Jude 2

A customer comes into our store the other night and lays down a Page Plus Cellular phone on the counter while I'm ringing her up. I asked her about it because I know about their plans, but never saw anyone with one. Anyhow, she told me the monthly fee, unlimited text and talk, and said "why have a contract?" We sell prepaid top ups at the store (mostly Verizon and ATT).

Makes some sense. Got me to wondering ....... "why have a contract?" So, I looked around and saw Boost has a Blackberry plan with unlimited everything, including data, for $60 month including taxes. So, where's the hook? There's got to be some gotcha in there somewhere.

Any of you use prepaid? Any of you having problems with it if you're using data/web access? Coverage problems?

My wife has a Boost Mobile...no problems so far! None! I'm actually about to switch myself. Will never go back to a contract. Actually looking into Straight Talk...they have a $30.00 month plan that includes 1000 min, 1000 text, & 30 mb data....just not a huge phone selection. Straight Talk is supposed to be off the Verizon Network and they also have a $45 unlimited plan.

A down side is no family or share plans, not many good phones. Just depends on what you need and want.

What about reception in all areas?

Would love to switch to Boost - and looked at it - but they have absolutely no coverage in our area.

Their coverage map shows coverage in Missouri primarily along the interstates only.

Was hoping their all in one packages might spur some competition among the other carriers - but it's not looking good that way right now.

Boost piggybacks on the Sprint Network...thus the highway coverage in a lt of areas. Straight talk is off the Verizon network...check them.

I know Straight Talk is really Tracfone and Verizon...

However, yesterday I was driving with my uncle just below Elizabethtown here in Kentucky. We were on I-65. He has Straight Talk while I have Verizon.

He had no signal/no service most of the day while I had a full strength signal the entire time. I was using a Blackberry to boot which can be problematic with signals at time.

We were both basically using Verizon but the comparison was not even CLOSE.

I worked in National Reporting to the Presidents and Vice Presidents of Verizon Wireless so here is how this works. Airwaves (Frequency Blocks) are auctioned off in certain areas through an FCC auction. When I am traveling with my Verizon phone I use the Verizon network at a certain frequency (right now LTE will soon operate in the 700 Megahertz frequency when LTE is available) But, if I have a different company roaming on the Verizon Network I am offered a lower frequency plus my calls are given second priority over their carriers calls.

Recently I had switched to try Cellular South here in Mississippi only to travel outside of Mississippi and not be able to use their data network, not in TN, Not in KY, Not in VA, Not in WV, Not in PA, Not in Ohio, Not in SC, Not in NC. So far that is where I have tried I get a cell signal but no data allowed on roaming only in some areas.

Therefore, get a contact so you can make a call. Here in my house in MS Cellular South has their own tower up the road but a weak signal. I switched back to Verizon and I have 3 and 4 bars on my Droid (Which I soaked in water recently and still works). (Baked in oven on 90 degrees for 44 hours without battery and let sit on counter without battery for two days and it works like a gem).

Hope my rambling helps...lol

Well, I guess that pretty much answers it. But, Boost does say that they have no roaming charges ..... so seems like you'd have coverage everywhere even outside the Nextel/Sprint network???

UPS employees have a great discount with sprint. We have 5 lines, unlimited text and 1500 anytime minutes (which we never come close to using) for 99.00 per month. We got rid of our prepaid phones and land lines. Why get a contract depends on use and what contracts are available plus the prices of the phones.