Nov 5, 2009 6:01 pm US/Eastern
Pre-Paid Phones Could Save You Hundreds Each Year
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Mobil phones have become a necessity, so for those looking to trim their budget, getting rid of their phone is usually off the table. Now there's a new option for cell phones that could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
If you can't live without your Blackberry or your iPhone, this is probably not for you; but if you're looking for a decent phone at a reasonable price, pre-paid phones might be worth a look.
There are no long-term contracts, no activation or cancelation fees and no credit check.
Carlos Barajona of Wireless Wizard has noticed a significant increase in sales of pre-paid phones. "We used to sell pre-paid for customers who didn't get approved for contract phones. Now, we're getting customers daily asking about the prepaid," he said.
Now, WalMart is getting into the pre-paid phone game with their new
Straight Talk phone. "The phones that are offered with these plans tend to be a little lower end," explained CNet editor Kent German. "They are not going to have touch screens, they are not going to have video players," he explained. "They are also phones that have been around for a while."
But they could save you money. Straight Talk is offering two price plans. The first is $30 which gives you 1,000 anytime minutes and 1,000 text messages. "That will really be sufficient for a lot of people," German said. The second plan is
$45 for unlimited text and messaging."
According to JD power, the average cell phone bill is $77 a month. If you go with the $30 plan, you could save $47 a month.
The phone will also keep track of how many minutes and text messages you have left and it will let you know when you need to buy more airtime so you don't run out in the middle of a conversation. If you are in a tight spot and don't have the money, there's no penalties or credit issues.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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