Cell phone calling plans

[chevy4x4trucks]

I've got to find a new cell phone provider for the boss.  He's using Sprint currently, but his phone is all busted and instead of getting raped on buying a new phone he's just going to switch companies and get the free phone from them.  What cell phone companies do you recommend?  I use cingular which is great for me since I'm at work all week and don't use it, so it has very few daytime minutes and unlimited night and weekend, but this won't work for him.  Can someone lend some advice?  I'm looking for an affordable calling plan w/ around 800 or so anytime minutes.

 

Thanks.

[RyanbabZ71]

cant answer your question but i have a cell phone question myself

 

I am thinking about going with verizon wireless freeup plan.  Basically you buy minutes.  I am doing this because i wont use it much and would like to have a phone for my trip to NC and basically emergency purposes.  Phone, $30 rebate, $50 free calling all for $99.  

 

You think this is good?

 

Pros/cons?

[chevy4x4trucks]

Sounds decent, go into the store and buy it, you can haggle w/ the guys there and usually snag a better phone for free when you sign up with them.  Is this 99 dollars for a year for the service or what?

[RyanbabZ71]

no contract and this is exactly what i wanted.  You buy minutes

[MarkD]

STAY AWAY FROM SUNCOM.  They auto renew your enrollment without your knowledge.  You must then pay a cancellation fee to cancel coverage before your anniv. date.

 

I signed up for 1 year, kept it 4 years, then had to pay an additional 4 months to cancel the account.

 

I am very pleased with the coverage offered by Verizon.

[carguru]

try this link.  it allows you to compare all of the plans available

Point

[BIFFY]

Jon,

 

Check out Point.com

 

You can search for and compare plans in your area.  Also, you can match up phones with plans and look for deals.

 

Good luck.

 

Barry

[Zane]

I've always had awesome luck with Verizon.

For $55 i have 400 anytime anywhere mintues across the US.

[gmcjoe]

If he is happy with the Sprint PCS service (as I am    ), just buy a new phone from ebay and call to activate it, no charge. New Sprint phones sell for about 1/2 the price Sprint stores sell them for. ####, the sprint employees will tell you the same thing, buy it on the outside and call the toll-free number to activate it  

[CityTruck]

I vote for AT&T.  I've had Sprint and they're OK if you never need support.  AT&T costs more, but in my opinion they're worth it.  The phone makes a big difference.  AT&T offers Nokia phones which I personally like the best.  They're One-Rate plans are fantastic (no hidden stuff like almost every other plan out there) but like I said, they're a bit more expensive.

[Shaners]

I have Verizon, and am happy with them.  They have a number you can call from your phone that tells you how many primetime minutes you have used and how many off-peak minutes you have used.  This helps keep you in check over the course of the month.  I think most other carriers require you to use the minute counters on your phone, and if you forget to reset them then you have no idea what you've used...

 

I pay $35/month for 300/3000 minutes and no long distance charges.  Also, I'm not roaming in most of the country (but not 100%) .

[CMNTMXR81]

I have Cingular.  I've had them for nearly 12 years now (back when they were Cellular One).

 

I have 500 Nationwide minutes with free weekends for $49.95 a month.  I did have to pay for my phone when I upgraded a couple of months ago (a Motorola V60.t) but other than that, I have never had problems, otherwise I wouldn't still be with them.    I use my cell phone more than I use my home phone and I come close but have never surpassed my 500  minutes.

 

My best friend works for Sprint PCS as a tower technician and if his phone wasn't a free company phone, he wouldn't touch their service.  He hates it.  Whenever he calls me, his phone is always dropping out and he ends up having to call me back two or three times in order to finish our conversation.

 

Keep in mind too John, my rates are that for Chicago which is the 2nd or 3rd largest cellular market in this country (depending on how you slice things), so being in Milwaukee you may not have the same rate packages I do due to simple economies of scale.

 

As a matter of fact as I write this, I'm reading the latest issue of Crain's Chicago Business where they list the local stats for anything and everything around here.

 

In 2001 of the major players in our market, Verizon had 29,600 customers, Cingular had 21,600 customers, Sprint PCS had 15,800 customers and Nextel had 8,700 customers.  Just in case you were curious.  

[Z71GUY]

I currently have Verizon....900 anytime minutes + 3000 night & weekend minutes.  All nationwide coverage with no roam for $100 a month.... not too bad.... (work phone).

 

 

 

 

Eric