Pay As Your Go Mobile

Getting a prepaid cellular phone plan can be a big advantage to those who don't have a lot of disposable income.  In fact, using a prepaid mobile phone is more popular worldwide than a contacted account.  Let's take a look at just how the pay as you go mobile works. 

With this type of cell phone plan, you purchase a cheaper phone that usually comes with a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and a credits card.  When you purchase your phone, you insert the SIM card and go through the setup options.  This varies slightly from company to company, but most cases will involve a simple phone call to activate everything.  This will not be taken out of your talk time.  During the setup process, you will be asked a few basic questions, and asked to enter certain number present on the cards.  This will include your initial credit card.  You normally do not have to provide any personal information to the company.  Once this is complete, your phone will be ready to go, you'll be given your phone number, and you initial credit will be added to your account.  You can then use your mobile phone until the credits supplied to you run out.  Observe that various plans carry different rates for minutes used and text messages sent.  The company will automatically count this up as you use  your phone, and once you have insufficient credits, you can either add more and consider the phone done. 

It is much easier to just add more credits to your phone. 

You can go to most major stores in the area and purchase a prepaid card, typically based on denomination.  For example, you can buy a $10 card, a $20 card, or a $50 card.  You will then call your mobile phone company, and give them the number on the back of the card.  This will add those credits to your account.  Once again, you will not be charged for the talk time used to add the credits to you card. 

Some companies are slightly adapting this standard method and allow you to purchase credits by the minute.  Instead of purchasing a card based on the amount of money you will be spending, you can purchase card that is worth 400 minutes, and add that to your account.  Things like text message will cost you a certain number of minutes off of your account. 

When your account is starting to get low on credit, it will normally inform you of this before you make a call.  Once your account has been exhausted, your phone will not work unless you add more credit to it.  You should also be aware of the time limits set by various pay as you go mobile companies.  In most cases, your credits will only last you about a month.  Once they have reached their time limit you will lose them.  Certain companies have rollover plans or longer time limits on your credits. 

There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to the pay as you go mobile programs.  Let's take a look at a few of them. 

The Advantages

• You will never have to worry about a bill with this type of cell phone plan, and neither does the company.  Since you pay for everything before you use it, you will not have to sign a contract or provide too much personal information.
  
  
• You can get them just about everywhere.  You can buy prepaid cell phones at grocery stores, department stores, even at petrol stations.  You can also purchase replacement minutes and credits at just as many locations. 
  
  
• This method of mobile phone service can be much cheaper if you don't use you phone that often.  Since you only pay for what you use, you'll never have to pay for more than your want to.
  
  
• Great for people who cannot sign a contract, namely those who are not of age yet.
  
  
• No address, no problem.
  
  
• Terrible credit, you're still good.

The Disadvantages

• These are rarely top of the line phones, and the ones that are will be very expensive.
  
  
• You will wind up paying more in the end if you use your phone a lot.
  
  
• Long distance or international phone calls may not be available.  Several pay as you go mobile plans only allow for local calling. 
  
  
• If you run out of minutes, you cannot be floated until you can pay it again. Once the credit is gone, you done til you add more.  Some European companies have provided a few Euro grace period, but it doesn't amount to much in the end.
  
  
• Web access will be very expensive, so don't count on a smart phone.

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