Prepaid Reviews Blog

The Top Five HTC Prepaid Phones

Joe — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:35:45 +0000

HTC phones are quickly becoming user favorites in the cell phone marketplace. Offered by every major mobile carrier, each HTC phone is designed for a different type of user. So whether you prefer your phone for gaming, working, or playing, HTC has what you’re looking for. And if you want to do these things on an affordable prepaid plan, here are your best bets:

HTC Wildfire S

The HTC Wildfire S is unquestionably the best go-to phone for those preferring to keep track of their phone budget with a prepaid mobile plan. This sleek device runs on the latest Android platform, so you have instant access to thousands of apps on the Android Market.

The Wildfire S also features a 3.2-inch touchscreen and five-megapixel camera for capturing important moments. One of the lightest, stylish, and most fun smartphones, the HTC Wildfire S is perfect for anyone who loves the freedom of searching the web from their phone – without the commitment of a long-term contract (available via Virgin Mobile).

HTC Status

The HTC Status is a shortcut to the connections you crave. Basically, it’s everything a social network junkie wants in a phone. The Status (undoubtedly inspired by the “Facebook status”) allows you to instantly share priceless photos and videos to Facebook with the touch of a button. Literally. The phone comes with a branded Facebook share button underneath its QWERTY keyboard.

Whenever you make or receive a call, your friend’s profile picture and most recent status update will appear on the call screen. And if it’s their birthday that week, you’ll see that, too. The five-megapixel camera comes loaded with effects to make your photos look like they’ve been taken through special lenses and filters before sharing to Facebook. And with front and rear facing cameras, you can take self-portraits and photos with friends without the guesswork (available via AT&T prepaid plans).

HTC HD7S

The HTC HD7S is great for taking care of business, keeping up with friends, or catching up on your latest show. Without leaning too much to much toward any particular “specialty,” the HD7S gives you everything you need to manage your personal and professional life on a big, impressive screen. The home screen allows you to balance everything, with a Hub for keeping tabs on any area – kind of like picture-in-picture for your phone.

Because it’s a Microsoft Windows phone, you’re equipped with Outlook Mobile for any email needs, along with all the other perks Microsoft offers. And it all comes together in one slim design so you can get the job done and get on with life (also available via AT&T).

HTC Freestyle GoPhone

The HTC Freestyle AT&T GoPhone is simple and user friendly, but won’t captivate you with any impressive features. This is a great option for anyone who wants the essential communication features a phone offers without any of the frills of a smartphone, including Internet connection. It’s inexpensive, and because it’s available as a prepaid phone, it won’t break the bank each month. As you’d expect from a relatively basic phone, the Freestyle’s address book keeps contacts organized with up to three phone numbers per contact, email address, street address, birthday, notepad, and URL options.

In addition, the phone includes a calendar, text and multimedia messaging, a calculator, and an alarm clock, and quite a few other handy features can be downloaded from AT&T’s AppCenter. Again, this isn’t one of those phones with all the bells and whistles, but it definitely has what it takes to get the job done (unless the job requires a Wi-Fi connection).

HTC Desire

If you’re in the market for a T-Mobile HTC prepaid phone, you might want to do a little research before jumping in. T-Mobile doesn’t have HTC phones directly available as a prepaid option through their website, but certain “unlocked” HTC phones are compatible with T-Mobile and can be used with a prepaid plan. Again, check with a local T-Mobile store or inquire online before making a purchase. If everything checks out, the HTC Desire (also available on US Cellular) is a great smartphone that’s works on the T-Mobile network.

This phone delivers intense brilliance, sharp contrast, and true colors on the expansive 3.7-inch display. This phone is designed to keep you connected by simplifying your social networks into its Friend Stream, which consolidates your interaction with friends across multiple social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr and brings them into a single easy-to-follow stream of updates, photo posts, and shared links.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Prepaid iPhone on Straight Talk?

Joe — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:32:13 +0000

Here’s one interesting outcome from the new SIM-only deals from Straight Talk and Net10: it could, and probably does, mean that users can activate iPhones. Andrew Berg of Wireless Week cites Walter Piecyk of BTIG, an analysis firm, who talks about the disruptive possibilities of such an offering. “We are unaware of any way to use an iPhone on prepaid,” writes Piecyk. That’s true generally, though there are the tech-savvier among us who have figured out ways. Yet there might be a few problems involved with this.

Here’s a key line in Berg’s article: “Piecyk writes that Straight Talk does not appear to cap or throttle its data.” They might not appear to, but there have been more than a few stories of Straight Talk users getting their accounts cancelled for excessive usage. This includes not only voice and text services, but also data. If users can, in fact, activate an iPhone on Straight Talk, they’d still be subject to Straight Talk’s whims. They could easily get booted for excessive usage.

Another issue, from the article:

“The disparity in pricing between Straight Talk’s $45 per month and AT&T’s is simply too great to ignore and Straight Talk is clearly indicating that the customer will be using the same network,” notes Piecyk.

While Straight Talk might use AT&T’s network, it does not have AT&T’s roaming capabilities. It is not the same network at all, then. While Straight Talk does borrow from all networks, it’s unclear how roaming will work in this instance. Chances are, however, that users will have a much more restricted network.

The deal might seem too good to pass up, and in many ways it is. This is an easy way to get an iPhone on prepaid. But it’s not all candy canes and rainbows. There are restrictions on Straight Talk that simply aren’t there on AT&T. It’s not as though users will get the same service for half the price, which is exactly what Piecyk implies.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Straight Talk and Net10 add SIM-only option

Joe — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:19 +0000

Both Straight Talk and Net10 have added a new option for phone owners. Instead of the normal process, which involves purchasing a phone directly from the company, they are allowing customers to bring their own devices. There are a number of restrictions involved, however, so anyone interested should read on to determine whether or not they are eligible.

For starters, this obviously only works with phones that contain SIM cards. Phones that operate on Sprint’s or Verizon’s CDMA networks do not have SIM cards. That means only AT&T and T-Mobile phones will work. By extension, this also means that service is only available on these networks. You need to check with Straight Talk or Net10 to find out if they have AT&T or T-Mobile coverage in your area.

Second, the GSM phone has to be unlocked. That is, you can’t just take a phone that once worked on T-Mobile or AT&T and bring it directly to Net10 or Straight Talk. You have to first unlock the phone. If you are a former AT&T or T-Mobile customer, oftentimes you can call customer service for an unlock code. Otherwise, there are many online services that sell unlock codes. The other option is to purchase an unlocked phone directly; eBay usually has a wide selection of them from various dealers.

Third, this only works with the $45 unlimited plans that Straight Talk and Net10 offer. Any lesser plans do not qualify. That makes the deal pretty restrictive overall. You have to have a certain network’s coverage in your area, you need an unlocked phone, and you need a certain tier of service. Additionally, you cannot use BlackBerry devices, nor can you use TracFone-branded handsets (this includes its subsidiaries of SafeLink and, yes, Net10 and Straight Talk). Still, if these criteria seem fine to you, you can use a phone you already have with the service, which can save you some dollars.

The SIM card itself will cost $15, and will soon be available at Straight Talk’s website and Net10′s website.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

MetroPCS offers $40 LTE plan for Android customers

Joe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:30:49 +0000

As it turns out, MetroPCS didn’t discontinue it’s $40 LTE plan. Earlier in the week the plan did disappear from its website, which FierceWireless astutely noted. But that was apparently a temporary measure. We got an email detailing Metro’s plans for the $40 plan, which involve offering it to all LTE phone users. It includes unlimited talk, text, and browsing, as is standard with all MetroPCS plans. It also includes 100MB of streaming media. Again, this plan works with any LTE handset in MetroPCS’s lineup. You can sign up for the plan and get an Android LTE smartphone at MetroPCS’s website.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

PlatinumTel adds two new plans

Joe — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:32:49 +0000

Yesterday PlatinumTel introduced two new unlimited talk and text plans, for $45 and $55 per month. The $45 plan includes 150MB of 3G data on top of the unlimited talk and text features, and the $55 plan ups that data allotment to 2GB. The only catch is that picture messages cost 5 cents each to send. The press release mentions “lower rates for PlatinumTel’s Unlimited Plans,” so presumably the original $50 unlimited plan is on its way out. It offered unlimited talk and text with just 100MB of data, so the $45 plan is better anyway. The rates aren’t quite posted yet, but you’ll be able to sign up for a new plan at PlatinumTel’s website.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Spring finally phasing out iDEN, starting in April

Joe — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:50 +0000

The writing has been on the wall for quite some time now. Sprint even admitted that they’d eventually phase out the Nextel iDEN network in favor of CDMA, and eventually LTE networks. In late 2010 we heard that the iDEN phase-out would begin in 2013. Now it appears those plans have moved up on the priority list. The process will indeed end in 2013, but it will start in April of this year. The shift will be gradual, though, allowing users time to migrate over to the CDMA side. Yet one issue remains unclear.

It’s unknown what Sprint plans to do for Boost Mobile subscribers who rely on walkie talkies. Sprint does have its own Direct Connect push to talk service, and it appears they’re working with Nextel customers on a migration plan. Yet Sprint does not currently offer Direct Connect services though Boost, and nothing indicates that they will in the future. This is, however, something we could see come up again as we move towards April and people experience service disruption.

PhoneNews.com has a comprehensive write-up of the issue. But in terms of Boost customers, there are many questions that currently don’t have answers.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

MetroPCS discontinues $40 LTE plan

Joe — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:30:14 +0000

Since it didn’t serve much of a purpose any longer, MetroPCS has decided to discontinue its $40 LTE plan. This plan originally became available in September, 2010, when MetroPCS first offered LTE service. The only phone model available then was the Samsung Craft. It was a poor phone to begin with, and once MetroPCS started adding LTE Android devices it became pointless. MetroPCS stopped selling the Craft recently, leaving the $40 LTE plan with no compatible phones — Android handsets require that users sign up for the $50 or $60 LTE plans.

Via FierceWireless.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Rumor: MetroPCS to get LG Optimus 2

Joe — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:52 +0000

Pictured above is a slightly grainy picture of the LG Optimus 2. It’s actually already available through Sprint, but as the apps on the homescreen of this picture indicate, this one is headed for MetroPCS. It will be a CDMA device, not an LTE one, just like the Sprint model. It also features a 3.2-megapixel camera, 800MHz processor, and a 3.2-inch screen. Chances are it will come in at a value price, especially since MetroPCS is introducing a pair of higher end Android devices later this month.

Via Howard Forums.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Consumer Cellular adds web and messaging bundles

Joe — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:30:53 +0000

Consumer Cellular recently announced a number of package deals that include web and messaging features. There are five in total. The Lite package contains 100 messages and 10MB of web for $2.50 per month. The Ready package has 500 minutes and 50MB for $5 per month. The Active plan contains 1,000 minutes and 100MB of data for $10 per month. The Complete package has 2,500 messages and 250MB of data for $20 per month, and the Max plan has 5,000 messages and 500MB of data for $30 per month. Consumer Cellular customers can upgrade to one of these plans at Consumer Cellular’s website.

Via Phone Scoop.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Virgin Mobile will start throttling data speeds in March

Joe — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:17 +0000

We knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when. We learned last year that Virgin Mobile would throttle the speeds of its heaviest data users. It will begin this practice on March 23rd, with users who exceed 2.5GB per month getting their speeds throttled. To be clear, this applies to Virgin smartphone customers using Beyond Talk plans. Throttled speeds are 256Kbps, which is something of a relic for old dial-up users. If a user gets throttled, he has to either way for the beginning of the next billing cycle, or otherwise pay for a new monthly plan immediately. Neither seems like an attractive option, but those are the breaks.

Via Android Central.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!