Try eating in a restaurant, driving along a freeway, watching a live sporting event or even walking down the street without seeing someone chatting on a phone. Prepaid programs have become so popular that the number of users in the United States is expected to jump from 2.5 million to 20 million in three years as more consumers learn about programs that let them pay up front instead of having monthly bills.
Service ends once the counter reaches zero minutes, but users can buy more minutes.
Sprint PCS has developed a hybrid of prepaid and traditional monthly service programs. Dubbed automatic spending limits, the program requires users to pay up front for a monthly plan instead of getting billed for it. However, unlike many prepaid calling plans, this one requires a credit check and a deposit. Determine the reason for getting a cell phone, experts say. Prepaid wireless programs make sense for people who want to have a phone in case of an emergency, such as getting a flat tire or running out of gas.