Best Cell Phone Plan (Phoenix, Maricopa: sale, buy, costs)

[Havikats]

Hello again,
My husband and I will be in Maricopa in early November and plan on spending 6 months there.

We will be using cell phones, but researching them online is so full of legalize and other such stuff that it is really hard to determine which would be the best plan for us.

What we need is a plan which will allow us to call to Canada on occasion, has fairly good coverage throughout the U.S. and which we could (hopefully) suspend for the times when we return to Canada to summer.

Any input/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Or, in the very least, a pointer in the direction where to start.
Karen

[JustinH]

Calling international with a cell phone is usually expensive.

If you have a high speed internet line where you are, would you think about making skype calls?

They are basically free. I bought a 10 dollar usb phone to hook to the computer, and the call quality is pretty good.

[Havikats]

Thanks for the replies.
Justin, could you please tell me a little more about the $10 usb phone? Unfortunately Skype wouldn't be the best for us, or I would definitely do that.
TIA

[JasonS]

here is a skype phone

Amazon.com: Netgear SPH101 Skype Wi-Fi Phone: Electronics

[d2snow]

If you get an unlocked phone which uses the GSM network (AT&T or T-mobile) you can just swap out the SIM card and not be tied to a long-term contract.

Other than that, you're best bet is a pre-paid phone; those are usually inexpensive, basic phones and just buy minutes as you use them.

[luv_it_here]

T-Mobile has hands down the best pre-paid plan in the Phoenix area. It is your best option if you're looking for something you will use only part of the year. $100 for 1000 minutes, and they are good for the entire year. If you add more money throughout the year, the life of your minutes extends to one year out from the day of the additional purchase. Sometimes, Target puts them on sale where you can get a cheap-o phone, and the $100 card, for $88.

[Havikats]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. This gives me somewhere to start.

[JustinH]

Originally Posted by luv_it_here

T-Mobile has hands down the best pre-paid plan in the Phoenix area. It is your best option if you're looking for something you will use only part of the year. $100 for 1000 minutes, and they are good for the entire year. If you add more money throughout the year, the life of your minutes extends to one year out from the day of the additional purchase. Sometimes, Target puts them on sale where you can get a cheap-o phone, and the $100 card, for $88.

That is a great idea for MANY people who don't use the phone too much, or only use it for emergencies.

Thats a much better deal for my father, he is currently using a tracphone.

[CheyDee]

I use a magic jack for all of my local, long distance and overseas calls. You have to have high speed internet access though. It plugs into a USB port on your computer, into which you can plug in ANY regular telephone, even an old rotary. LOL. All calls to the US and Canada are included in the annual fee of $20/year. There are no time of day/hour restrictions and it comes with free call waiting, caller ID, etc. Nobody knows I am not on a "regular" landline. The reception is crystal clear.

If you buy it from the magic jack website, I think it costs $39.99 PLUS the $20 for the first year. I bought mine from QVC instead, because their price of just under $40 included the first year's $20 fee. I just checked QVC's website and they say it is out of stock. The item # is E02659 if you want to keep checking to see if it comes in.

Otherwise magicjack has their own site: magicjack.com.

[nikkzone]

Originally Posted by CheyDee

I use a magic jack for all of my local, long distance and overseas calls. You have to have high speed internet access though. It plugs into a USB port on your computer, into which you can plug in ANY regular telephone, even an old rotary. LOL. All calls to the US and Canada are included in the annual fee of $20/year. There are no time of day/hour restrictions and it comes with free call waiting, caller ID, etc. Nobody knows I am not on a "regular" landline. The reception is crystal clear.

If you buy it from the magic jack website, I think it costs $39.99 PLUS the $20 for the first year. I bought mine from QVC instead, because their price of just under $40 included the first year's $20 fee. I just checked QVC's website and they say it is out of stock. The item # is E02659 if you want to keep checking to see if it comes in.

Otherwise magicjack has their own site: magicjack.com.

Wow, that's a deal. We use another service for internet phone (VOP) kind of like Vonage. We pay 12.99 per month and thought we had a good deal. We get all free local and long distance, Voice mail, caller ID, call forwarding, etc, included in the service. I will have to look into Magicjack.