| Companies that offer expensive, long-term cellular | | | | based on the first few characters that are input, and |
| contracts will attempt to woo you with offers of | | | | can save you time and keystrokes. |
| value-added services such as text messaging, ring | | | | Be aware that once you've gotten accustomed to it, |
| tones, and voicemail. These sorts of services are | | | | text messaging can become very addictive and fun! |
| indeed wonderful and convenient, but the fact of the | | | | And even though the per-message fee is low, text |
| matter is, you can get the exact same services with | | | | messaging all day can quickly rack up an |
| your prepaid plan. Things like caller ID and call waiting | | | | unmanageable bill at the end of the month. |
| are common on any type of cell phone, whether it is | | | | That's the beauty of prepaid service. You can still use |
| prepaid or contract. | | | | text messaging with prepaid, but you won't get stuck |
| Text messaging, regardless of whether you are using | | | | with an unexpected big bill for messaging at the end of |
| a phone with a long-term contract or a prepaid phone, | | | | the month. Like regular phone calls, you pay as you go. |
| is the same, and you can enjoy this feature with most | | | | Voicemail is another common feature offered by both |
| prepaid cell phones. You just type your message into | | | | contact and prepaid cell phone providers. Typically |
| the telephone keypad, put in the mobile phone number | | | | provided as a free value-add, this is also something to |
| of your friend, and hit the send key. | | | | be cautious about. When you call your voicemail box |
| Depending on your provider, you will probably be | | | | to retrieve messages, you will still be charged for the |
| charged a low per-message fee. Besides sending text | | | | call, like any other call. If your service allows you to do |
| messages between cell phones, some carriers will also | | | | so, it is less expensive to retrieve your calls from a |
| provide you with the ability to send text messages to | | | | landline phone. |
| email addresses or IM addresses, and may allow you | | | | Tom Spelling is a contributing editor to Prepaid |
| to send the same messages to a group of recipients | | | | Reviews - a website that reviews providers of |
| at the same time. | | | | prepaid cell phones and rates them according to |
| Typing messages into a telephone keypad does take | | | | service factors and customer feedback. The site |
| some getting used to, but some providers include | | | | offers reviews on Metro PCS, Cingular Go Phone and |
| "predictive" technology that makes it a little easier. This | | | | many more brands of prepaid cell service. |
| handy technology predicts what you are trying to type | | | | |