Cell Phone Service Plans, Prepaid Plans & Analysis
By Adam Fendelman, About.com Guide to Cell Phones
Choosing a cell phone that fits you perfectly is an important step, but it’s only half the battle. With so many cell phone plans on the market, you might feel overwhelmed. The information contained on this page will objectively help you simplify the confusion.
- AT&T Cell Phone Service Plans
- Sprint Nextel Cell Phone Service Plans
- T-Mobile Cell Phone Service Plans
- Boost Mobile Prepaid Wireless Plans
- Consumer Cellular Prepaid Plans
- Cricket Prepaid Wireless Plans
- Virgin Mobile Prepaid Wireless Plans
- Jitterbug Prepaid Wireless Plans
- Straight Talk Prepaid Wireless Plans
- TracFone Prepaid Wireless Plans
- PlatinumTel Prepaid Wireless Plans
- Cell Phone Service Analysis & More
- Wireless Roaming Policies by Carrier
- Cell Phone Plan Choosers
- Service Plans by City, State & Carrier
AT&T Cell Phone Service Plans
As the second-largest provider of mobile service in the U.S., AT&T is one of the few remaining big telecom boys. Today’s AT&T, Inc., which was formed in 2005 when SBC Communications ate up AT&T Corporation, is an amalgamation of nearly a dozen of the original Bell operating companies. In order to compete head on with Sprint, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile, AT&T is cutthroat competitive with its cell phone service plans and closely monitors changes from its rivals.
- AT&T Plan Compilation
- No-Contract GoPhone Pay as You Go
- No-Contract GoPhone Pick Your Plan
- FamilyTalk Unity Plans
- FamilyTalk Nation Plans
Sprint Nextel Cell Phone Service Plans
Sprint Nextel Corporation, which operates the third-largest mobile network in the U.S. (behind No. 2 AT&T and No. 1 Verizon Wireless), was formed in 2005 with the $35 billion acquisition of Nextel Communications by Sprint Corporation. As wireless carriers aggressively compete for your hard-earned telecom buck, Sprint can be remembered for its blitz of TV ads directly from CEO Daniel R. Hesse riffing about why Sprint deserves your business.
- Sprint Nextel Plan Compilation
- Business Essentials Plan
- Talk Share Plan
- Talk/Message Share Plan
- Talk/Message/Data Share Plan
- Basic Plan
- Talk Plan
- Talk/Message/Direct Connect Plan
- Everything Plan
- Simply Everything Plan
- Sprint Kills the Calling Circle
T-Mobile Cell Phone Service Plans
A unit of Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile is all about telecom (hence the “T” in its name). After dropping stalwart advertising celebrity Catherine Zeta-Jones from its ad campaigns, T-Mobile after 2008 is especially remembered for releasing the G1, which is the world’s first smartphone to use Google’s Android software. T-Mobile plans are designed to help consumers “stick together” with its unique “myFaves” feature whereby users can designate five people to call unlimited across any service carrier.
Boost Mobile Prepaid Wireless Plans
As a rival to the major cell phone companies, prepaid wireless carrier Boost Mobile unshackles you from a contract at a lower plan price. While promising a straightforward experience with no hidden fees, Boost Mobile has a less robust phone selection. Because they don’t come with a contract, these phones also cost more.
Consumer Cellular Prepaid Plans
While Consumer Cellular prepaid wireless plans and phones can work for anyone, they’re specifically designed for seniors.
Cricket Prepaid Wireless Plans
Like Boost Mobile, Cricket is designed to be a lower-cost and prepaid wireless alternative to the major cell phone carriers including Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and AT&T.
- Cricket Prepaid Plan Compilation
- $30 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $35 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $40 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $45 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $50 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $60 Individual Unlimited Plan
- $99 Family Unlimited Plan
- $132 Family Unlimited Plan
- $165 Family Unlimited Plan
- PAYGo Basic $1-a-Day Plan
- PAYGo More $2-a-Day Plan
- PAYGo All $3-a-Day Plan
Virgin Mobile Prepaid Wireless Plans
Like Boost Mobile and Cricket, Virgin Mobile also excels in its offering of various prepaid wireless plans for individuals and families. But Virgin Mobile also offers various options for contract-based plans, too.
- Virgin Mobile Plan Compilation
- No-Contract Monthly Plans
- No-Contract Pay as You Go
- No-Contract Texter’s Delight
- All-In Contract Plans
- A La Carte Contract Plans
- All-In Family Contract Plans
- A La Carte Family Contract Plans
Jitterbug Prepaid Wireless Plans
Like Consumer Cellular prepaid wireless plans and phones, Jitterbug can work for anyone. Both carriers, though, are specifically designed for seniors.
- Jitterbug Prepaid Plan Compilation
- Prepaid Individual Plans
- Prepaid Shared Plans
- Prepaid Add-On Minutes
Straight Talk Prepaid Wireless Plans
Straight Talk is a brand of TracFone Wireless that uses the Verizon network. The carrier offers prepaid wireless service without contracts at very affordable prices.
- Straight Talk Prepaid Plan Compilation
- Unlimited Monthly Plan
- All You Need Monthly Plan
- Straight Talk: Prepaid ‘Tipping Point’?
TracFone Prepaid Wireless Plans
TracFone is a no-contract prepaid wireless company that uses the networks of major regional and national wireless carriers. The company is a subsidiary of América Móvil, which has more cell phone customers than AT&T and Verizon combined, according to TracFone.
PlatinumTel Prepaid Wireless Plans
PlatinumTel features a variety of prepaid and pay-as-you-go wireless plans all without contracts.
- PlatinumTel Prepaid Plan Compilation
- Unlimited Talk & Text Prepaid
- Dot10 Pay-as-You-Go Plan
- Hybrid Prepaid Wireless Plan
- SMS Add-ons
- International Dialing
- All-in-One Convenience Store Packs
- New York City Service Expansion
- Arizona, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas Expansion
Cell Phone Service Analysis & More
A big company doesn’t always mean big savings. The smaller companies, in fact, often exist to bring to you what the big boys can’t. Also, monthly contract plans might not necessarily be the right route for you in this increasingly prepaid cell phone world. This section brings you links to cell phone service analysis and introduces you to some compelling choices from Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Virgin Mobile and more.
- Mega Prepaid Wireless Compilation
- Which Networks Prepaid Carriers Use
- Independent Site Rates 30 Carriers
- Alltel: Restrictive Unlimited Messaging
- Carrier Poll: Best Customer Service?
- Straight Talk: $45 Unlimited Plan
- PlatinumTel: $50 Unlimited Plan
- PlatinumTel: $10 Unlimited Data
- Boost Mobile: $50 Unlimited Plan
- Virgin Mobile: $49.99 Unlimited Plan
- Cricket Wireless: $45 Unlimited Plan
- Cheap Texting Carrier Comparison
- Cancel Your Cell Phone Plan Cheaply
- Analysis: Prepaid vs. Contracts
- Analysis: Virgin Mobile vs. Verizon
- Virgin Mobile: $79.99 Unlimited Plan
- Cricket Launches Wireless in Chicago
- T-Mobile @Home: $10 Unlimited Home
- Report: Spending Too Much?
- More Plan Information & Resources
Wireless Roaming Policies by Carrier
Does your cell phone service carrier charge you for wireless roaming or is it free? These guides detail the answer to this important question by specific carrier. Service carriers covered in this section include Sprint, Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile.
- Wireless Roaming Policies by Carrier
- Sprint Roaming Policy
- Verizon Wireless Roaming Policy
- AT&T Roaming Policy
- T-Mobile Roaming Policy
- Boost Mobile Roaming Policy
- Cricket Wireless Roaming Policy
- Virgin Mobile Roaming Policy
- MetroPCS Wireless Roaming Policy
Cell Phone Plan Choosers
We all make decisions in different ways. Some people research and decide from a wealth of information. Others might appreciate a question-and-answer computer program that asks questions relevant to you and reveals answers customized to you. The two links below powerfully do just that. You won’t find anything like them anywhere else.
Service Plans by City, State & Carrier
If you want to get even more specific and even more local, the three links below deliver with information on cell phone service plans by city, state and carrier.
