TracFone offers $45 unlimited plan
The unlimited monthly plan wars continue to get hotter following a new service from TracFone. The Mobile Virtual Network Operator recently debuted StraightTalk, a prepaid, no-contract wireless brand that offers 30MB of data plus unlimited calling and messaging for $45 per month. Alternatively, you can get 1,000 anytime minutes and 1,000 text or multimedia messages for $30 per month.
Boost Mobile has offered a $50 per month plan that includes unlimited data since January, but StraightTalk now ties with MetroPCS for a calling and texting option. Yet, it is worth noting that Boost Mobile pays taxes while other carriers do not.
StraightTalk's coverage via Verizon Wireless isn't entirely nationwide (we spotted some gaps on the coverage map) and its phone selection is hardly impressive--you're limited to the LG200CM, Motorola W385, and Motorola Razr V3 (yes, it's back)--but beating this price will be difficult--at least for now.
Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent. 
How it should work is various plans ranging from $15 to $30 / mo that vary in speed, not data cap. They should all be unlimited. And... I'm talking $15 to $30 / mo for voice and data. That is all I'm willing to spend. Until such plans come about, I'm happy with using my cell for mainly emergency calls and using WiFi for web surfing.
You'd be surprised.
I guess I'm thinking about devices like the iPhone with reasonable sized screens and real web browsers. Yea, I wouldn't really even bother with data for phones like Palm Treo or phones with super limited browsers. Once you have actual web type access though, you can blow through 30 MB of data rather quickly. Just add up the average size of some common web pages some time. Even if the screen is smaller, you're still transferring all the data when you load a page. Also, think about streaming music, or worse, video. 30 MB is practically nothing with today's Web.
occasion is pretty cool.
Does anybody know exactly what the Tracfone bill comes too after "fees & taxes"..........which by the way Boost has none of....just a straight 50 bucks!
This is so obviously better than Boost's sucky IDEN network coverage or Metro's local world that there's no comparison. For me, this means I don't have to have a contract any more because they filled in the coverage blanks, and I can trade in my $120 a month contract unlimited bill for $45 a month with no contract.
30 meg of data is about 300 web page views, which is more than I can use on a phone that's not really good at fast web access. And by the way, 411 calls are free. I spent $24 lat month on those on my contract plan. From now on, the only reason I can see to get a contract is if you want an iPhone and all those great apps. If you want to talk and text a lot and expect great coverage, Straight Talk looks like a killer app. The fact that it's only available at some Walmarts or walmart.com means it's hard to see the phones, but I think we all know what a RAZR looks like. The phones aren't fabulous but the plan sure is.
@brienza1975, What roaming charges? My Tracfone doesn't have any roaming charges. Are you confusing it with another carrier?
Does this not seem fishy to anyone, or am I over-reacting? Does anyone here have this service, and can give me an honest opinion on it? The price works, but first phone impression didn't...
Interestingly, if you buy the card at Walmart, it is just $30 (although you will probably be paying sales tax). Does anyone know if phone cards are taxed like normal goods?
I ordered mine from the website and will let you know how I like it. Can't beat the price though!
It really compares well to other plans: www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/compare-unlimited-plans.html
If I live in Vegas and that is where my phone is registered/account was opened, but were to make a call on my StraightTalk phone from California, Arizona, or any other place besides Vegas, would they be some sort of additional charge?
It's 'unlimited anytime nationwide minutes', so...
- by tmdeee September 16, 2009 10:07 PM PDT
- I just looked at TracFone's service area, and compared it to Verizon's service area. Even though they use Verizon's lines, there is much less coverage area than Verizon. They must only lease SOME of Verizon's lines. Also, you can't call anywhere out of the U.S. including Canada.
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