now come with Wifi, which you can use on your home wireless network.
Or they have a 10¢ per minute plan which offers your choice of additional text and data packages.
Benefits: I-Phone for the contract service. You can also buy Smart Phones for their GoPhone service at Walmart and Target.
Drawbacks: AT&T service is graded “fair ”. AT&T has received excessive customer complaint about lack of network coverage. You will get extra charges of you exceed 2GB of data within your monthly allowance. Since the I-Phone was acquired by Verizon, AT&T has lost a good portion of their “New Activation” numbers.
Friday, August 19, 2011
SIMple Mobile
Simple Mobile is a NON CONTRACT service
$40.00 x 24 months = $960 +tax
$50.00 x 24 months = $1,200 +tax
$60.00 x 24 months = $1,440 +tax
Average phone is around $50 - $200
All you need is a Simple Mobile SIM card, and you can find those by using the store locater at www.mysimplemobile.com. Simple Mobile does not carry phones anymore. Instead they use TMobile phones and some of the unlocked GSM phones. You can pick these phones up at Target and Walmart, or any just about any pawn shop.
Here is what SIMple Mobile has to offer:
$40 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text for 30 days
$50 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text with Unlimited 2G web for 30 days (This means you can read emails and go to social sites, but not streaming sites)
$60 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text with Unlimited 3G & 4G web for 30 days
You can also purchase $10 international minutes which will go toward international calling only. You can check the website for charges to call a specific country. For example: A $10.00 card will give a person calling a landline in Mexico approx 333 minutes since the rate is $.025 cents per minute. These charges only apply to calls being made from the USA to whatever country
All plans come with: 411, Voicemail, Call Waiting, & Caller ID.
The benefits are that among prepaid cellular services, Simple Mobile is the most praised. Its quick and simple. And as long as you have the right phone, you can get whatever you want for less than $60 per month without a contract
If you like T-Mobile coverage, you will like SIMple Mobile. Here's their coverage: http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Simple-Mobile-Coverage.aspx
$40.00 x 24 months = $960 +tax
$50.00 x 24 months = $1,200 +tax
$60.00 x 24 months = $1,440 +tax
Average phone is around $50 - $200
All you need is a Simple Mobile SIM card, and you can find those by using the store locater at www.mysimplemobile.com. Simple Mobile does not carry phones anymore. Instead they use TMobile phones and some of the unlocked GSM phones. You can pick these phones up at Target and Walmart, or any just about any pawn shop.
Here is what SIMple Mobile has to offer:
$40 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text for 30 days
$50 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text with Unlimited 2G web for 30 days (This means you can read emails and go to social sites, but not streaming sites)
$60 – Unlimited National Talk & Unlimited International Text with Unlimited 3G & 4G web for 30 days
You can also purchase $10 international minutes which will go toward international calling only. You can check the website for charges to call a specific country. For example: A $10.00 card will give a person calling a landline in Mexico approx 333 minutes since the rate is $.025 cents per minute. These charges only apply to calls being made from the USA to whatever country
All plans come with: 411, Voicemail, Call Waiting, & Caller ID.
The benefits are that among prepaid cellular services, Simple Mobile is the most praised. Its quick and simple. And as long as you have the right phone, you can get whatever you want for less than $60 per month without a contract
If you like T-Mobile coverage, you will like SIMple Mobile. Here's their coverage: http://www.mysimplemobile.com/Simple-Mobile-Coverage.aspx
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Page Plus Cellular
Page Plus Cellular is a NON CONTRACT service.
$44.95 x 24 months = $1,080 +tax
Average Phone is around $75 - $150
Page Plus Cellular offers a number of unique features and benefits. They offer 2 types of plans: Pay-As-You-G0 & Monthly (30 day plans)
Pay-As-You-Go:
$10 - 100 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$25 - 400 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$50 - 1000 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$80 - 2000 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
If you use the texting feature, it will cost $.10 per text, and $.006 per/kb for data-use and/or picture messaging.
You may add "Power Texting" to these Pay-As-You-Go plans:
$10.95 - 2000 Text messages for 30 Days
$19.95 – Unlimited Text messages for 30 Days
Monthly (30 day plans)
$29.95 – 1200 Minutes & 2000 Text messages with 100mb of data
$44.95 – Unlimited Minutes & Unlimited Text messages with 20mb of data
The biggest benefits are that they have superior coverage, and 90% of all Verizon phones can be converted to use Page Plus minutes. The drawbacks are that Page Plus does not have a strong internet plan. If you are looking for internet, see T-Mobile and Simple Mobile.
The monthly plans are by far the most popular plan, which tends to appeal to the younger crowd. My stats show that people 45 and better fall into the $80 Pay-As-You-Go. Infact unless you are going to be on the internet all the time, both the Pay-As-You-Go & Monthly Plans are amazing plan. I strongly suggest you contact your current provider to view how much time you talk on the phone (have them include your free ‘same network’ calling) how many texts you do, and how much data you use in a 30day period. You may fit into this plan. If you do, you should consider saving approx $55 per month.
They use the biggest, deepest, and most extensive network coverage. I travel regularly between 6 states, and I’ve only lost service 4 times (with a combined time of 25 minutes of lost service) in the year that I’ve been using their service. After being on the market for 10+ years, the consensus is that it's a great service for those who need reliability, but the internet is almost non existent.
Here’s their coverage:
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Why%20Page%20Plus/Coverage%20Map.aspx
$44.95 x 24 months = $1,080 +tax
Average Phone is around $75 - $150
Page Plus Cellular offers a number of unique features and benefits. They offer 2 types of plans: Pay-As-You-G0 & Monthly (30 day plans)
Pay-As-You-Go:
$10 - 100 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$25 - 400 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$50 - 1000 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
$80 - 2000 minutes with an expiration of 4 months
If you use the texting feature, it will cost $.10 per text, and $.006 per/kb for data-use and/or picture messaging.
You may add "Power Texting" to these Pay-As-You-Go plans:
$10.95 - 2000 Text messages for 30 Days
$19.95 – Unlimited Text messages for 30 Days
Monthly (30 day plans)
$29.95 – 1200 Minutes & 2000 Text messages with 100mb of data
$44.95 – Unlimited Minutes & Unlimited Text messages with 20mb of data
The biggest benefits are that they have superior coverage, and 90% of all Verizon phones can be converted to use Page Plus minutes. The drawbacks are that Page Plus does not have a strong internet plan. If you are looking for internet, see T-Mobile and Simple Mobile.
The monthly plans are by far the most popular plan, which tends to appeal to the younger crowd. My stats show that people 45 and better fall into the $80 Pay-As-You-Go. Infact unless you are going to be on the internet all the time, both the Pay-As-You-Go & Monthly Plans are amazing plan. I strongly suggest you contact your current provider to view how much time you talk on the phone (have them include your free ‘same network’ calling) how many texts you do, and how much data you use in a 30day period. You may fit into this plan. If you do, you should consider saving approx $55 per month.
They use the biggest, deepest, and most extensive network coverage. I travel regularly between 6 states, and I’ve only lost service 4 times (with a combined time of 25 minutes of lost service) in the year that I’ve been using their service. After being on the market for 10+ years, the consensus is that it's a great service for those who need reliability, but the internet is almost non existent.
Here’s their coverage:
http://www.pagepluscellular.com/Why%20Page%20Plus/Coverage%20Map.aspx
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