Prepaid Celluar Phones
How to Use Prepaid Celluar Phones
 Prepaid
cellular phones, unlike their more conventional counterparts,
do not require a commitment to a monthly service plan. Instead,
users prepay for air time much as they might buy long-distance
phone cards.
A prepaid cell phone comes with an initial number
of airtime minutes. When all minutes are used you buy more prepaid
airtime minutes (recharge) online or by dialing a toll-free number
on your phone. The purchased minutes are credited to your account
- programmed (added) in your cell phone - and are then automatically
deducted when you make calls.
Prepaid wireless services require that you purchase
some amount of recharge minutes and add them to your phone within
a specific timeframe, usually 30 to 90 days. Be sure to know how
often you must load new minutes.
When you approach the end of the your minutes, you probably receive
an automated warning. Using your phone, you can also check your
prepaid account to see how mamy minutes you have left.
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How Prepaid Cell Phones Work
To use prepaid phone service, you need a cellular phone, a service
provider, and prepaid minutes. Depending on your service provider,
you either buy a phone built specifically for prepaid service or
use your existing cellular phone.
Prepaid cellular service works a lot like the prepaid long-distance
calling cards that many companies offer. You purchase a prepaid phone
with a specific number of airtime minutes loaded. Then, when all of
those minutes are used, you simply buy more prepaid airtime by dialing
a toll-free number on your prepaid phone. The purchased airtime minutes
are credited to your account and are then automatically deducted when
you place and receive future calls.
After your airtime minutes are programmed into your phone, you can
use it whenever you like. Keep in mind that most prepaid plans require
you to use your airtime or purchase additional airtime within a specific
timeframe, usually 30 to 90 days. If you don't purchase additional airtime
within the specified timeframe, you run the risk of having your account
deactivated. Please, refer to your owner's manual or your prepaid carrier's
policies.
When you approach the end of your minutes, you receive an automated
warning. When you hear the warning, you know that it's time to buy more
minutes. Most prepaid cell phone models contain the airtime balance
display that shows how many minutes you use, how many minutes are left
and when you need to purchase and redeem more airtime, so you control
your costs.
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