Best prepaid cellphone deal?

[electron]

I am looking to get a prepaid cell for my wife for when she is on the road. She doesn't go out much, so I don't want to get stuck with a contract, but I do want her to have it in case of an emergency or car issues. Most phones I have seen so far all require you to use the minutes before a certain date, or they expire. Is there no such package out there where all you do is buy the phone & minutes, and don't have to worry about anything else until you run out of your minutes? I am hoping some of you have experience with this, and can point me in the right direction. Thanks!

 

[aehusted]

I can't help with the prepaid part, but any phone will work for calling 911 even if you don't pay for service. If the phone actually works, can get a signal, and this dispatch service is available in your area, then this is not a bad choice. This doesn't help for calling AAA, but it is fine for major emergencies. This is one of the reasons that local police departments collect old cell phones. They give them to people who might need it for a major emergency like victims of child/spousal abuse, etc.
Another reason not to just throw away your old cell phones.

 

[electron]

What about the analog ones tho? I thought they were shutting down the analog networks soon, wouldn't those phones stop working?

Either way, I do want her to be able to call in case of car problems as well, but that's definitely a great tip, thanks!

 

[nsisman]

Dan,

Check out the "howard forums" - they might have info to help you out.

Cheapest up here I think is "7/11 Speakout" with a $25 top up that lasts 365 days ! Plus the startup phone is $50 or $60 or something like that.

Not sure if they are in the US or not.

My wife's cell (Virgin Mobile) is 2 years old and has 6 minutes total on it.

We did 1 year of $10 monthly top ups (by credit card) and then switched it to a $10 monthly plan that drew from the $120 carried over balance (very few minutes on this plan but didn't need them anyway) which will end up at $120 total for 2 years or $60 year


I wish somebody up here in Ontario had a $1 /minute plan but I have never seen one.

Good luck..........

 

[aehusted]

What about the analog ones tho? I thought they were shutting down the analog networks soon, wouldn't those phones stop working?

I would not bet my (or anyone else's) life on it, but I think the 911 system is pretty old. You would have to have analog service and the phone would have to be 911 compatible. I don't know what the technical term for this is, but when you dial 911 on a cell phone it goes into emergency mode which overrides any limitations from your service plan (minutes, roaming, etc) and gives you priority network access (as I understand it). I have used it a few times to report drunk drivers and broken water mains.
Talk to an expert on your local Police/EMT staff to make sure this will work near you. I would not trust the kids working at the AT&T store to have the right answers.

 

[Photon]

I recently ditched my old provider and went with a AAA offer for ConsumerCellular https://www.consumercellular.com/plans/Default.aspx

They offer inexpensive plans starting at $10/mo, free phones, and NO CONTRACT.

I'm happy with them. Not what you asked for, but you might like them anyway.

 

[electron]

Definitely some interesting info, thanks!

I am trying to avoid a monthly charge (so the only thing I have to worry about is for the phone to have a full battery), but will consider it if I can't find anything decent.