Why Buy a Prepaid Cell Phone?

Prepaid cell phones tend to have negative connotations associated with them due to their popularity amongst those with little to no credit, but there remain plenty of reasons for the average consumer to consider one. For example, prepaid cell phones are a great way to introduce mobile phones to a senior citizen who may be intimidated by the technology, or a teenager that must learn the responsibilities that come with owning a cell phone.

For the most part, prepaid cell phones are easy to use. Their simplicity comes from not only the phone itself, but through the fact that you prepay for minutes, so when they expire, you can either choose to buy more minutes or quit the service altogether. However, if you seek the latest and greatest cell phones, have a tendency to talk on the phone for extended periods of time, or just want the best value per-minute, a traditional monthly plan may suit you better.

In this site, you'll find articles related to cell phones, comprehensive reviews and a side-by-side comparison that will help you make an informed decision on which prepaid cell phone is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS – We do the research so you don’t have to.

Not all carriers offer prepaid services, so you’ll first want to research local carriers and prices for prepaid plans. Keep in mind that phones supporting prepaid plans are also limited, so you will likely not have the latest and greatest hardware to choose from.

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate prepaid cell phones:

• Voice Features: Prepaid cell phones should provide basic cell phone functions such as 3-way calling, speakerphone, voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID. The best phones are compatible with a variety of networks, are no-hassle and easy-to-use.
• Multimedia Features: The more multimedia features a prepaid phone has, the better. Most phones will offer one or more of the following features in addition to voice services: text messaging, instant messaging, camera, recording capabilities, audio/video playback, games, polyphonic ringtones, and/or radio. Choose which features appeal to you most to determine the phone that is right for you.
• Productivity/ Lifestyle Tools: Even the simplest application can help its owner become more productive, thus making the phone an investment as opposed to a purchase. The best prepaid cell phones offer applications and tools such as calendars, phonebooks, task lists, and memos/notes.
• Technical Specifications: The best prepaid cell phones are small, functional, durable, and include a long lasting battery. You may also find some with expandable memory slots to store additional photos, ringtones, or files, as well as Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free pairing.