Prepaid Phone

[Superman]

Speak to me, Oh Wise Ones, of prepaid phones. The phones themselves appear to be quite inexpensive. But I suspect there are caveats. I suspect the phone will not work with any other service providers or plans. I further suspect that the cost of service is greater than for the same month of non-prepaid phone service.

As you can see, I know nothing. A granddaughter wants her prepaid phone replaced. Why don't I just go get her one?

[pwd72s]

Cindy & I only on a trac phone. A flip phone. $100 worth of service minutes lasts us over a year. I call it our $8.33 per month plan. Service covers most everywhere we go...one exception was near the summit of the South Santiam pass...federal forest land. I doubt anybody could get bars there...

[Icemaster]

Most of the time this really boils down to a use case question.

What is her need, what does she use it for? If it's occasional use like Paul, that's a perfect scenario. If it's a 'constant use' for both calls and mobile data, probably not.

[Superman]

Hope. I am not looking for input on whether to use a prepaid service. She, and my daughter, use a prepaid service and they need another phone for that prepaid service.

Instead, I am basically asking why the phones are so cheap. Let's take an example. A new Apple iPhone 15 is $1000 in round numbers. Most prepaid phones appear to be between $20 and $70. Why? How? Is it because the monthly or "minutes" or "data" rates are more expensive than with a non-prepaid plan? And there is no prepaid contract because the phone you purchase can only be used with one plan. You are therefore locked in to their rates. Is this why the phones are so cheap?

[stevej37]

I use a Moto G6 smartphone with TracFone service. I use their billing so that I never run out by forgetting to buy more time. My three month payment is $25
I have various cameras I use the phone to track when away, stream movies,take pics, talk, text, whatever any other phone can do.

When the phone gets outdated, I just go to Amazon and buy an un-locked smartphone to replace it. I've never paid more than $200 for a new one.
Just put the sim card from the old one into the new one.
You can also buy them off of the Tracfone site...but Amazon's prices are better.

I can't remember the last time I was out of range of a tower.

If you find you need more data...tracfone makes it easy to do it with a couple clicks on the phone. $10 for a gig most times.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Superman

Hope. I am not looking for input on whether to use a prepaid service. She, and my daughter, use a prepaid service and they need another phone for that prepaid service.

Instead, I am basically asking why the phones are so cheap. Let's take an example. A new Apple iPhone 15 is $1000 in round numbers. Most prepaid phones appear to be between $20 and $70. Why? How? Is it because the monthly or "minutes" or "data" rates are more expensive than with a non-prepaid plan? And there is no prepaid contract because the phone you purchase can only be used with one plan. You are therefore locked in to their rates. Is this why the phones are so cheap?

They have no features. They are phones, not mini computers. Many are local and subject to roaming charges. Sure, they take pics and text, but if you send pics you are using up your data quota more quickly. A good tool to have for just calling.

I have a friend who is in real estate. He carries 3 phones, all cheap. When one has no connection another will. He tells me they are $15/mo each. I can't get service for that even on a senior plan. Well, I could but it takes 2 users and my wife uses literally 100 times more data than I do. So unlimited data is necessary.

I just take her old phones when she gets an upgrade. The battery is good for her maybe a day. After the battery is very tired, it will last me 2 days. But not using it a lot. I suspect that cheap prepaids don't have a big battery.

[JackDidley]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I use a Moto G6 smartphone with TracFone service. I use their billing so that I never run out by forgetting to buy more time. My three month payment is $25
I have various cameras I use the phone to track when away, stream movies,take pics, talk, text, whatever any other phone can do.

When the phone gets outdated, I just go to Amazon and buy an un-locked smartphone to replace it. I've never paid more than $200 for a new one.
Just put the sim card from the old one into the new one.
You can also buy them off of the Tracfone site...but Amazon's prices are better.

I can't remember the last time I was out of range of a tower.

If you find you need more data...tracfone makes it easy to do it with a couple clicks on the phone. $10 for a gig most times.

Pretty much the same deal, same phone here. I pay by the year, around $150. My $140 android phone does almost every thing my buddies $1000 I phone does.

[stevej37]

^^^ yep...my brother just bought a new I-Phone and it's smaller and more basic than my Moto.
He said he paid $850 for it and his monthly is $65

[Superman]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I use a Moto G6 smartphone with TracFone service. I use their billing so that I never run out by forgetting to buy more time. My three month payment is $25
I have various cameras I use the phone to track when away, stream movies,take pics, talk, text, whatever any other phone can do.

When the phone gets outdated, I just go to Amazon and buy an un-locked smartphone to replace it. I've never paid more than $200 for a new one.
Just put the sim card from the old one into the new one.
You can also buy them off of the Tracfone site...but Amazon's prices are better.

I can't remember the last time I was out of range of a tower.

If you find you need more data...tracfone makes it easy to do it with a couple clicks on the phone. $10 for a gig most times.

Wow! This sounds really good. On the Tracfone website, I do not see a $15 plan cost for 3 months. Does your plan include "data?" You know....Internet and stuff? The granddaughter does like to play video games, but perhaps she should have a data 'budget.'

[dennis in se pa]

I buy my iPhones directly from Apple. They are on consumer cellular, which is cheap. Make sure you buy it what they call unlocked so you can choose your carrier. Buy phone then call consumer cellular to setup service

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by Superman

Wow! This sounds really good. On the Tracfone website, I do not see a $15 plan cost for 3 months. Does your plan include "data?" You know....Internet and stuff? The granddaughter does like to play video games, but perhaps she should have a data 'budget.'

I said $25 for three months. Here is a link to it... I have the auto-refill plan
https://www.tracfone.com/plans/basic-phones-3-month-plan-60-minutes (I edited this...I think this is the plan I am on....90 day)

I don't know the specific amounts of data, talk, and text....but looking at my phone right now I have 29 days left before it auto-renews with more minutes.
Lots of talk and text time....the data, I have added to last couple of months. I don't like that to ever run out of data.

Talk
10014
MINUTES
Text
11314
MESSAGES
Data
5.15
GB LEFT
Service Period
29 days left
Service period ends 04/05/2024


.

[Superman]

Thank you, Steve. Much appreciated.

[Icemaster]

Originally Posted by Superman

I am not looking for input on whether to use a prepaid service. She, and my daughter, use a prepaid service and they need another phone for that prepaid service.

Ah, apologies - I misinterpreted the question.

I don't know to your original question, but I'm learning...

[stevej37]

If you find a phone on Amazon or wherever, and are hesitant about it working right, the Tracfone site has lots of info and a service line to talk to them. I've used it before and it's very good customer service.

https://www.tracfone.com/support

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Icemaster

Ah, apologies - I misinterpreted the question.

I don't know to your original question, but I'm learning...

My question was poorly posed. My bad.

Steve, your posts are reliably valuable in one way or another. Thank you.