Cell Phone Free With Service

Cell Phone Free With Service

Generally speaking, there are two primary ways that you can get a cell phone for free, short of receiving one as a gift. To most cellular providers (Rogers Wireless, T-Mobile, etc.), there is much more money to be made in the actual cellular service rather than selling you a new phone. This can work in the favor of both the company and the consumer.

Free With Contract

Nearly ever major mobile provider will have a selection of free cell phones, provided that you are willing to sign a qualifying two- or three-year contract. The former is more common in the United States, whereas the latter is more common in Canada. Naturally, these free cell phones will not be equipped with the latest technologies, but they are still perfectly suitable for the average user.

Only a short while ago, the Motorola RAZR was an elite cell phone that cost an arm and a leg. Nowadays, you can often get one for free if you sign a contract. Yes, even pink RAZR phones.

Just because you're getting a cell phone free with service doesn't mean that you should sell yourself short! Shop around to see what all the mobile operators in your area are offering, because the selection of mobile phones will vary considerably. Some may even include MP3 cell phones! At the same time, ensure that you select a phone that you'll be happy with for the duration of your contract. After all, you're going to be stuck with it for two or three years; this is a pretty important decision. When you're done with your phone, consider recycling it.

Perhaps more important than the phone itself is the cellular phone plan. Be sure to read the fine print and get a good plan if you want to score the best cell phone deal.

Prepaid Cell Phones

If you're not quite ready to tie yourself down to a contract, you can sometimes get a free prepaid cell phone, though these are oftentimes for difficult to find, simply because the cellular provider is receiving no guarantee that you'll stick with them in the long run.

Although technically not free, one of the most effective ways to get an affordable cellular phone is to purchase a prepaid phone that comes pre-loaded with a certain amount of airtime. In this way, it's like you're just buying the airtime and the phone comes "free" as part of the package. All this said, handsets that are typically sold for prepaid plans are usually pretty low-tech and behind the times.

Many MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), like PC Mobile in Canada and Virgin Mobile in the USA, stick to being prepaid-only. They may not have the fanciest handsets, but their rates are usually quite good for casual users.

Cheap Cellular Phones

When you bump your budget up slightly from zero, a whole other world of opportunities becomes available. Free cell phones are great, but there are many (better) phones that can be purchased for less than $100. Check out some of these articles for more information on getting the best bang for your buck:

• Cell Phone Deals
• Buying Used Cell Phones
• Cheap Cellular Phones
• Buying Cell Phones on eBay