is it too much to ask for a $19.99/mo cel phone plan?

[lil red cummins]

i mean really!!!



my problem is i only use my cell phone (now they are called wireless) about 5 minutes a month at most. i mainly need it for emergency or very occasional call. i almost never make a call when i am driving, just receive calls. i have the caller id on my current unit so i can see who it is. i have sprint here but the reception is terrible almost always. most every other company starts now at $29. 99/mo. i can not justify the cost. when i question them about it, they tell me "this is what most people want". i tell them i am NOT most people. i have looked for plans with no included minutes and they dont exist.



my biggest problem with the pricing going up is that it used to be once new technology was paid for and the volume of users went up, the price of operation goes down. it worked for the Personal Computer industry didnt it??? so whats up with the wireless folks, besides being greedy? yah, i know i dont really need it, but even at the beginning of cell service in this area, i never paid more than 29. 99/mo 10 years ago.

ok, i am done venting.



jim

 

[QRTRHRS]

I have what AT&T terms a "Digital Express Plan" for 9. 95/month. I pay . 30/minute for any calls I make, peak or off peak. (Plus the usual fees, etc. I guess maybe I am wierd but I don't much like phones. I don't even know how to recieve a call on my clunky digital I got when they first came out. I got this plan when I worked for AT&T before they spun off Lucent and all that. It may not even be available anymore but they have not cut me off.

 

[cap-n-cray]

I got a Sprint phone for my wife when they did there first launch in San Diego about 6 years ago. My son now uses it for college for emergencies. You had better set down. It is 35 cents a minute, plus free phone upgrade if the phone ever goes bad including the battery failing. Upgraded once because the battery did not hold a charge. Had to buy the first phone a big one for $200. The replacement phone is a small flip phone.





That's all..... 35 cents. My monthly bill is sometime $1. 50. I pay them $5. 00 and wait till I have a balance due. I bet they are sorry they offered the plan. I can't change anything or I will loose the plan. Make a great emergency phone.



My Cingular work phone... . that another story. But it is a business expense.



Sorry... ... ...



Cary

 

[JohnE]

Cater to the masses or the wireless phone junkies.



You know the kind. They have to call someone the minute they get behind the wheel, sit down on the crapper, walk around shopping, eating at the local choke & puke ... ... . What kind of a life did they lead before calling someone to reply to a question with "Nothing much, how about you?"



I had a great $16 / month employee plan from my previous employer, but they couldn't get me a local number and the free minutes never applied. Calls were about $5 / minute



Have you looked into prepaid wireless? I tried but the reception around here is pretty poor. I haven't found any option for less than $39. 99 / month.



cap-n-cray;

You have a great son. I know people with kids that run a $$$ phone bill.

 

[Dreher]

Lil Red,



I'm in the same boat with you - very little talk time but when I need it, I need it.



I've been using Tracfone prepaid for over three years. I think it works out to about $8 a month. All you buy is the time cards, no taxes, fees, etc. The minutes are not cheap, but I calculated I was paying about $2 a minute for the little time I used with my former $20 a month/minutes-included plan. Tracfone has had some bad press concerning customer service but I have not had any problems. There are several others that offer similar pre-paid service.



Bob

 

[willyslover]

I believe prepaid is your only choice. .

I have the same issue. . I only call out once in a while... no phone now but will be doing something soon I'm sure

 

[jponder]

i was looking at cingular the other day and they had a 19. 99 plan

 

[MGordon]

ATT has a plan for 19. 99. It only includes 45 minutes, put that dosen't seem to be a problem for you.

 

[lil red cummins]

hey qrtrhrs,



that "digital express plan" really got AT&T going. since i am interested in getting 3 phones on that plan, they agreed that they can do that for 9. 95/mo with no included minutes. 12 cents per local minute and 25 cents Long Distance and roam minutes. they even have a choice of free phones. the only thing i didnt think to ask was if there is a minimum contract period.



now if we can just find a phone for my 76 years young dad that has BIG fingers. all the phones have small keypads. he ends up pushing 2 buttons at once on most phones.



thanks!!



jim

 

[bighammer]

I have a 100 minute plan that was $15/mo with a 2nd line that shares the minutes for another $10. I've noticed on some of the recent bills, it has dropped to $10 for each line. Oo.



I think extra minutes are . 35 and roaming is . 60 but I rarely go over and pretty much keep to the home area.



It's getting to the point that I will probably drop the land line phone and get a plan with more airtime, roaming, long distance, etc. I'm paying about the same price for a phone in my house (no LD, that's separate bill) as 2 to go.

 

[bmoeller]

Would Tracfone work for you? www.tracfone.com Never used one, so I' don't know anything about them service-wise

 

[Jeff H]

I was in the same boat. I barely use a cell phone. I ended up going with Midwest Wireless. I get just about every thing for $25 a month.

So far have been happy with reception and sevice.

Web browser

No roam in 7 states

Free long distance from home erea

text message

voice mail.

 

[XcumminsX]

my nextel bill is 100 bucks a month. Everything unlimited all over the country for free. . 25 is cheap



Nick

 

[jandtjil]

Originally posted by bighammer

It's getting to the point that I will probably drop the land line phone and get a plan with more airtime, roaming, long distance, etc. I'm paying about the same price for a phone in my house (no LD, that's separate bill) as 2 to go.

I read recently where new technology for wireless systems will increase the data rate to about equal that of hardwired systems, if it is true I will certainly dump my hardwired account.



JJ

 

[MLee]

cheap phone

lilred;

got my wife the Verison, its not on all the time just when she wants. Cost $20. 00 month pluse taxes, which about is to much, for 100 minutes with an added 200, total of 300 min. Have been able to call from all over the country. just pay the minutes, and toll charges. local is covered in the $20. 00

Sounds like this what you are looking for.

Marv.

 

[daveshoe]

Got a Tracphone [used and reconditioned for my daughter. Phone and one year service of 250 minutes for one year was 99 bucks. [Special at Christmas]. It does require that the kid does not give her number to her friends. She also knows that once the phone time is used, she buys the rest for herself.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Tracfone has a deal for 80 bucks you get a years worth of membership and 300mins(note: if you call for assistance, english is not the primary language of the people on the other end, which can make programming the phone difficult). Of course you have to pony up for the phone. 50 bucks I think. If you need more they are two for one if you buy the year membership. For every minute you buy. They give you two. Great if you burn more minutes than you anticipate. Im an oncall repairman and delivery guy.



I use 1000 minutes a month. Never had an accident. Or a speeding ticket. Ive driven several hundred thousand miles in the last 5 years. Its all a matter of where you allot your attention too. Can you speak to a passenger and maintain concentration on the road. Apply these skills to using a phone while driving and your ok.



I notice that some gender in particular has a hard time with sharing focus on two things at the same time. These things are accomplished subconciously for the most part but some things require a concious decision. Like should I go now or wait for the semi to pass. I myself am wary of women in minivans subarus or excursions. I also believe ethnicity plays a role. Am I the only one whos made these observations?



Did you know that women pack for a trip better than men? Its genetic predisposition. I dont even pack. I always let my wife do it. Now, we know whos doing the driving.

 

[CougFan]

My opinion is dont waste your money. Iv owned several cell phones ,At&T, Verizon and so has my girlfriend and they always seem to be out of range or they charge you for stuff the never told you they would etc. I would imagine that unless you really need it for business its a waste. Plus its just one more think to forget, I just use a pay phone if I need it. Liberate yourselves from the electronic leash.

 

[cap-n-cray]

CougFan,



First, Welcome to the TDR. I see this is your first post. Are you the 20,000 member? Also posts in "Other" don't count in your post count.



Cary

 

[lil red cummins]

here is an update on this issue.



last week, i signed up with AT&T wireless. they have a $9. 95/mo plan with no included minutes. it is called a basic business plan and required activation of at least 3 phones, which is exactly what i was looking for.



there were no up front costs. the 3 new phones and activation were free. they didn't even ask for my credit card. it only requires a one year contract and there is no minimum monthly use required. all calls will be 10 cents/min in my "home" cell which is almost all of ohio, up to detroit, down to parkersburg and up to the western corner of PA.



so i guess i found what i was looking for after all, however ask me in one year if this is still true.



jim