Virgin Mobile pre-paid is the way to go for a regular cell phone. You do
need to spend $20 every 90 days. (That is less than $7 a month).
http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
The first 10 min of a day is 25 cents a min then all the rest that day is
10 cents a min. There is no roaming and long distance /local makes no
difference. They run off the Sprint network. You can add money over the
phone (you have to link a debit or credit card to it), with a "top up card"
or you can call them and use your credit card.

If you just want a phone for emergencies look at a Tracfone, they have a
$100 a year plan. Spendy to use but if you just want to feel better with a
phone this may be it.

Rob
becidawa@hctc.com

At 2/15/2005 04:26 PM, you wrote:
>I use AT&T Cellular block time.
>I buy $100.00 at a time, actually $111.00 with the taxes.
>I get approximately 600 minutes local or long distance for that $100.00.
>I think they throw in bonus minutes with higher block purchases.
>I'm still subject to roaming fees if I dial from an area more distant that
>100 miles from base.
>Sometimes the 600 minutes last 4 months and sometimes 2 months.
>It's not a bargain.
>The rate is supposed to be $0.25 minute for local and long distance.
>I can add time from my computer or by dialing from the cell or payphone.