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Not too many people get pre-paid smart phones. The plan choices are pretty thin on the GSM side. You've basically got T-Mobile or Straight Talk, depending on

Not too many people get pre-paid smart phones. The plan choices are pretty thin on the GSM side. You've basically got T-Mobile or Straight Talk, depending on the network coverage in your area.

mseebach 13y ago
Chicken and egg problem. There are no (few) pre-paid data plans because there were no (few) contract-less phones. Now one end of the equation seems to be loosening up, the other can be expected to follow.
- bruceb 13y ago
  There are actually more pre-paid plans than post paid plans. Not as well advertised of course but of the top of my head: Ptel, Straight Talk, Virgin, Boost, Revol, Metro, H20, Page Plus
jeffasinger 13y ago
AT&T also has an option, called AIO Wireless. There are many other smaller players that are either T-Mobile or ATT MVNOs.
- dublinben 13y ago
  The AIO Smart plan is $10 more per month than a better plan from Straight Talk (on the same network).
  - what_ever 13y ago
    $5 in most places as tax is included in AIO. Also, does Straight Talk offer LTE as well? I think AIO comes with LTE. I also liked AIO's $70 plan as Straight Talk is limited to 2.5GB of 4G data on the unlimited plan. (I use Straight Talk but was thinking about getting Nexus 5 which comes with LTE)
    - pa5tabear 13y ago
      Yes, people on r/nexus5 are saying they got LTE activated without much issue. I'm planning to switch to ST when my AT&T contract expires.
- pkulak 13y ago
  And GoPhone. There's plenty to choose from.
jrockway 13y ago
T-Mobile's prepaid plans are pretty wonderful, though. If you have infinite money and need 50Mbps wireless access anywhere in the US, then of course you get Verizon. But if you just want a phone that works in major cities, then T-Mobile can't be beat. (I've used both, and I did love my unlimited data on Verizon through my employer. But T-mobile is half the cost and just as good for how I use my phone.)

Not too many people get pre-paid smart phones. The plan choices are pretty thin on the GSM side. You've basically got T-Mobile or Straight Talk, depending on the network coverage in your area.

mseebach 13y ago

Chicken and egg problem. There are no (few) pre-paid data plans because there were no (few) contract-less phones. Now one end of the equation seems to be loosening up, the other can be expected to follow.

bruceb 13y ago
There are actually more pre-paid plans than post paid plans. Not as well advertised of course but of the top of my head: Ptel, Straight Talk, Virgin, Boost, Revol, Metro, H20, Page Plus

jeffasinger 13y ago

AT&T also has an option, called AIO Wireless. There are many other smaller players that are either T-Mobile or ATT MVNOs.

dublinben 13y ago
The AIO Smart plan is $10 more per month than a better plan from Straight Talk (on the same network).
- what_ever 13y ago
  $5 in most places as tax is included in AIO. Also, does Straight Talk offer LTE as well? I think AIO comes with LTE. I also liked AIO's $70 plan as Straight Talk is limited to 2.5GB of 4G data on the unlimited plan. (I use Straight Talk but was thinking about getting Nexus 5 which comes with LTE)
  - pa5tabear 13y ago
    Yes, people on r/nexus5 are saying they got LTE activated without much issue. I'm planning to switch to ST when my AT&T contract expires.
pkulak 13y ago
And GoPhone. There's plenty to choose from.

jrockway 13y ago

T-Mobile's prepaid plans are pretty wonderful, though. If you have infinite money and need 50Mbps wireless access anywhere in the US, then of course you get Verizon. But if you just want a phone that works in major cities, then T-Mobile can't be beat. (I've used both, and I did love my unlimited data on Verizon through my employer. But T-mobile is half the cost and just as good for how I use my phone.)