Wednesday, June 27, 2007
New Tracfone Developments
Hmm...not much seems to be happening along the lines of prepaid service...and I'm at summer camp (Boy Scouts) but looks like Tracfone has re-introduced the Nokia 100 and the Nokia 2600 into their online lineup. The former is $10 refurbished, the latter $40 new. Now whether the 2600 is worth as much to you as the Motorola c261 is a valid question, it's nice to know those phones are available...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Re: Nice Phones on Virgin Mobile
Someone asked here why Virgin Mobile doesn't put nice phones in their lineup like they do overseas. Simple question, simple answer: overseas they run on a different network, have a different audience (overseas Virgin Mobile has contracts) and different pricing overall. Really, the whole wireless industry is different overseas. Here, people want generally cheap phones, so Virgin Mobile complies.
Now why they haven't already gotten halfway-decent phones like Virgin Mobile Canada has remains a mystery...Virgin Mobile Canada runs on the equivalent of Sprint in Canada...Bell Mobility (I'd call Rogers the equivalent of AT&T...oops...Cingular...oops...AT&T and Telus the equivalent of Verizon for whatever reason, even though their technology lineup...iDEN and CDMA...mimic's Sprint's configuration now) and gets many of their same phones. But let me end my rant while Virgin Mobile canada's site is still down for some reason...
Now why they haven't already gotten halfway-decent phones like Virgin Mobile Canada has remains a mystery...Virgin Mobile Canada runs on the equivalent of Sprint in Canada...Bell Mobility (I'd call Rogers the equivalent of AT&T...oops...Cingular...oops...AT&T and Telus the equivalent of Verizon for whatever reason, even though their technology lineup...iDEN and CDMA...mimic's Sprint's configuration now) and gets many of their same phones. But let me end my rant while Virgin Mobile canada's site is still down for some reason...
Virgin Mobile - Now Even Cheaper To Start
Remember when the Virgin Mobile Kyocera K7 was $10...and I bought it? Then remember how it got upgraded to the K9? Well, now the K10 is $10...with $10 of airtime included! So basically you're paying tax on that $10 for the phone...which is web-capable, if a bit grey-haired. Seeing as how there's no other prepaid news to point out, that's about it...
...well beside the fact that Amp'd may soon cease to exist...
...well beside the fact that Amp'd may soon cease to exist...
Monday, June 18, 2007
Virgin Mobile Sale Info
Well, all seems quiet on the prepaid front. No more Nokia 2126s are available online for Tracfone with the "twofer" deal though you can now get the 2126i version many places for $10 apiece. But there's another good forum topic at Go4Prepaid forums: Virgin Mobile deals...take a look for cheap stuff...
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=47
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=47
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Virgin Mobile - Four New Phones Now!
Looks like Virgin Mobile is actually releasing four new phones in the near future. In additio to the Slice II, the SwitchBack II and the Motorola w385, they're getting their first LG phone, the "Aloha", which looks to have a similar feature-set to the Marbl but with a slight PEBL-ish white look and Virgin Mobile's user interface. I am really glad that this phone is coming out soon...finally there's a decent low-end color flip with web access for Virgin Mobile...neither the Oystr nor the Marbl fit that bill and this one will definately do so, or pretty much definately.
For more info and pictures of the phone (which looks quite good in my opinion) look here:
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9729514-1.html
By the way, I've decided against prolonging my $13.75 airtime sale...it's gone...for now...
For more info and pictures of the phone (which looks quite good in my opinion) look here:
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9729514-1.html
By the way, I've decided against prolonging my $13.75 airtime sale...it's gone...for now...
Tracfone, Alltel U Prepaid and Boost Mobile
A few different things here...questions answered and the like...
1. Looks like Tracfone has stopped selling the Nokia 2126 "twofer" deals again. And they'll likely stop free shipping and free accessory kits today...:(
2. For anyone looking for information about Alltel's U Prepaid (switching over from Simple Freedom) just go to www.alltelu.com.
3. For anyone wanting to know about Boost Mobile's basic cameraphone, the i855, take a look at the Phonescoop page, complete with user reviews and such...http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=735
1. Looks like Tracfone has stopped selling the Nokia 2126 "twofer" deals again. And they'll likely stop free shipping and free accessory kits today...:(
2. For anyone looking for information about Alltel's U Prepaid (switching over from Simple Freedom) just go to www.alltelu.com.
3. For anyone wanting to know about Boost Mobile's basic cameraphone, the i855, take a look at the Phonescoop page, complete with user reviews and such...http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=735
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Special Promotion - Buy Tracfone Airtime at Super Prices!
Because I feel like it and have some extra Tracfone airtime PINs sitting here, anyone who wants can...for the moment...buy a 60-minute airtime card for Tracfone for just $13.75 through Google Checkout! You can buy as many as you want...I actually have 33 in stock right now...but keep in mind that I'm going to end this very soon (think a few days) because it's actually the same price I get paid for these PINs in huge bulk...
...but until then, if you need a Tracfone 60-minute card and need it cheaper than retail and quicker than the "twofer" deal, hit the Buy Now button on the sidebar and grab the airtime!
...but until then, if you need a Tracfone 60-minute card and need it cheaper than retail and quicker than the "twofer" deal, hit the Buy Now button on the sidebar and grab the airtime!
Total Call Mobile & Simple Freedom
1. Total Call Mobile (you know, the Sprint-based carrier that offers 10 cent minutes and 5 cent texts, albeit with expensive phones?) has extended their airtime expirations from 60 to 90 days, for a monthly cost reduction from $5 to $3.33 a month. So it's even better for low-use situations with low per-minute costs, but high phone prices make me want to go with Page Plus...
2. Simple Freedom users, you're going to be transferred to Alltel's U Prepaid in the very near future. Take a look at your new rates and get ready...and if you're in a Verizon area prepare to double-dial and state your address as something in an Alltel area to keep service.
2. Simple Freedom users, you're going to be transferred to Alltel's U Prepaid in the very near future. Take a look at your new rates and get ready...and if you're in a Verizon area prepare to double-dial and state your address as something in an Alltel area to keep service.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Tracfone Motorola w370: Q&A
You asked, I answer:
Q: yeah, does it have apps?
A: Depends on what you mean. It does have the typical calculator, timer, alarm, etc. and a few games, but as far as I know nothing extraordinary and nothing downloadable.
Q: can you preview ringtones from the phone?
A: If you're wondering whether you can preview them before buying them, the answer, so far as I know (same as c261 I suppose) is no. However there is a nice Multimedia section of the phone where you can blare ringtones to your heart's content.
Q: can you buy ringtones with tracfone minutes? when will it be available for net10?
A1 (mmm, steak sauce): Yes you can...it'll decrement differently depending on how much airtime you've added on your last card, I think. They try to make the price per 'tone $1.99.
A2: No idea. I'll leave that up to the wizards who predict actual dates on things...I don't have the scoop on that.
Hope this helps!
Q: yeah, does it have apps?
A: Depends on what you mean. It does have the typical calculator, timer, alarm, etc. and a few games, but as far as I know nothing extraordinary and nothing downloadable.
Q: can you preview ringtones from the phone?
A: If you're wondering whether you can preview them before buying them, the answer, so far as I know (same as c261 I suppose) is no. However there is a nice Multimedia section of the phone where you can blare ringtones to your heart's content.
Q: can you buy ringtones with tracfone minutes? when will it be available for net10?
A1 (mmm, steak sauce): Yes you can...it'll decrement differently depending on how much airtime you've added on your last card, I think. They try to make the price per 'tone $1.99.
A2: No idea. I'll leave that up to the wizards who predict actual dates on things...I don't have the scoop on that.
Hope this helps!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
An' de winna izz...
...Scooby214! Thanks to everyone for participating in this giveaway and making it a real success...I think since everyone's ravening for a Motorola w370 I may have to give another one away soon. But anyhow thanks, and hope you enjoy your prize, Scooby!
Oh and by the way, the Motorola's keypad is just hard to press...it registers when you press, but you have to press hard for it to register, in response to that question commented on my last post.
Oh and by the way, the Motorola's keypad is just hard to press...it registers when you press, but you have to press hard for it to register, in response to that question commented on my last post.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Various Tracfone Updates\Info
Before I say anything, just letting eeryone know that tomorrow afternoon is the last straw on clicking ads here, registering on the Go4Prepaid forum and posting if you want to enter in the Motorola w370 giveaway...to put an exact time on it, you have to do all three things (and the forum post must be really useful) by 6:00 p.m. Central Time tomorrow. So if you want to win a Motorola w370 now's the time to enter!
And now onto normal Tracfone news\info...
1. Thanks Chris for reporting in on the Motorola w370's battery...sounds like a few battery cycles should double battery life, if not more...which is certainly nice.
2. Looks like the "30 minutes for life" promotion Tracfone had since December is now ended, and has been ended since early May. See http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=2 for the full story on that.
3. Thanks to the Turk, there are two really helpful Tracfone-related threads on the new Go4Prepaid forums:
Tracfone Promotional Codes
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=7
Tracfone Sales (phone discounts, etc.)
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=22
Thanks to everyone on the forums so far, especially those who have posted more than 10 times, earning yourselves "Member" designation!
And now onto normal Tracfone news\info...
1. Thanks Chris for reporting in on the Motorola w370's battery...sounds like a few battery cycles should double battery life, if not more...which is certainly nice.
2. Looks like the "30 minutes for life" promotion Tracfone had since December is now ended, and has been ended since early May. See http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=2 for the full story on that.
3. Thanks to the Turk, there are two really helpful Tracfone-related threads on the new Go4Prepaid forums:
Tracfone Promotional Codes
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=7
Tracfone Sales (phone discounts, etc.)
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid/index.php?showtopic=22
Thanks to everyone on the forums so far, especially those who have posted more than 10 times, earning yourselves "Member" designation!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Motorola w370
First off, the basics: call quality, battery life, and build quality.
For the first point, I have no complaints. It's not the best phone in the world as far as call quality and reception, but the speaker is good and loud enough, whether you want speakerphone or just regular calling, and reception is very much on the good side. It's not a Nokia 6010, but again, it's not bad at all.
As to battery life, I was a little disappointed with the phone. Granted, I played with ringtones on meximum volume for an hour or so...so maybe I could have had another day of standby time, but I estimate that regular users will get about 3 1\2 days out of this phone if they don't talk a ton on it. For GSM, that's not great. But then again, if you find the right drivers you can grab any old mini-USB cable and charge your phone that way, as that's one of the ports on the phone (the other is the headset port...each one is protected by a rubber flap that isn't quite easy to get off, near the bottom of the phone).
On build quality, this phone pretty much blows me away, but for the keypad, which actually isn't half bad once you "break it in". "Razr on a budget" is about what this phone is built like. Budget meaning it's all-plastic, but it has a decent amount of heft to it, and it's decently thin, too.
I have zero complaints about build quality on this phone...there has been NO "hinge wobble" that has haunted all the flips I've had, and the fit and finish of this phone are in my opinion just as good as that of phones costing 2-3x as much. Yes, I'm singing praises of a phone that isn't even really made by Motorola, but honestly if Compal (who makes these phones) can turn out this kind of build quality on all their flips I'd rather them build the phone hardware! The absence of a caller ID screen on the phone, which leaves the front a huge black shiny plastic monolith with silver on the sides (and a Motorola logo in the middle toward the bottom...no Tracfone logo except on the removable backplate), gives the phone an even better chance at style because low-end caller ID screens are...low-end. Instead, you get a amber\green LED icon when you have incoming or missed calls, a blue LED icon when you have new messages and an amber LED telling you if you're charging the phone's battery or if it's low, going from top to bottom. These LEDs are perfectly invisible when not on (lovely seemingly scratch-resistant black plastic face) and perfectly sharp when on...I dig it. Cooler than my Cyclops's lo-fi external screen.
But before I forget, the keypad is very shallow-pitch, relatively unresponsive (get ready to hit it hard with your fingers when punching in numbers and texts) and seemingly made out of cheap rubber that's thin enough to cut with a sharp fingernail. But I've had no such problems, and the styling of the keypad fits with the phone, in case that's what you're worrying about...and it's not THAT much of a pain to use in and of itself.
Feature-wise, this phone can do everything a Tracfone can possibly do except take pictures...which isn't much. But what it does, it does pretty well, borrowing it suser interface from the Motorola c261 sans camera plus another ringtone or two...and a mysterious "additional storage area" for what I know not. But there's one big difference between this phone and the c261, interface-wise: for some wierd reason, the UI on the w370...mine at least...reminds me of that on the Marbl: slow. However, it's a lot...A LOT...more "lush" and friendly than the spartan Kyocera user interface, so it's not all bad. Just keep in mind that if you're fast at punching in numbers or text messages, the phone may not be able to keep up with you onscreen.
But yes, the w370 is a bit of a flagship phone at the moment, what with its KRZR-esque form factor (big "chin", narrow profile, relatively thin), and its general quality, but for the keypad and overall speed, lie up to its position. I daresay that this phone is twice as loud, if half as fast, as my Kyocera Cyclops, particularly on ringers. About as loud, I think, as the Nokia 2126, which is no slouch in the territory...though of course not as loud as the typical Nextel\Boost Mobile phone. Again, the user interface is a slightly cheapened copy of Motorola's usual interface, so it can be confusing at times, but if you know Motorola you definately know this phone, as opposed to working with the v170 or similar. And of course the phone has a very decently-sized screen to show this UI on...not particularly high-resolution, but not any lower than any other phone on mainstream prepaid.
...and it's on Tracfone, which represents a step forward for that company, into the realm of hones that are actually a bit on the classy side. So, aside from the phone speed issue, which may or may not be limited to just my phone but is on the minor side...I give this phone a solid thumbs up. And, I'll bet, so will whoever wins it come Sunday!
For the first point, I have no complaints. It's not the best phone in the world as far as call quality and reception, but the speaker is good and loud enough, whether you want speakerphone or just regular calling, and reception is very much on the good side. It's not a Nokia 6010, but again, it's not bad at all.
As to battery life, I was a little disappointed with the phone. Granted, I played with ringtones on meximum volume for an hour or so...so maybe I could have had another day of standby time, but I estimate that regular users will get about 3 1\2 days out of this phone if they don't talk a ton on it. For GSM, that's not great. But then again, if you find the right drivers you can grab any old mini-USB cable and charge your phone that way, as that's one of the ports on the phone (the other is the headset port...each one is protected by a rubber flap that isn't quite easy to get off, near the bottom of the phone).
On build quality, this phone pretty much blows me away, but for the keypad, which actually isn't half bad once you "break it in". "Razr on a budget" is about what this phone is built like. Budget meaning it's all-plastic, but it has a decent amount of heft to it, and it's decently thin, too.
I have zero complaints about build quality on this phone...there has been NO "hinge wobble" that has haunted all the flips I've had, and the fit and finish of this phone are in my opinion just as good as that of phones costing 2-3x as much. Yes, I'm singing praises of a phone that isn't even really made by Motorola, but honestly if Compal (who makes these phones) can turn out this kind of build quality on all their flips I'd rather them build the phone hardware! The absence of a caller ID screen on the phone, which leaves the front a huge black shiny plastic monolith with silver on the sides (and a Motorola logo in the middle toward the bottom...no Tracfone logo except on the removable backplate), gives the phone an even better chance at style because low-end caller ID screens are...low-end. Instead, you get a amber\green LED icon when you have incoming or missed calls, a blue LED icon when you have new messages and an amber LED telling you if you're charging the phone's battery or if it's low, going from top to bottom. These LEDs are perfectly invisible when not on (lovely seemingly scratch-resistant black plastic face) and perfectly sharp when on...I dig it. Cooler than my Cyclops's lo-fi external screen.
But before I forget, the keypad is very shallow-pitch, relatively unresponsive (get ready to hit it hard with your fingers when punching in numbers and texts) and seemingly made out of cheap rubber that's thin enough to cut with a sharp fingernail. But I've had no such problems, and the styling of the keypad fits with the phone, in case that's what you're worrying about...and it's not THAT much of a pain to use in and of itself.
Feature-wise, this phone can do everything a Tracfone can possibly do except take pictures...which isn't much. But what it does, it does pretty well, borrowing it suser interface from the Motorola c261 sans camera plus another ringtone or two...and a mysterious "additional storage area" for what I know not. But there's one big difference between this phone and the c261, interface-wise: for some wierd reason, the UI on the w370...mine at least...reminds me of that on the Marbl: slow. However, it's a lot...A LOT...more "lush" and friendly than the spartan Kyocera user interface, so it's not all bad. Just keep in mind that if you're fast at punching in numbers or text messages, the phone may not be able to keep up with you onscreen.
But yes, the w370 is a bit of a flagship phone at the moment, what with its KRZR-esque form factor (big "chin", narrow profile, relatively thin), and its general quality, but for the keypad and overall speed, lie up to its position. I daresay that this phone is twice as loud, if half as fast, as my Kyocera Cyclops, particularly on ringers. About as loud, I think, as the Nokia 2126, which is no slouch in the territory...though of course not as loud as the typical Nextel\Boost Mobile phone. Again, the user interface is a slightly cheapened copy of Motorola's usual interface, so it can be confusing at times, but if you know Motorola you definately know this phone, as opposed to working with the v170 or similar. And of course the phone has a very decently-sized screen to show this UI on...not particularly high-resolution, but not any lower than any other phone on mainstream prepaid.
...and it's on Tracfone, which represents a step forward for that company, into the realm of hones that are actually a bit on the classy side. So, aside from the phone speed issue, which may or may not be limited to just my phone but is on the minor side...I give this phone a solid thumbs up. And, I'll bet, so will whoever wins it come Sunday!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Motorola w370 Giveaway!
Well, the Motorola w370 is registering low battery now, so a review is in order for that phone. It also means that I'm going to give it away!
Here's how to enter:
1. Click some ads here to support this site.
2. Join the Go4Prepaid forums and make at least one post...if you've already joined and made a post you qualify for this step, but still do Step 1.
I'll be picking a winner Sunday evening and mailing out the phone, with 15 units of airtime on it (20 - 5 for testing) probably Monday, so enter now!
And, of course, stay tuned for my review of this phone later on today!
Here's how to enter:
1. Click some ads here to support this site.
2. Join the Go4Prepaid forums and make at least one post...if you've already joined and made a post you qualify for this step, but still do Step 1.
I'll be picking a winner Sunday evening and mailing out the phone, with 15 units of airtime on it (20 - 5 for testing) probably Monday, so enter now!
And, of course, stay tuned for my review of this phone later on today!
GoPhone Pay As You Go gets Packages
Today, as PhoneScoop said, GoPhone gets texting and night-and-weekend packages, the first and second a la Virgin Mobile, the third a la...well, nobody's really quite done that yet. What's annoying is it looks to be for Pick Your Plan only...
Anyhow, for $5 you get 200 text messages, usable over one month (like Virgin Mobile), and for $20 you get 3000, cheaper per text but more expensive per month than Virgin Mobile's $10 "penny text" program that I'm on right now. Then again, some people love to text and this'll cover 'em.
Then there are the MEdiaNet plans, which cost $5 a month for 1 MB and $10 per month for 5 MB. While this isn't as bad as the insanely high penny per KB Cingular charges normally (for $10.24 per MB), neither package is lower than even the daily option on Virgin Mobile. The monthly option on Virgin Mobile, for the same price as the Cingular 1MB plan, gives 5x the data access, and likely better speed...even the $15 package only provides 10 MB of data...still 50% more expensive than the monthly plan on Virgin Mobile...
Also, somewhere there's a per-month night and weekend option, which gives you 3000 minutes for $20. again, this can be beaten by various Sprint-based carriers, which offer unlimited minutes for $18 a month (xTreme Mobile) or better, but still it's a nice option to have if you're stuck on GoPhone ;)
And I guess that's about it...
Anyhow, for $5 you get 200 text messages, usable over one month (like Virgin Mobile), and for $20 you get 3000, cheaper per text but more expensive per month than Virgin Mobile's $10 "penny text" program that I'm on right now. Then again, some people love to text and this'll cover 'em.
Then there are the MEdiaNet plans, which cost $5 a month for 1 MB and $10 per month for 5 MB. While this isn't as bad as the insanely high penny per KB Cingular charges normally (for $10.24 per MB), neither package is lower than even the daily option on Virgin Mobile. The monthly option on Virgin Mobile, for the same price as the Cingular 1MB plan, gives 5x the data access, and likely better speed...even the $15 package only provides 10 MB of data...still 50% more expensive than the monthly plan on Virgin Mobile...
Also, somewhere there's a per-month night and weekend option, which gives you 3000 minutes for $20. again, this can be beaten by various Sprint-based carriers, which offer unlimited minutes for $18 a month (xTreme Mobile) or better, but still it's a nice option to have if you're stuck on GoPhone ;)
And I guess that's about it...
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Edited: Got a New Tracfone?
Have a new Tracfone (not activated yet)? If you do, don't fill out the information part (just skip it), then email me with the phone serial number and phone number once it's activated. It may well be worth your while...and that's all I can say right now...
EDIT: It looked like a backdoor to Refer-a-Friend, and Tracfone updated the site so they may be planning to do it again, but it didn't work on a phone I recently activated...said the promotion expired...so disregard this message...for now...
EDIT: It looked like a backdoor to Refer-a-Friend, and Tracfone updated the site so they may be planning to do it again, but it didn't work on a phone I recently activated...said the promotion expired...so disregard this message...for now...
PagePlus Update, Amp'd is In Trouble!
First off, looks like the "turn in your phone" deal for PagePlus is over, but remember that any Verizon, Alltel, Simple Freedom or Amp'd phone (and maybe any Sprint phone...I'll have to try that...) will work on the service.
Second, Amp'd is in deep trouble. Verizon is threatening to cut them off of their network. Why? Amp'd has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and owes a lot of people a lot of money, with Verizon being the biggest person they owe money to. So hold on, and if push comes to shove switch your phones over to Page Plus :)
Second, Amp'd is in deep trouble. Verizon is threatening to cut them off of their network. Why? Amp'd has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and owes a lot of people a lot of money, with Verizon being the biggest person they owe money to. So hold on, and if push comes to shove switch your phones over to Page Plus :)
Monday, June 04, 2007
PagePlus Scores Again!
Well, I have three updates to make about PagePlus...
1. Roaming is now down to 59 cents a minute, wherever you are, down from 99 cents or even $1.95 per minute! So i's actually now practical to carry around one phone for all your prepaid needs, even if you roam...and I'll bet anything this 59 cents per minute is taken out of PagePlus "play money", which means that on the $80 card roaming is a mere 28 cents a minute...truly cheap enough to never need another phone wherever you are in the U.S.!
2. PagePlus is coming out with data services in the future, which is going to close the deal for me if they're cheap enough...and I'll bet they will be cheap enough. But I've already talked about data before.
3, PagePlus is going to come out with their own handsets (as far as branding goes) this fall, which seems to be the point when they get data as well. I'm just hoping they aren't junky\old handsets...I'd kill for something like the Motorola w385on this service! Or a Razr v3m or a KRZR...but the w385 is cheap and quite good enough for everything PagePlus has to offer :)
...then again, I'd snap up a Razr2 on PagePlus in a heartbeat, as long as it's $300 or less...
1. Roaming is now down to 59 cents a minute, wherever you are, down from 99 cents or even $1.95 per minute! So i's actually now practical to carry around one phone for all your prepaid needs, even if you roam...and I'll bet anything this 59 cents per minute is taken out of PagePlus "play money", which means that on the $80 card roaming is a mere 28 cents a minute...truly cheap enough to never need another phone wherever you are in the U.S.!
2. PagePlus is coming out with data services in the future, which is going to close the deal for me if they're cheap enough...and I'll bet they will be cheap enough. But I've already talked about data before.
3, PagePlus is going to come out with their own handsets (as far as branding goes) this fall, which seems to be the point when they get data as well. I'm just hoping they aren't junky\old handsets...I'd kill for something like the Motorola w385on this service! Or a Razr v3m or a KRZR...but the w385 is cheap and quite good enough for everything PagePlus has to offer :)
...then again, I'd snap up a Razr2 on PagePlus in a heartbeat, as long as it's $300 or less...
Go4Prepaid Forums - They're Up!
This just out: I just started (again) forums for Go4Prepaid! So you can start talking about everything related to cellular service, specifically prepaid (though not necessarily) right there...no more need to comment on random posts here for that sort of thing! Just click the title of this post or follow the link below...see you there!
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid
http://z7.invisionfree.com/Go4Prepaid
Sunday, June 03, 2007
My "Day Job"
Well, actually I have two of them. Part of the time I'm for-pay freelance working for the likes of BabbleBug et al. But what I'm talking about is where I make more of my money, and whoever wants to can make more than I am ;)
Yet it's a no-risk deal.
I'm talking about buying the Tracfone twofer deals, selling the airtime to me, selling the phones elsewhere (buyers I make sure of first so no risk) and making a nice profit in doing so. All you need is a credit card (or a debit card and money in the bank) and the ability to read this and you're set.
Oh, and I'll tack on a $20 bonus for anyone who signs up before I give away the Motorola w370 I'll review shortly, as soon as they sell their first 24 airtime cards (one day's work, as much as $215 profit...otherwise well over $100).
Interested? E-mail me...
Yet it's a no-risk deal.
I'm talking about buying the Tracfone twofer deals, selling the airtime to me, selling the phones elsewhere (buyers I make sure of first so no risk) and making a nice profit in doing so. All you need is a credit card (or a debit card and money in the bank) and the ability to read this and you're set.
Oh, and I'll tack on a $20 bonus for anyone who signs up before I give away the Motorola w370 I'll review shortly, as soon as they sell their first 24 airtime cards (one day's work, as much as $215 profit...otherwise well over $100).
Interested? E-mail me...
Net10 Coolness
Two new deals related to Net10...
1. Net10 now has a program similar to Tracfone's Value Plans. $15 a month (charged to your bank account or credit card) gets you 150 minutes. Go online and you can get buckets of 50, 100 or 150 minutes at the same 10 cents a minute if you run out and are on an "Easy Minutes" plan, as Net10 calls it. To me, since Net10 has very little in the way of promotional codes and such, this is probably the best way to pay for their service...certainly better than having to buy airtime cards at the local store. This is sort of reminiscent of Sprint's old Fair & Flexible plan, which charged overages in $5 increments but gave you a LOT of minutes for that $5, whether it was 50 (later) or 100 (earlier). So in short if you want a Cingular, T-Mobile or Dobson CellularOne plan with no contract and just need talking and occasional texting...and don't use a ton of minutes...this is it.
2. Net10 now has some sweet deals on the refurbished Nokia 1100s. How sweet? Try free with a 1\3 discount on airtime! The regular refurbished Nokia 1100 (which comes with 300 minutes) is $19.99 right now...with free shipping...so with tax you're getting about 7 cents per minute with a free phone. Or you can pay three times as much for the phone and a 600 minute airtime card...three times as many minutes. Heck, you could sell the card for $50 and get the phone for free really and 5 cent minutes! Not bad...
1. Net10 now has a program similar to Tracfone's Value Plans. $15 a month (charged to your bank account or credit card) gets you 150 minutes. Go online and you can get buckets of 50, 100 or 150 minutes at the same 10 cents a minute if you run out and are on an "Easy Minutes" plan, as Net10 calls it. To me, since Net10 has very little in the way of promotional codes and such, this is probably the best way to pay for their service...certainly better than having to buy airtime cards at the local store. This is sort of reminiscent of Sprint's old Fair & Flexible plan, which charged overages in $5 increments but gave you a LOT of minutes for that $5, whether it was 50 (later) or 100 (earlier). So in short if you want a Cingular, T-Mobile or Dobson CellularOne plan with no contract and just need talking and occasional texting...and don't use a ton of minutes...this is it.
2. Net10 now has some sweet deals on the refurbished Nokia 1100s. How sweet? Try free with a 1\3 discount on airtime! The regular refurbished Nokia 1100 (which comes with 300 minutes) is $19.99 right now...with free shipping...so with tax you're getting about 7 cents per minute with a free phone. Or you can pay three times as much for the phone and a 600 minute airtime card...three times as many minutes. Heck, you could sell the card for $50 and get the phone for free really and 5 cent minutes! Not bad...
Free Shipping on Tracfone\Net10!
Well, until the 14th of this month, free shipping is back again on Tracfone\Net10! All orders above or at $19.99 qualify. My reaction? A long "Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!"
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Even More TracFun
...thanks to the Turk...
1. Family Dollar is selling Nokia 2126(i)s and Motorola c139s for $10.
2. K-Mart is selling Motorola c139s for $10 and a $20 card + a Marbl for $30 (ech still).
3. Don't believe everything you hear\see about the Nokia 2126 being SingleRate on Tracfone's online sales site. I'm 99% sure it isn't...Tracfone has pulled that stunt before.
4. The LG 1300i will definately be GSM on Tracfone...yeah, it's not a great pone but yes it's another Tracfone, on GSM of course.
1. Family Dollar is selling Nokia 2126(i)s and Motorola c139s for $10.
2. K-Mart is selling Motorola c139s for $10 and a $20 card + a Marbl for $30 (ech still).
3. Don't believe everything you hear\see about the Nokia 2126 being SingleRate on Tracfone's online sales site. I'm 99% sure it isn't...Tracfone has pulled that stunt before.
4. The LG 1300i will definately be GSM on Tracfone...yeah, it's not a great pone but yes it's another Tracfone, on GSM of course.
w370!
Well, I finally had a chance to grab the Motorola w370 from Target today ($54.05 with tax...no more $44.99 deal) so I'll be reviewing that phone soon here. Stay tuned!
P.S> I noticed at Target also that the Kyocera Switch_Back was selling for $80. I didn't pick it up...if I wanted a QWERTY phone on Virgin Mobile I'd wait for the M1000...
P.S> I noticed at Target also that the Kyocera Switch_Back was selling for $80. I didn't pick it up...if I wanted a QWERTY phone on Virgin Mobile I'd wait for the M1000...
The Return of TracFun
First off, Tracfone just overhauled their website ast week. Things look a good bit snazzier now, and in my opinion clearer. Too bad it looks like Refer-a-Friend is very much history...no mention of it anywhere on the site anymore.
But to make up for this, I guess, Tracfone has introduced a super-duper-double-minute card, at $140, the price point that the old 300 minute double-minute card a while back was at. Except this one is a for-life double-minute card and includes 800 minutes. It's $10 cheaper than buying a 1-year card and a double-minute card, $10 more expensive than buying a double-minute card and two 200-minute cards (with half the expiration time). So while it has its niche, the niche is relatively small.
Tracfone also introduced Value Plans, which Jacques covered in an earlier post. Basically, you get a flat 20 cents per minute, applied to your phone automatically (unless you have an older phone). $10 a month gets you 50 minutes extra per month, and you can add additional lines of 30 minutes per month for another $6 per month. There's also a "Lifeline" plan that will add 30 days of service to your phone for $5 when your service time runs out. While these programs are nice,I'm really wondering if the would work with the double minute program. If so I'd buy a double-minute card and get the 10 cents a minute with these. Otherwise they're not really good deals. Oh, and you can add extra buckets of 20-cent minutes, in $10 and $20 increments, when you need them, if you have a Value Plan. Interesting, says I...
Another development is interesting...I saw, while surfing the Value Plan FAQ, mention of the LG 1300i. Implying that it will be out soon. Not the the 1300 is a new phone or anything, but I'm sure it'll be restyled for Tracfone (hence the i) and hey, it's another phone in Tracfone's lineup.
And, last but not least...certainly not least...Tracfone has reinstated the CDMA twofer deal with a different phone...the Nokia 2126! Granted, it's not the single-rate 2126i, but it's still a very solid phone, and if you don't roam or text a lot you're perfectly find on it. Certainly a HUGE upgrade from the digital-only, black-and-white, bulky Nokia 2285.
So yes, Tracfone has been quite newsworthy lately. Which is, in my opinion, good.The Return of TracFun
First off, Tracfone just overhauled their website ast week. Things look a good bit snazzier now, and in my opinion clearer. Too bad it looks like Refer-a-Friend is very much history...no mention of it anywhere on the site anymore.
But to make up for this, I guess, Tracfone has introduced a super-duper-double-minute card, at $140, the price point that the old 300 minute double-minute card a while back was at. Except this one is a for-life double-minute card and includes 800 minutes. It's $10 cheaper than buying a 1-year card and a double-minute card, $10 more expensive than buying a double-minute card and two 200-minute cards (with half the expiration time). So while it has its niche, the niche is relatively small.
Tracfone also introduced Value Plans, which Jacques covered in an earlier post. Basically, you get a flat 20 cents per minute, applied to your phone automatically (unless you have an older phone). $10 a month gets you 50 minutes extra per month, and you can add additional lines of 30 minutes per month for another $6 per month. There's also a "Lifeline" plan that will add 30 days of service to your phone for $5 when your service time runs out. While these programs are nice,I'm really wondering if the would work with the double minute program. If so I'd buy a double-minute card and get the 10 cents a minute with these. Otherwise they're not really good deals. Oh, and you can add extra buckets of 20-cent minutes, in $10 and $20 increments, when you need them, if you have a Value Plan. Interesting, says I...
Another development is interesting...I saw, while surfing the Value Plan FAQ, mention of the LG 1300i. Implying that it will be out soon. Not the the 1300 is a new phone or anything, but I'm sure it'll be restyled for Tracfone (hence the i) and hey, it's another phone in Tracfone's lineup.
And, last but not least...certainly not least...Tracfone has reinstated the CDMA twofer deal with a different phone...the Nokia 2126! Granted, it's not the single-rate 2126i, but it's still a very solid phone, and if you don't roam or text a lot you're perfectly find on it. Certainly a HUGE upgrade from the digital-only, black-and-white, bulky Nokia 2285.
So yes, Tracfone has been quite newsworthy lately. Which is, in my opinion, good.
But to make up for this, I guess, Tracfone has introduced a super-duper-double-minute card, at $140, the price point that the old 300 minute double-minute card a while back was at. Except this one is a for-life double-minute card and includes 800 minutes. It's $10 cheaper than buying a 1-year card and a double-minute card, $10 more expensive than buying a double-minute card and two 200-minute cards (with half the expiration time). So while it has its niche, the niche is relatively small.
Tracfone also introduced Value Plans, which Jacques covered in an earlier post. Basically, you get a flat 20 cents per minute, applied to your phone automatically (unless you have an older phone). $10 a month gets you 50 minutes extra per month, and you can add additional lines of 30 minutes per month for another $6 per month. There's also a "Lifeline" plan that will add 30 days of service to your phone for $5 when your service time runs out. While these programs are nice,I'm really wondering if the would work with the double minute program. If so I'd buy a double-minute card and get the 10 cents a minute with these. Otherwise they're not really good deals. Oh, and you can add extra buckets of 20-cent minutes, in $10 and $20 increments, when you need them, if you have a Value Plan. Interesting, says I...
Another development is interesting...I saw, while surfing the Value Plan FAQ, mention of the LG 1300i. Implying that it will be out soon. Not the the 1300 is a new phone or anything, but I'm sure it'll be restyled for Tracfone (hence the i) and hey, it's another phone in Tracfone's lineup.
And, last but not least...certainly not least...Tracfone has reinstated the CDMA twofer deal with a different phone...the Nokia 2126! Granted, it's not the single-rate 2126i, but it's still a very solid phone, and if you don't roam or text a lot you're perfectly find on it. Certainly a HUGE upgrade from the digital-only, black-and-white, bulky Nokia 2285.
So yes, Tracfone has been quite newsworthy lately. Which is, in my opinion, good.The Return of TracFun
First off, Tracfone just overhauled their website ast week. Things look a good bit snazzier now, and in my opinion clearer. Too bad it looks like Refer-a-Friend is very much history...no mention of it anywhere on the site anymore.
But to make up for this, I guess, Tracfone has introduced a super-duper-double-minute card, at $140, the price point that the old 300 minute double-minute card a while back was at. Except this one is a for-life double-minute card and includes 800 minutes. It's $10 cheaper than buying a 1-year card and a double-minute card, $10 more expensive than buying a double-minute card and two 200-minute cards (with half the expiration time). So while it has its niche, the niche is relatively small.
Tracfone also introduced Value Plans, which Jacques covered in an earlier post. Basically, you get a flat 20 cents per minute, applied to your phone automatically (unless you have an older phone). $10 a month gets you 50 minutes extra per month, and you can add additional lines of 30 minutes per month for another $6 per month. There's also a "Lifeline" plan that will add 30 days of service to your phone for $5 when your service time runs out. While these programs are nice,I'm really wondering if the would work with the double minute program. If so I'd buy a double-minute card and get the 10 cents a minute with these. Otherwise they're not really good deals. Oh, and you can add extra buckets of 20-cent minutes, in $10 and $20 increments, when you need them, if you have a Value Plan. Interesting, says I...
Another development is interesting...I saw, while surfing the Value Plan FAQ, mention of the LG 1300i. Implying that it will be out soon. Not the the 1300 is a new phone or anything, but I'm sure it'll be restyled for Tracfone (hence the i) and hey, it's another phone in Tracfone's lineup.
And, last but not least...certainly not least...Tracfone has reinstated the CDMA twofer deal with a different phone...the Nokia 2126! Granted, it's not the single-rate 2126i, but it's still a very solid phone, and if you don't roam or text a lot you're perfectly find on it. Certainly a HUGE upgrade from the digital-only, black-and-white, bulky Nokia 2285.
So yes, Tracfone has been quite newsworthy lately. Which is, in my opinion, good.
VIrgin Mobile: New Site, New Phones (Almost)
Now for Virgin Mobile News...
First off, their site has been revamped. Though to my knowledge all that has been added is more games in the game store (and suchlike) and diferent wording for the Sugar Mama program (which reminds me, at 10 cents a minute it's nowt worth participating in...) but the facelift is welcome.
Second, and more important, there are now a confirmed THREE phones coming out soon for Virgin Mobile in the near future:
Motorola w385 - Take the Tracfone w370, add a camera, an external display and Virgin Mobile branding (and of course switch to a CDMA radio) and you get the w385. I'm thinking this is another Shorty-esque attempt from Virgin Mobile to get people to come because of having a name-brand phone. Oh, and the phone definately has Bluetooth...all three new phones do. Anyhow looks to be more solid phone than the Kyoceras and likely the UTStarComs so I'm looking forward to it...I'll bet it'll start at $100-$130.
Kyocera M1000 (SwitchBack II) - Besides having Bluetooth, a larger outer screen, a better camera (1.3 megapixel, like on the Cyclops) and MUCH better styling, this phone is another SwitchBack, the QWERTYphone that seems to have not sold too well because of its wierd looks. I'll bet this model will start at $130-$150.
EDIT: Pictures...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_open.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_front.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_side.jpg
UTSTarCom CDM1450 (Slice II) - Again, this phone has Bluetooth, but its upgrade from the Slice is probably the bigger of the two between it and the M1000: it also incorperates a camera and 64 MB of memory...and I'll bet you can get IM and mobile email on it. In short, the Slice II actually makes the Slice a bit of a feature phone...it isn't that way right now. I expect it'll sell for $50-$70 to start out. May sound low but that was the price point that the original Slice started out at so...
...and that's the news for upcoming Virgin Mobile phones. They'll be out any minute now, so if you like Virgin Mobile and want to upgrade, you don't have long to wait.
First off, their site has been revamped. Though to my knowledge all that has been added is more games in the game store (and suchlike) and diferent wording for the Sugar Mama program (which reminds me, at 10 cents a minute it's nowt worth participating in...) but the facelift is welcome.
Second, and more important, there are now a confirmed THREE phones coming out soon for Virgin Mobile in the near future:
Motorola w385 - Take the Tracfone w370, add a camera, an external display and Virgin Mobile branding (and of course switch to a CDMA radio) and you get the w385. I'm thinking this is another Shorty-esque attempt from Virgin Mobile to get people to come because of having a name-brand phone. Oh, and the phone definately has Bluetooth...all three new phones do. Anyhow looks to be more solid phone than the Kyoceras and likely the UTStarComs so I'm looking forward to it...I'll bet it'll start at $100-$130.
Kyocera M1000 (SwitchBack II) - Besides having Bluetooth, a larger outer screen, a better camera (1.3 megapixel, like on the Cyclops) and MUCH better styling, this phone is another SwitchBack, the QWERTYphone that seems to have not sold too well because of its wierd looks. I'll bet this model will start at $130-$150.
EDIT: Pictures...
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_open.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_front.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/PC1492/sb2_side.jpg
UTSTarCom CDM1450 (Slice II) - Again, this phone has Bluetooth, but its upgrade from the Slice is probably the bigger of the two between it and the M1000: it also incorperates a camera and 64 MB of memory...and I'll bet you can get IM and mobile email on it. In short, the Slice II actually makes the Slice a bit of a feature phone...it isn't that way right now. I expect it'll sell for $50-$70 to start out. May sound low but that was the price point that the original Slice started out at so...
...and that's the news for upcoming Virgin Mobile phones. They'll be out any minute now, so if you like Virgin Mobile and want to upgrade, you don't have long to wait.
PagePlus - SCORE!
Okay, I'm back (and graduated!) and I have a lot to say. First, PagePlus...
First, the bad news: PagePlus is reinstating the 50 cent monthly fee...
...but they're lowering their rates again to compete with traditional calling cards, let alone regular prepaid cell phones. Noo kidding.
Text messages are still 8 cents apiece (now relative to 12 cents a minute, so 2\3 of a minute) but minutes are now much, much cheaper than anyone else...
$10 - 83 minutes (12 cents apiece)
$25 - 300 minutes (8.33 cents apiece)
$50 - 700 minutes (7.14 cents apiece)
$80 - 1400 minutes (5.71 cents apiece)
Amazing, huh? If you use just voice calling and some texting (at a very reasonable 3.8 cents apiece with the $80 card) and don't mind not having a local number (a problem with PagePlus) this service really takes the cake. If you use less than about 500 minutes a month (yeah, that's a lot for prepaid) and can stand keeping in Verizon's service area, and don't need multimedia features, PagePlus is the clear option. Heck, if you want a nice phone with it, just buy a Verizon Razr off of eBay and activate it with a $5 activation kit from there. Crazy? Yeah.
Oh, and I hear they're going to get data services soon...which means I'll likely be switching providers (from Virgin Mobile) relatively soon. Because I'm right now paying $7 a month to get 10 cents a minute, so even if data is a bit more expensive I'm coming out ahead on PagePlus...plus I can get a really nice phone, especially compared with Virgin Mobile, if I want...though Virgin Mobile will soon be getting some better phones...but more about that in the next post.
First, the bad news: PagePlus is reinstating the 50 cent monthly fee...
...but they're lowering their rates again to compete with traditional calling cards, let alone regular prepaid cell phones. Noo kidding.
Text messages are still 8 cents apiece (now relative to 12 cents a minute, so 2\3 of a minute) but minutes are now much, much cheaper than anyone else...
$10 - 83 minutes (12 cents apiece)
$25 - 300 minutes (8.33 cents apiece)
$50 - 700 minutes (7.14 cents apiece)
$80 - 1400 minutes (5.71 cents apiece)
Amazing, huh? If you use just voice calling and some texting (at a very reasonable 3.8 cents apiece with the $80 card) and don't mind not having a local number (a problem with PagePlus) this service really takes the cake. If you use less than about 500 minutes a month (yeah, that's a lot for prepaid) and can stand keeping in Verizon's service area, and don't need multimedia features, PagePlus is the clear option. Heck, if you want a nice phone with it, just buy a Verizon Razr off of eBay and activate it with a $5 activation kit from there. Crazy? Yeah.
Oh, and I hear they're going to get data services soon...which means I'll likely be switching providers (from Virgin Mobile) relatively soon. Because I'm right now paying $7 a month to get 10 cents a minute, so even if data is a bit more expensive I'm coming out ahead on PagePlus...plus I can get a really nice phone, especially compared with Virgin Mobile, if I want...though Virgin Mobile will soon be getting some better phones...but more about that in the next post.
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