What's New?

7/22: Tracfone specials:
(A) Double minute one year card includes 1000 minutes through 7/22/2008 (has been extended several times)
 (B) One year card includes 600 minutes through 8/5/2008
(C) Moto w376g, bluetooth, camera phone, double minutes, $49.99

7/22: 2Q08 update
AT&T    -  72,900,000 total; 1,300,000 net adds
Verizon  -  68,700,000 total; 1,500,000 net adds 
Sprint   - 
T-Mobile -
Alltel      - 
U.S.C.    -
Unicel     - 

7/22: Virgin Mobile rolls out unlimited voice plan for $79.99/month. No contract. Does NOT include text or data. Limited to Sprint PCS network only.

7/22: Net10 rolls out unlimited voice plan for $79.98/month. No contract. Includes unlimited text. It's not clear whether roaming partners are included but it appears so.

7/20: OK, here is a CellGuru first. Brought to you by the good people that support the site by purchasing from my links and ads. I am giving away a Boost Mobile i425t. It was my Boost test phone for a few months and is in good shape. There are some light scratches on the display from being bounced around with my other test phones. Buy hey, free is free :)  Anyways here is the deal. The phone goes to whoever gives me the best suggestion for improving this website. The decision is mine although I will consult my team of gurus. The deadline for the suggestion is August 1st, the day the FCC rules on the Verizon Wireless/Unicel deal. The winner will be announced within a few days after that. SUBMIT HERE
(a couple rules: winner must reside in the US with a US shipping address, package will contain phone, SIM starter kit and charger, and will be sent via the ground shipping method of my choosing. If you want the entire packaging or a specific shipping method then the winner will pay any additional cost)

7/18: The FCC will finally vote on the VZW buyout of Unicel on 8/1.

7/18: Cleaned up coverage area charts.

7/17: Updated coverage report page.
NNY and Central Adirondack reports

7/10: Updated Prepaid Comparison Chart
Updated PagePlus info

7/9: I just ordered the Boost i335 so there will be a i425 available soon.

7/9: PagePlus has activated MMS, but at the staggering cost of 40c *PLUS* data ($1.20/MB). For the max size 500KB attachment the cost would be $1.  WAP is still being worked out but it will cost $1.20/MB. Along with this the $80 refill appears to be dropped and there are rumors of reduced value on the larger refills. Very disappointing.

7/8: Updated Hybrid Comparison Chart
Updated Verizon Inpulse: $100 card good for a year; daily charge only when voice call made or received [thanks Al]

6/22: Tracfone specials:
(A) Double minute one year card includes 1000 minutes through 7/8/2008
 (B) One year card includes 600 minutes through 6/30/2008
(C) Moto w376g, camera phone, double minutes, $49.99

6/22: Updated Prepaid Comparison Chart
Updated Boost info [thanks Berthold]

6/16: Apple announced the 3G iPhone last week but it will not ship until 7/11. Phone price is reduced by $200 but the data plan increases by $10/month (for a net cost increase of $40 over the two year mandatory contract). Many new features, but still no MMS for some reason.

6/16: Sprint revamps plans. Many of the new family plan options are cheaper than comparable offerings from AT&T and Verizon. Free Incoming plans were quietly deleted. At the low end you are still better off with prepaid.

6/16: PagePlus now has on-line account management (refills, features, call logs).  Still no MMS or data however.

6/16: Updated links page
[Added www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com]

6/5: It's official and has been a pretty well kept secret until yesterday. Verizon Wireless will purchase Alltel for a projected aggregate value of $28.1B, subject to FCC and DOJ approval of course.

6/4: Verizon Wireless in negotiations to buy Alltel for $27B

6/4: T-Mobile one ups the competition in the unlimited voice and text plan with "Family Time Unlimited". $150 for two lines and up to 3 more lines for $50 each

6/4: Updated Prepaid Comparison Chart
Reworded Tmobile airtime expiration terms. [thanks Sanford]

6/1: Boost Mobile will start charging 10c to receive texts starting 7/23.

5/21: Tracfone specials:
(A) Moto v170 $30 including 120 minutes and 90 days of service
 (B) Free shipping on phone & phone bundles of $35 and above through 6/30/2008.

5/21: Net10 specials:
(A) Refurb Moto v171 $19.99 including 300 minutes and 60 days of service
(B) Refurb Nokia 1600 $30 including 60 minutes and 120 days of service
(C) Free shipping on phone & phone bundles of $35 and above through 6/30/2008.
[thanks mharris127]

5/16: Tracfone specials:
(A) 1 yr 600 min $100 promo code 50376 exp 5/19 [expired]
(B) 1 yr 950 min $140 double min promo code 57349 exp 5/19 [expired]
(C) W370, access., double minutes, $50

5/15: 1Q08 update
AT&T    -  71,400,000 total; 1,300,000 net adds
Verizon  - 67,200,000 total; 1,500,000 net adds 
Sprint   -  52,800,000 total; -1,000,000 (net loss)
T-Mobile - 30,800,000 total;  2,100,000 net adds
  (total includes 1.1M from Suncom)
Alltel      - 13,170,000 total;     385,000 net adds
U.S.C.    -    6,200,000 total;     80,000 net adds
Unicel     -      790,000 total;      -1,000 (net loss)

5/8: Virgin Mobile and Helio are in merger talks according to several sources.

5/5: T-Mobile unleashes 3G in NYC.

5/5: Various rumors about Sprint PCS (1) spinning off Nextel and (2) about Deutsche Telekom making a bid (or hostile takeover)

5/5: Updated Prepaid Comparison Chart
Updated Hybrid Comparison Chart
Corrected various GoPhone data [thanks raderator]

5/4: Updated Prepaid Comparison Chart
Tracfone 70 minute card has expiration of only 60 days, causing the chart to change.

5/3: Tracfone specials updated. Mother's Day Bundle: LG 225, accessory pack, double minutes, free shipping, $49.99.

5/2: AT&T GoPhone Pay As You Go adds the $20/month unlimited data add-on (still unadvertised)

You can see previous news here