If you are a student studying abroad in the US and have to make regular calls back to your home,you will be you are aware of how much it’s going to cost you. Regardless of the cost, there are a few things that you have to keep in mind before buying a plan that supports international calling.

Things To Consider Before Getting An International Plan

• Destination
  Which country are you calling to? Some plans are country specific. So make sure that the country you are calling to is included in the list of countries that the services provider has mentioned.
• Unlimited Plan
  If you are calling internationally on a daily basis then you need to take a plan that has an unlimited calling option. There are also plans that give you only a few minutes for some amount.
• Prepaid or Postpaid
  Choosing between these two depends on how frequently you make calls. If you use prepaid then there’s a risk that you might run low on balance and would not be able to call when you need to. Postpaid saves you the trouble of recharging again and again.

The Best Phone Services Suitable For International Calling

• AT&T
  There are two add-ons available for AT&T customers. The AT&T World Connect Value, and AT&T World Connect Value East Asia and India. The World Connect Value package costs $5/mo. It provides unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, and also provides reduced call rates to more than 225 additional countries. The World Connect Value East Asia and India pack is priced at $15/mo, and provides unlimited calls to China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and South Korea. You will also get the benefits of unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico, and discounted call rates to all other countries.
• Sprint
  There are two add-on options to choose from for Sprint users. The International Connect: Call and Text and Mexico-Canada Plus pack. The International Connect pack provides unlimited calls to landlines in more than 60 countries,unlimited calls to mobiles in 35 countries, and reduced call costs to all other countries, for $15/mo, per line. For $5, the Mexico-Canada Plus package gives you unlimited calling to both countries and discounted rates to all other countries.
• Verizon
  If you are using Verizon Postpaid plan of 12GB/mo or more, you get free unlimited calling to North America. You can also get an add-on pack for $5/mo to make unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada or an add-on pack for $15 to get unlimited calls to more than 40 countries.
• U.S. Cellular
  U.S Cellular customers have an option to choose from two add-ons. The $5.99/mo pack gives you unlimited calling to Canada and the $3.99 International Long Distance Plan gives you unlimited calls to landlines in Mexico and reduced call rates for up to 200 countries.

There are endless choices for people to get mobile phone plans in today’s wireless industry. Many reputed wireless carriers these days provide the connection with the smartphones. From the barebone tariffs such as Metro PCS, Boost etc., to unlimited expensive plans like AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile etc., it is all about identifying the best mobile plans and grabbing the best offers. Here are some real facts that would help you land the best phone deal ever.

1. iPhones have up to 40% off deals in many stores and through online websites apart from the retail Apple Stores. AT&T has almost 2000+ stores in the US. By visiting their web page, one will be able to locate the nearby stores.

2. There are many resellers and multiple carrier services, and it is prudent to buy from authorized resellers. Again, it is not mandatory because not every carrier is owned, and as the first priority is for the deals.

3. Best Buy is one such authorized retailer (store and online). Over here, used smartphones feature huge discounts as compared to the original, newly-minted pieces.

4. Target is the big box retailer amongst the many. Here the cell phone deals vary, and the season for deals is mostly June, July, and December. Phones with a service plan from Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T are an easy and great fit for the budget. While they don’t sell phones online, it shouldn’t be an issue, because there are nearly 1,700 stores spread across the continental US.

5. The world’s largest retailer store, Walmart, and its sibling company Sam’s Club feature great deals almost every day. For instance, in the year 2010, there was a huge offer on iPhone which no one else had come up with until then they were offering a 16GB iPhone 3GS with a two-year AT&T agreement for $97. So, before committing a deal, it is smart to check the prices at both the stores, and Sam’s Clubs usually has more offers.

6. eBay.com and Craigslist are generally the other best online stores to buy latest cell phones. The shopper should check the dealer’s rate and purchase smartphones. eBay.com features and stocks both used and new devices, also has offers on free phones and one can choose from many options before investing in any one phone. Used products are generally good enough but most of them will be out of warranty.

In the U.S the other brilliant deals for smartphones is to buy phones on contract basis. This is one of the best deals where one can get the latest headset along with a superb service carrier deal, like free calls and data, etc. With the many deals, one would find it hard to pick the exact combination of contract.

Cut down on your mobile bills by using the very best deals bestowed by the different services providers. Generally, people use top-billing providers such as Sprint, T-Mobile etc. However, there are different services provided that works with low-cost carriers plans, especially for users who don’t wish to be part of the family plans. They are known has Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOS).

Some of the best free phones and latest cell phones low-cost carrier providers deals are listed below:

FreedomPop: Their basic free plan starts with 200 minutes talk time, 500 MB data (each month) and 500 tests (every month). It is compatible with most unlocked GSM T-Mobile, AT&T. The interesting offer is that the user can cancel the connection anytime. Their 3-In-1 promotional plan includes LITE Simit includes unlimited talk and text with 1GB data trail, along with Premier Plus for $.99 service trail.

TracFone: With TracFone, one would get a mobile phone bill of around $10. One of their captivating plans is 800-minute airtime card that continues for a year for $99.99, which would come around per month $8.22. Red Pocket $10 Essentials Plan is also one of its kind. TracFone also has smartphone offers just like other popular service carriers.

Ting: Based on the use again, Ting service provider can catch hold of an average bill is $23 per month. It works with all phone CDMA and GSM networks.

Cricket Wireless: One can get unlimited talk time, text and data of 1GB speed for $ 30 by Cricket Wireless. Their promotional plans are usually published on their social media sites.

Twingby: Twingby tariff starts at $9. $30-month plan offers unlimited talk time and text, 2GB of data. Mostly the network is compatible with most phones. They even have special offers for RingPlus customers.

MintSIM: MintSIM is a classic hit. It provides T-Mobile network for certain months. New-new offers are always part of MintSIM. One of their regular plans comes with unlimited talk time, text and 2GB data for $199 or $16.58 depending upon their plan.

H2O: Having H2O Wireless is a greater advantage to get data of AT&T network. $27 gives 3GB of data, with unlimited calls and texts and also 50 international calling facilities. (These are some of the best AT&T promotional offers).

The fact is that even the richest network services like Sprint, Virgin etc. providers have best cell phone deals at low cost. The best mobile plans offer is chosen by analyzing the user’s needs. However, the local stores near your area and social websites of the service provider would have the latest mobile network promotional plans.

What makes Net 10 special?

Although you may have heard quite a lot about Net 10 phones, you often wonder what makes them so special. This is a product of one of the most renowned American companies, TracFone Wireless, thatis one of the number one companies as far as noncontract cell phones are concerned. So, read on ahead to know about all the features and plans that make Net 10 so special.

Introduction to Net 10

Net 10 is the most well known pay as you go prepaid wireless mobile phone service which does not require credit checks or contracts. They do not charge any fee for activation and have no bills that come in every month. Good news is that they do not even have an age criterion to get a connection. This is beyond doubt one of the most cost effective and flexible mobile phone service that provides you with access of nationwide web and unlimited texting and calling facility.

How much does this cost?

Net 10 mobiles that are wireless come as cheap as $29.99 (MSRP) and offer caller ID, voice mail and call waiting facility free of charges. All you need to do is purchase those Pay as you go Airtime cards that are prepaid as and when required.

How does this meet wireless requirements?

Net 10 provides service all over the nation, economic rates per minute and also provides long distance calling facility at no extra cost. This is an extremely simple and suitable wireless service found across the nation. This service also offers you International Calling Service.

Deposit free

Net 10 has no deposit charges even during initial activation that makes it affordable even for the common man. There are no monthly bills to pay also. The plan is free of credit checks too. This is what that makes Net 10 service so attractive for everyone across the nation.

Activation of the Net 10 30-day Package

After you buy yourself a Net 10 30-day plan card, you automatically get talk time and texting which is unlimited and high speed data according to the plan that you have purchased. And for setting up your auto refill Net 10-30 Day Plan, all you need to do is open the Net 10 Manage Your Time tab and opt for Net 10 Plans.

All the above-mentioned features make Net 10 phones and plan packages really special and popular across the nation in every sense of the word.

Choosing the best prepaid plan is as important as choosing the right mobile phone for yourself. In fact, you can buy a phone and get the services provided by the same company or use a multi-sim phone and use any network of your choice. Pay as you go plans can be selected according to your needs. If you want a voice call option, you can get a plan with more talk time minutes and fewer data and messages. If you want additional data services, you can get a top up that is exclusive for data and there are also plans that split the cost with family and friends. Here is the list of cheap and best prepaid service providers that you can look upon.

T-Mobile: The basic pay as you go plan begins from $3 per month which holds 30 minutes of talk time and texts and charges 10 cents per minute on over usage. They also charge an activation fee of $20 which will be waived once you buy a phone from them. Additional add-on data is available for people who need high-speed data, a daily pass of 500MB 4G data for $5 and weekly pass of 1GB 4G data for $10.

AT&T: AT&T used to be quite expensive, it took few years for them to simplify their offers. Now they follow a reasonable price structure availing offers to average customers as well. AT&T lines can be connected with any mobile that supports AT&T’s network. The lowest plan is for $2 where you will get unlimited talk time and texts with one-day validity. Monthly packs begin from $30 for unlimited talk and text with no data. There are separate plans for data from $45.

Verizon: The largest wireless provider stands by its name by spreading its wings even to the suburbs. They have the best prepaid plans for people who would like to enjoy 4G data. Data plans start at a minimum of $35 per month and unlimited data is charged with $80. The Verizon plan includes unlimited calls and texts for more than one devices and also a monthly data plan. The monthly charges differ according to the number of lines using the plan and also the data capacity.

US Cellular: US Cellular is a prepaid mobile carrier offering 4G LTE network worldwide. They come with their most flexible plans for texts, calls, data and also the usual triple plan so the user can customize their plans to individual needs. They also have the option to change their plan online from desktops, phones or tablets.

Pay as you go (PAYG) mobiles are simply prepaid mobile phone that you can own without tying any contracts with the mobile phone company. It is more flexible and convenient to use and offers a number of advantages to the customer. You pay in advance for the services you will be making use of like texts, calls, and data which mean you have the freedom to change or end the deal anytime. Hence it is sold hugely among people who do not make many calls, by youngsters who are unemployed and students who are away from home and wish to stay connected with parents.

Reason to choose PAYG
Pay as you go mobiles can help you to take control of your expenditure on phone without any monthly bills. To buy a pay as you go mobile is not a big deal as you just need to buy a phone and take a pay as you go sim to go with it or you can keep your old phone and buy a new sim and a pay as you go plan to top it up.

Prepay services
On the assumption that you have bought your prepaid mobile on credit purchase, you will have a time limit of 120 days from the date of last credit you added and if you have not paid the credit before expiration the remaining balance will get depleted through expiration. There is no compulsion to have a credit balance on your phone though some operators offer reward points for recurring top ups.

Advantages
They are very cheap to use, almost every network provider sells a pay as you go plan for their customer because it beats the sales of the post-paid phone as it is used only by business class people and folks who could afford to pay such hefty bills. Your money never goes a waste as you pay only for certain amount of services that you will use. They are free from contractual obligations, no early termination fee, you have the freedom to choose and change the plan or the provider whenever you want. As it is used mostly by people who are unemployed, without permanent address and credit card which makes them popular amongst travelers.

Major complications
You may not be that kind of a person who is always on phone but you might seem to pay more for calls and messages. The network might get cut while the phone is on roaming. Your services might be limited unlike the freedom you get in Post-paid phones, international calls may be blocked, there might be chances of connectivity issues and slowing down of internet speed when overused.

Suppose you stuck with the giant carriers then you can go for cell-phone service. It will make you glad to understand that, there is a series of pre-paid carriers, as well as MVNOs, which are alternatives and might use the giant guys’ towers. However, it provides you flexible plans with great pricing, and an awesome customer service. Here are four of the excellent plans, which rely on the nominations that you make.

Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile cell plans sit right at the top of the best heap and is a huge brand with promising numbers, whether it comes to number of customers, number of cell towers for great coverage or the number of countries it operates in. In the country of US, you can find that Virgin Mobile USA is a Subsidiary of Sprint, which operates their network. They have actually begun as an MVNO for a Sprint, but Sprint purchased Virgin. Since Virgin Mobile is necessarily an arm of Sprint, it gives you the access to latest devices and Sprint’s 4G LTE network. These people provide both pre-paid and monthly wireless plans at different price points, which include unlimited plans. Virgin also features great phone deals; for instance one can land up getting an iPhone 5S for a sweet deal with Virgin mobile.

Ting
Ting provides both options such as pre-paid as well as monthly option. It is actually a MVNO which leverages Sprint’s Network. These mobiles have gained a large appreciation which offers customizable pricing plans, where you can select the number of voice minutes you require, as well as text messages that you require without getting locked into plans that fits in only one part of your requirements but not others. The main aim of the carrier is to be too flexible to charge you only for what exactly you require, without forcing you to pay for what you never use. In case, you don’t use minutes or texts, they will simply credit it back to you.

Page Plus
Page Plus is found to be a national pre-paid wireless provider as well as MVNO that operates the Verizon Wireless network. The services also offer monthly plans, but it appreciates for its pre-paid plans, that arrive at different prices, no-useless agreements, etc. Similar to several pre-paid carriers, you can simply purchase the up-front right at the start of the month by purchasing refill cards or filling account from there.

Republic Wireless
Republic Wireless is found to be an affordable wireless carrier and an MVNO that provides Sprint’s network. The company provides both pre-paid as well as monthly plans, by keeping low calling plans as well as prices.