The Pros and Cons of Prepaid Mobile Phones

The mobile choices on the market today can seem complex and confusing when struggling to decide which mobile is the right choice for you. Arguably the most important decision being between prepaid or mobile phone plans.

This choice between using a prepaid mobile and selecting a mobile phone plan is certainly a matter of preference for the user, but there are a number of things to consider before you decide either way.

Prepaid mobiles are a PAYG - pay as you go that are shown as ideal for those who either are on a tight fiscal budget or for people that are locked in to a specific spending level like with mobiles that are used for work purposes or teenagers which use mobile phones. In a normal prepaid kit you receive a mobile number, access to the network and a certain amount of "credit" to use. This credit is the basis for the prepaid mobile industry as if you happen to run out of credit, it's easy to buy some more credit and keep using your phone.

This pay as you go system is as very different to the 12 to 24 month terms that are offered with mobile phone plans which are based on a fixed monthly spending limit that has to be paid which allows the user to a certain amount of mobile usage. The cost of the handset may also be included in the monthly fee and there are exit fees attached when wanting to leave your mobile plan early.

One main benefit of prepaid is that you can control your spending on your mobile bill without any additional charges such as late bill payments or high unexpected fees. Knowing what your outlay is makes this a popular choice for work phones and teenagers.

Prepaid phones come equipped with great value for calls and texts with some offering free calls and other bonuses. This can be an ideal choice for those who don't make a lot of phones calls or simply have an "emergency phone. Even if your credit has run out, you can still receive calls and messages and dial emergency services.

It is important to note that credit does have an expiry date , sometimes a month, sometimes six months depending the carrier you are with. For example, most prepaid phones have a starter credit pack of approx. the $30 level, which entitles the user to around $200 worth of calls, text, etc., which would expire within a month of the purchase date.

One disadvantage of prepaid mobile phones is that most of the time international roaming may not be available. This means that overseas use is not an available option. One way to get around this is to buy an overseas SIM card that will allow you to make calls whilst overseas.

The decision between a prepaid mobile phone and a mobile phone plan should ultimately come down to what your calling habits are like. If you make a high number of calls and texts and use your phone a great deal while also enjoying additional features, then there are a number of plans available that cater for such users.