Prepaid Phones
If you need only a fairly simple handset, consider prepaid phone service, where you pay up front for services as you need them. This can be ideal if your usage tends to fluctuate from month to month. It also helps limit spending on wireless services, which makes it attractive to parents concerned about unexpected charges on their kids' phones.
You won't find the latest and greatest phones in the prepaid aisle. Services such as AT&T's Go Phone, T-Mobile's To-Go, and Verizon's INpulse and EasyPay provide handsets that usually cost less than $100. T-Mobile, however, does offer the Sidekick 3 as a prepaid option.
Prepaid services cover basic data functions such as text messaging, instant messaging, limited Web browsing, and access to POP3 or Web-based e-mail. You'll find prepaid and pay-as-you-go offerings from national carriers, several smaller carriers, and retail chains such as 7-Eleven, Best Buy, and Target.
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