Ppd Cell Phone Plan $80/yr - 2x Min for 1st 3 Months

[AtoZed]

GnatGoSplat
When you switch to Ecallplus, do you lose any accumulated minutes on AT&T Prepaid?
I've accumulated over 180-minutes after they changed to the 45-day plan (that's how infrequently I use my phone).
The unlimited 2-way text messaging is pretty cool. AT&T charges 10-cents/each to send text messages on Prepaid.

You lose all minutes when you switch over. In fact releasing your ESN really means changing your phone number too. I had about 100 minutes and lost them all.

Billtmore,
This Alltel sounds good to me. I think I will look into it. Any links or more info?

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Alltel has had Prepaid for years, but I hadn't considered them because they were an analog network and didn't provide caller ID or text messaging. Has this changed?

 

[cards]

xfile -
f u RECEIVE a call from outside your calling area, u get charged 1.95/min?! dont u mean if u make calls while
outside of your calling area?
OOPS! - the new parens explains it.

from the cigular small print

Calls originating outside the home coverage area can be billed to a credit card at $1.95/min (outgoing calls only; coverage cities subject to change)

 

[Tharpertx]

Cingular is definately not the best if you use it out of your region, but if it is an emergency, $5/min could be worth it. It is all about saving day to day and being covered for emergenies...insurance-like.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

Does Cingular Prepaid include free 2-way text messaging? If not, what is the cost?
Cingular's per-minute rates sound like the best, but free 2-way text messaging is definitely a money saver.
Sometimes I use text messaging rather than voice calling like when I'm waiting outside my girlfriend's work to pick her up, instead of spending 35-cents to call her, I can just send a text msg "im here".

 

[jrichrds]

I received a postcard from AT&T that the $10/45day card will be available on April 2. While the 45 day expiration is more of a hassle, this works out to $20 for 90 days. Even better than the $25/90day card.

I'm sure they charge more per minute on the $10 card, which amounts to less minutes overall. But it's good if you don't care much about the minutes, and only want a lasting cell phone #.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

AT&T will charge 50-cents/minute for the $10 card, at least that's what someone else posted.
If that's the case, Ecallplus is still better in every way.

 

[GnatGoSplat]

The Ecallplus CSR says purchase of the $50 starter pack is required. What do you have to say to get them to waive this?

 

[wbresson]

ecallplus shows a coverage area map but then says just pick an area code close to you so does this mean that these phones work nation wide even if you arn't in one of their coverage areas ?

 

[AtoZed]

GnatGoSplat
Maybe this is their way of charging a start-up fee. They definitely did not do this when I started with them. Assuming you have already released your ESN, just tell them you have a new phone and that you want the $20/90day plan. They have to assign those minutes to some phone number so they should just do it over the phone with you right there and then. Tell them you have a friend that didn't need their start-up package. Don't forget about the double minutes.

wbresson
Yes these phones work nationwide with no extra charge. The only problem is when you are out of your area code (called roaming) you have to dial in a lot of numbers. First you dial in the number you want (10 digits). Then you must dial your own phone number followed by the last 4 digits of your phone number (10+4 = 14 digits). Then you must dial in the number you want to reach again (10 digits). I have read that you can program some phones to do this automatically. I haven't tried yet.

I have been on this system for about a month now and so far no problems. I'm glad I switched.