TidBITS#889/23-Jul-07
=====================
Issue link: <http://db.tidbits.com/issue/889>
Perhaps it's the lingering glow of the iPhone launch, but this
week's issue focuses on talking on the phone. First up, Joe Kissell
reports from Paris on how he chose a Mac-compatible handset that
works with Skype and discusses other devices that may work for you.
Next, Tom Schmidt sorts out the confusing world of prepaid cellular
phone plans and discovers that for many people this route is much
more convenient and affordable than expensive monthly contracts.
Also in this issue, Joe notes the release of FileMaker Pro 9, and
Adam both points to MyFirstMac, a Web site with Mac information
that's perfect for helping new users, and welcomes our latest
sponsor, Parallels.
Articles
Parallels Sponsoring TidBITS
FileMaker Pro 9.0 Released
MyFirstMac: Help For Mac Newbies
Choosing Mac-Compatible Skype Hardware
Prepaid: Cell Phone Plans for the Rest of Us
Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/23-Jul-07
------------ This issue of TidBITS sponsored in part by: --------------
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Special thanks this week to Roy Flanders, Raymond Mensing,
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* FETCH SOFTWORKS: Fetch 5.2 introduces WebView, the easy way
to view files in a browser and copy Web addresses from Fetch.
Also with FTPS support, droplet shortcuts, and more.
Download your free trial version! <http://fetchsoftworks.com/>
* WebCrossing Neighbors Creates Private Social Networks
Create a complete social network with your company or group's
own look. Scalable, extensible and extremely customizable.
Take a guided tour today <http://www.webcrossing.com/tour>
* Bare Bones Software's BBEdit 8.6 -- Latest version offers a
major interface overhaul, new prefs, text clippings, improved
JavaScript, new Ruby/SQL/YAML/Markdown support, code folding.
Over 160 new features in all! <http://www.barebones.com/>.
* MARK/SPACE, INC: The Missing Sync provides the very best in
synchronization for Mac users with BlackBerry, Palm OS, or
Windows Mobile devices. Integrates with Address Book, iCal,
Entourage, iPhoto, and iTunes. <http://www.markspace.com/bits>
* Microsoft's MacBU: Supporting Mac users with Office 2004.
Supporting the Mac community through tech support newsgroups,
user group appearances, our new team blog, and more!
Check out our team blog at <http://blogs.msdn.com/macmojo/>
* VMware Fusion. Say goodbye to the Windows desktop and run any PC
program on your Intel-based Mac just as though it were a Mac app.
50% off for a limited time - Only $39.99 - Buy Online Now!
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/vmware-fusion.html>
* New Parallels Desktop 3.0: Run Windows on your Mac natively!
We erased the border between the Windows and Mac worlds.
Exclusive $10-off for TidBITS readers. Buy now for only $69.99!
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/parallels.html>
---------- Help support TidBITS by supporting our sponsors ------------
Parallels Sponsoring TidBITS
----------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9084>
We're pleased to welcome our latest long-term sponsor, Parallels,
makers of the popular Parallels Desktop virtualization software that
enables an Intel-based Mac to run Windows XP, Windows Vista, and
other PC operating systems.
<http://www.parallels.com/>
Back in 1991, the Macintosh world watched - and reaped the benefits
of - a huge competitive battle in the field of compression software.
As each company strove to outdo the others, traditional archiving
software like StuffIt was supplemented by programs like AutoDoubler
that compressed files during idle time and then expanded them
quickly when necessary. Hard disks were tiny back then, and although
increased hard disk sizes eventually eliminated the need for
background compression programs, it was amazing to see how quickly
strong competition caused each company to improve and innovate.
I'm reminded of those times when I look at the virtualization field
today. After Apple announced Boot Camp in April 2006, Parallels
followed with the first release of Parallels Desktop in May 2006
(for our review, see "Parallels Desktop: The Switch Is Complete,"
2006-06-19). Joe Kissell brought out his "Take Control of Running
Windows on a Mac" ebook late in May 2006, and since then, he has
been working non-stop to keep up with updates from Parallels and
Apple, and new entrants VMware Fusion and VirtualBox.
<http://db.tidbits.com/article/8567>
Much of that work has been in tracking developments with Parallels
Desktop, which has gone from a public beta to version 3.0 during
that time, adding features that make it possible to share partitions
with Boot Camp and run Windows programs alongside Mac applications
without displaying the Windows desktop. Those efforts gave Parallels
a huge head start, but with VMware Fusion coming on strong, I'm
excited to see what Parallels comes up with next. For right now,
though, note that Parallels has an exclusive offer for TidBITS
readers: $10 off the just-released Parallels Desktop 3.0, bringing
the price down to $69.99.
<http://www.tidbits.com/about/support/parallels.html>
Thanks to Parallels for their support of TidBITS and the Mac
community!
FileMaker Pro 9.0 Released
--------------------------
by Joe Kissell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9085>
Filemaker Inc. has released FileMaker Pro 9.0, a major update to its
line of database applications. Among numerous new features are a
Quick Start screen, which gives less-experienced users an easy way
to open or create databases; Conditional Formatting, which
dynamically alters the formatting of fields based on user-defined
rules; and the capability to connect to external SQL databases such
as MySQL, Oracle SQL, and Microsoft SQL Server.
<http://www.filemaker.com/mac/>
As usual, FileMaker Pro comes in several different editions.
FileMaker Pro 9 retails for $299, with upgrades available for $179.
FileMaker Pro 9 Advanced, which adds customization options and
development features such as a script debugger, costs $499 new or
$299 as an upgrade. For sharing databases with groups of users,
you'll need one of the FileMaker Server products: FileMaker Server 9
($999 or $599 to upgrade) if the clients are primarily other
FileMaker Pro users or FileMaker Server 9 Advanced ($2,499 or $1,499
to upgrade) to support up to 100 simultaneous Web users using
Instant Web Publishing. The two Server editions include a new Admin
Console to simplify management of any FileMaker Pro server, plus a
PHP Site Assistant and API that enables PHP-driven Web sites to use
information in a FileMaker Pro database.
A 30-day demo version of FileMaker Pro 9 is available; it's a 273 MB
download. Also available is a trial version of FileMaker Server 9
Advanced, a 157 MB download.
<http://www.filemakertrial.com/>
MyFirstMac: Help For Mac Newbies
--------------------------------
by Adam C. Engst <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9080>
Long-standing publications like TidBITS face the problem of an
ever-evolving audience. After all, most of you have been using Macs
(and reading TidBITS) for years, and we use that fact when writing
to tailor our choice of articles and our assumptions of what you
already know. But if you know someone who is just getting started
and may not yet be up to reading TidBITS each week, we've run across
a new site you can recommend. MyFirstMac, created by long-time
TidBITS subscriber Chris Kerins, offers crisp, concise articles that
are perfectly targeted to the person who is considering a Mac, has
just purchased one, or is still getting comfortable. Major sections
include Before You Buy, Getting Started, Switching from Windows,
Mastering the Mac, News, Your Stories, Q&A, and a series of short
"How Do I...?" tutorials. You're unlikely to learn much you didn't
already know, but MyFirstMac's content is ideal for your neighbor or
elderly relative who's been asking about the Mac. And if you want to
contribute, MyFirstMac is looking for pros to answer questions and
write articles.
<http://www.myfirstmac.com/>
Choosing Mac-Compatible Skype Hardware
--------------------------------------
by Joe Kissell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9081>
A recent thread on TidBITS Talk mentioned the wide array of hardware
devices one can use with a Skype account, the fact that many of them
have limited Mac compatibility, and the dearth of information
available to help Mac users choose among them. Since I recently went
through the exercise of researching (and eventually purchasing) such
hardware myself, I wanted to share my own experiences. I admit that
my criteria for selecting telephone hardware are atypical, but I
suspect that many of my findings will be generally useful
nonetheless.
<http://emperor.tidbits.com/webx/TidBITS/Talk/1384/>
<http://www.skype.com/>
My own switch to Skype as a primary means of telephone communication
was prompted by my recent move to France. Before the move, my wife
and I looked long and hard at our telephone needs, since we knew
we'd be spending lots of time on the phone with people back in North
America. I'd resisted Skype for a long time because my only
experience with it involved being inconveniently tethered to my
computer with a wired headset, and I felt that the process of making
and receiving calls exclusively with Skype would be needlessly
inconvenient. But when I looked at Skype's prices compared to other
providers, and the range of available hardware options, I realized I
had been operating under some misconceptions. I could have a fairly
painless telephone experience with Skype if I put the pieces
together in the right way.
That decision made, we signed up for two personal SkypeIn numbers
(plus one for our business) at $60 each per year, allowing us to
receive phone calls from ordinary phones at U.S. phone numbers. We
also got prepaid SkypeOut accounts, which let us make outgoing calls
to ordinary phones (in every country we currently need to call) at
2.1 cents per minute. (Unfortunately, the terms of service for Skype
Unlimited, which costs $29.95 per year for unlimited calls to the
United States and Canada, don't permit its use from outside North
America.)
**Sifting Through the Hardware Options** -- That left hardware - what
sort of apparatus we'd use for audio input and output and dialing.
This was a challenging puzzle to solve. The range of options is
immense, but every piece of hardware required one or more tradeoffs
among price, quality, and convenience. One consideration that
factored strongly into our thinking was overall compactness. We'd
decided to take with us only what could fit in our luggage in order
to avoid the expense and hassle of shipping our possessions across
the ocean in some other way, so eliminating bulk and weight (as well
as any nonessential electrical items, which would require special
adapters) was key.
Here are the options we considered and why we decided what we did:
* Wi-Fi handsets. Several different Skype-compatible Wi-Fi handsets
exist (from SMC, Netgear, Belkin, Linksys, and Panasonic). They look
and work pretty much like cell phones, except that they rely on a
Wi-Fi network instead of a cellular network and give you access to
your Skype account for both incoming and outgoing calls without
requiring a computer at all. (Even though we brought four Macs with
us to Paris, we thought it would be nice if they needn't be turned
on, awake, and running Skype all the time just so we could receive
phone calls.) Retail prices of these handsets range from about $160
to $360, though I've seen some discounted below $100. We knew we'd
have Wi-Fi and plenty of bandwidth in our French apartment, so any
of these would seemingly have done the trick, giving us all the
convenience of regular cordless phones. Some of them can also
recharge via USB, eliminating the need to pack a separate AC
adapter. But even $100 (for each of us) was a bit steep, especially
considering that all the currently available models have received
decidedly mixed reviews. Users have complained about everything from
audio quality to battery life, and we got the distinct sense that
this whole product category was in a somewhat shaky first
generation. This may prove to be an ideal option in a year or two,
but for now, we felt the investment was too risky.
<http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_USA&cid=14&scid=78&pid=1564>
<http://www.netgear.com/Products/CommunicationsVoIP/Skype/SPH101.aspx>
<http://www.belkin.com/skype/howitworks/>
<http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1165633354712&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper>
<http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&itemId=106041&modelNo=KX-WP1050&surfModel=KX-WP1050&catalogId=13401>
* Cordless phones. Another option would have been any of several
cordless phones (from Philips, Netgear, and Linksys) with base
stations that plug directly into an Ethernet connection. Like Wi-Fi
phones, these eliminate the need for a computer - a big plus. The
reviews I read suggested that their audio quality was higher and
problems were fewer, while the price was comparable (ranging from
about $150 to $180 at retail). All that was tempting, but it was
still more than we wanted to pay - and there was still the problem
of all those extra pieces of hardware (the base stations and the AC
adapters).
<http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/catalog/product.jsp?language=en&country=US&catalogType=CONSUMER&productId=VOIP8411B_37_US_CONSUMER>
<http://www.netgear.com/Products/CommunicationsVoIP/Skype/SPH200D.aspx>
<http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1165633354987&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper>
Having ruled out the Wi-Fi handsets and cordless phones, we realized
that we'd be stuck with devices that would require the use of a
computer. However, we still had a wide range of options:
* Headsets. I already own a perfectly serviceable, Skype-compatible
USB stereo headset with a microphone, the Plantronics .Audio 85. It
has excellent sound quality for both input and output. But the cords
drive me crazy. I don't mind so much when I'm sitting in front of my
computer having a video chat, but I like to walk around while I'm
talking on the phone. Besides, dragging out the headset and putting
it on every time I had to make or receive a phone call - and using
the on-screen interface to dial - wasn't my idea of convenience.
Besides wired headset models from Plantronics, Logitech, and several
lesser-known manufacturers, numerous wireless headsets exist
(Bluetooth and otherwise). But the wireless models were a turn-off
for me because of the need for an extra piece of apparatus (the
charger) and the fact that none of the affordable models has sound
quality adequate for speech recognition (something I'm playing with
more these days). And even without the cord, I didn't feel like
putting on a headset for every phone call.
<http://www.plantronics.com/>
<http://www.von-phone.com/logitech_premium_usb_headset_350.php?cat=120>
* USB Phone Adapter. The Yealink USB-RJ11 Skype Adapter, which enables
an ordinary corded telephone to be used for Skype calls, was another
Mac-compatible device I considered. However, using this would have
meant packing more hardware (the phones themselves and, if
necessary, their base stations and AC adapters), so it wasn't ideal
for us.
<http://www.von-phone.com/usb_skype_phone_adapter.php?cat=120>
* USB Speakerphones. If we had been so inclined, we could have
selected any of several USB speakerphones, including one that
doubles as desktop stereo speakers and one styled like a
conventional office telephone. Since we generally prefer to keep our
conversations private, we opted to ignore these.
<http://www.von-phone.com/artdio_skype_speakers.php?cat=120>
<http://www.von-phone.com/usb_desktop_skype_speakerphone.php?cat=120>
* USB Handsets. Available in both corded and cordless varieties, USB
handsets have a keypad, microphone, and speaker (and usually an LCD
display), just like most ordinary telephones. You can set them up so
that they ring when a call comes in; you answer them (and dial
outgoing calls) pretty much as you would with a conventional phone.
They do require that your computer be turned on, awake, and running
Skype, which may or may not be an inconvenience. But beyond that,
this entire category of devices has one serious problem that the
other categories don't: Mac compatibility is limited. Although we
ultimately purchased corded USB handsets, that decision involved a
number of interesting issues.
Simply performing the analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog
conversion of sound to operate the microphone and speaker,
respectively, is not problematic: plenty of USB audio devices work
brilliantly on any modern Mac without any extra drivers or other
software at all. It's the connection to Skype in particular that
requires software mediation - software is needed to take the input
from the buttons on the handset and send them to Skype, or to tell
the handset to ring when a Skype call comes in, for example. And few
USB handsets offer such Mac software.
**Choosing a Handset** -- Skype's Web site lists three Mac-compatible
USB handsets (all corded): The USRobotics USR9601 USB Internet
Phone, the Simplyphone Classic, and IPEVO's Free-1, with software
download links for each. Of these, only the USRobotics model was
actually for sale on Skype's site, and at $57.95, it seemed awfully
expensive for what it was. So I decided to look elsewhere.
<http://accessories.skype.com/info?page=help#question_14>
<http://www.usr-emea.com/support/s-prod-template.asp?loc=unkg∏=9601>
<http://www.simplyphone.lu/>
<http://www.pchomehw.com/free-1bw.html>
A Google search led me to VON-Phone.com, which features a page with
Mac-compatible Skype devices of all sorts, along with instructions
and software download links. We decided to get two different Yealink
corded models, both fairly basic (but also fairly cheap): a USB-P1K
for $22.95 and a P8D for $29.95. I would have liked something
cordless, of course, but a handset cord bothers me much less than
headset cords, and in any case, the cordless options involved
greater expense and more physical components than I preferred.
<http://www.von-phone.com/mac-compatible-skype-phones.php>
<http://www.von-phone.com/usb_skype_phone_with_lcd.php?cat=120>
When the two phones arrived, I immediately installed the software
and tried both of them out. The USB-P1K worked; the P8D did not - it
appeared not to recognize the Mac software at all (or vice-versa). I
sent an email message to VON-Phone.com, and the owner replied that
he had just tried out the phone on his own Mac and had the same
problem. He offered to send me a different Yealink model, the P5D,
and didn't even mention that it sold for $10 more; I brought that up
myself and offered to pay the difference. He sent the new phone the
same day without waiting to get the old one back, and even included
a postage-paid envelope for me to return the one that didn't work.
Shortly thereafter, the P8D was removed from their list of
Mac-compatible devices. That experience gave me warm fuzzy feelings
about VON-Phone.com; it's exactly the way good customer service
should work.
<http://www.von-phone.com/yealink_p5d_skype_phone.php?cat=120>
**Hardware and Software Experiences** -- Both of these phones use
software from Yealink called SkyMACMate to enable the phones to talk
to Skype - meaning that both programs must be running in order for
you to use the handsets. SkyMACMate version 1.0.0.12 is a functional
but unimpressive little program. Its single window gives you volume
controls for speaker and microphone - and nothing else. If you want
it to run all the time, you have to add it to your Login Items list
manually. I'd have preferred a background application that was
completely invisible, with a preference pane to adjust the settings
if necessary. (Note that you must also configure Skype to use the
handsets for input, output, and ringing by choosing USB Audio Device
from each of the three pop-up menus in the Audio pane of Skype's
Preferences window.)
With the software installed and running, the experience of using the
two phones is remarkably different, despite their superficial
similarities. With the USB-P1K, the handset is essentially a remote
control for Skype's on-screen interface. That is to say, pressing
the arrow keys makes the Skype application scroll through its
contact list, and certain other keys similarly "pass through" to the
equivalent buttons in the Skype windows. Numbers you dial on the
phone's keypad do show up on its LCD display rather than on the
screen, but otherwise it's somewhat disorienting to use the handset
when you also have to look at something on your computer. The P5D,
on the other hand, functions much more like a regular phone. Its LCD
display lists the names in my Skype contact list, and I can scroll
through them and call any of them without ever having to look at my
computer screen.
Both phones have respectable, though not stellar, sound quality.
They're about what you might expect for under $30: cheap plastic
devices without a lot of attention to style, detail or extra
features, but as corded phones go, we've found them entirely
adequate.
I'm a bit less happy with the software situation. SkyMACMate is not
a universal binary, though I'm unsure how much of a performance
penalty that produces on my MacBook Pro. I've read numerous reports
of problems with this software, but they appear to occur mainly with
the use of the USB-RJ11 Skype Adapter mentioned earlier, rather than
with handsets like we have. I have experienced a couple of random
crashes, and there is some evidence to suggest that a memory leak is
at fault, but as long as I quit and relaunch the program once a day
or so, it seems to behave. Ordinarily I'd say that's more bother
than I'd be willing to go through on behalf of poorly written
software, but the other options available to me (such as replacing
this with an entirely different brand) would also involve some
bother, not to mention expense. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a
software update.
**The One and the Many** -- Having done still more research since
making my purchase, I've become aware of some interesting facts
about Mac-compatible USB Skype handsets. Yealink, a smallish Chinese
OEM, is the manufacturer of both the Simplyphone and USRobotics
handset models, among numerous others, all of which use the same
software - though Simplyphone rebrands theirs as CallMe. (The
Yealink name, by the way, doesn't appear on their phones; some of
them have the Radian brand and others, like the USB-P1K, are
unbranded. The USRobotics USR9601 handset is the same as the P8D I
had difficulties with, though it's unclear whether their branded
version has any electronic differences that may enable it to work
while the ones available from VON-Phone.com don't.)
Clearly, Mac software is not Yealink's core focus. But if you're
unwilling to use the SkyMACMate software, you significantly reduce
the number of Mac-compatible USB handsets from which you can choose.
Other than Yealink-manufactured brands, I'm currently aware of
several IPEVO models; the Keyspan Cordless Skype Phone; a few phones
from Futiro; the Cyberphone W Mac (seemingly available only from the
UK); and the Miglia Dialog+. I've tried none of these yet, so I
can't comment on their performance or the robustness of their
software.
<http://www.pchomehw.com/>
<http://www.keyspan.com/products/vp24a/homepage.spml>
<http://www.futiro.com/>
<http://www.skypestyle.com/cyberphone_w_mac.htm>
<http://www.miglia.com/dialogplus/>
Of course, I'm certainly in the minority in attributing such great
importance to limiting the number, size, and weight of my gadgets.
If you don't mind having an extra box or two, a USB phone adapter
may be more to your liking, and if your budget is higher than ours
was, you can bypass the Mac software issue entirely by buying one of
the cordless Skype phones that plugs directly into an Ethernet
connection.
Prepaid: Cell Phone Plans for the Rest of Us
--------------------------------------------
by Tom Schmidt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9082>
In 1984, Apple released the Macintosh, touting it as "the computer
for the rest of us." It was revolutionary in bringing ease-of-use to
personal computing. At its release, the iPhone has done the same for
cellular phones by adding touchscreen control, widescreen iPod
functionality, and improved Internet communications in one svelte
package.
The iPhone's release not only forced other phone makers to change
their ideas of how a cell phone should operate, it also highlighted
the often confusing ways cellular providers charge for phone and
Internet access. AT&T, the sole provider for the iPhone in the
United States, assumes that if you're paying up to $600 for a phone,
you probably need a large number of included minutes - and are
willing to pay a hefty monthly fee. The required 2 year service
commitment starts at $59.99 per month, which includes 450 minutes of
talk time and unlimited data access. That's too expensive for some
people, while others don't need anywhere near the included 450
minutes of talk time at that price. What's needed is a "cellular
plan for the rest of us," which would enable infrequent callers to
enjoy the other great features of the iPhone.
Fortunately, such a plan exists, although not officially for the
iPhone (but read on for a way to get around that limitation).
Inexpensive prepaid cell plan options are available right now in the
United States that work with less-capable phones.
**Explaining Prepaid** -- With prepaid cellular, you pay for your
minutes in advance instead of receiving a bill for usage after the
fact each month. As you use your phone, per-minute or per-text
message charges are deducted from your account. When your account is
empty, or at the end of its time limit, you simply add more funds.
Some prepaid cellular providers also offer monthly plans that work
more like the contract plans for heavier use, but without the bill.
Prepaid monthly plans can make sense for more frequent use, since
they tend to be less expensive per minute than prepaid per-minute
plans, but they can also be more expensive than a comparable monthly
contract plan.
Prepaid cellular is ideal for those who don't use most of the
minutes on their monthly cellular contracts or for people who simply
want an inexpensive cell phone in case of emergency. Most of the
included phones are simple and inexpensive, and not capable of
handling email, Web browsing, and other data services. There is no
contract to sign with prepaid cellular, no bill to pay, and no
obligation to stick with a single provider for any length of time.
You can cancel or switch at will, though switching providers will
require getting a new phone.
If you currently have a monthly contract plan, the easiest way to
see if prepaid cellular is right for you is to check your previous
bills. If most of your minutes went unused, chances are a prepaid
plan would fit your lifestyle and your wallet much better. Although
10 to 25 cents per minute may sound like a lot, if you use only 100
minutes of airtime in a month on average (about 3 minutes per day),
10 cents per minute works out to $10 for that month.
[Editor's Note: Tonya and I switched to Virgin Mobile's prepaid plan
several years ago when I realized that in all of 2005, I had used
only about 450 minutes, and Tonya hadn't come anywhere close to my
level of usage. The per-minute charge on the monthly contract plan
may have seemed low, but the amount we ended up paying per minute of
actual usage was insanely high. Do yourself a favor and do the math.
-Adam]
**Comparing Prepaid Services** -- As with any service it's a good idea
to compare different providers, but with prepaid cellular that's
often easier said than done. To help you get started, I take a quick
look at the major players and provide links to their Web sites so
you can check their current pricing, which does change.
There are variables other than price you should check as well.
Several prepaid cellular providers place an expiration date on
minutes, which equates to highway robbery. With these providers you
lose your purchased minutes if not used in a certain amount of time
after purchase, usually 30 to 90 days. Other providers, more
reasonably, never expire purchased minutes as long as the account
remains active. A few fall in between.
Coverage can vary greatly, especially in rural areas. Many of the
prepaid cellular providers piggyback on the cell networks of other
major providers, so it's absolutely worth figuring out which network
each provider uses. Then check with friends and local cellular
stores to figure out which networks work best in your area.
The process of adding funds to your account can vary from one
provider to another, and even from one plan to another with the same
provider. For a few, the only way to add funds is to purchase a
prepaid card in a store, but most offer automatic credit card
deduction options or the capability to add funds directly using the
phone, or sometimes both. Automatic credit card deduction is
undoubtedly the easiest approach to adding funds, but that may not
always be appropriate if you're working on a limited budget or
funding a phone for a child.
I first researched prepaid cell phone plans back in 2002 for my
father-in-law, who needed an inexpensive cell phone for his job
driving cars between dealerships all over the area. Looking into the
topic again five years later, it's great to see that prepaid
cellular plans have become more consumer-friendly, less expensive,
loaded with more options, and with fewer hidden surprises. Prepaid
cellular in the United States was pretty new in 2002, and most of
what was available was just as expensive or more than the cheapest
contract plans. Back then, I did a lot of research and found one
provider that was different: Virgin Mobile. Nowadays, there are many
more providers, but Virgin Mobile remains a top choice.
**Virgin Mobile USA** -- Adam amusingly calls the $20 Kyocera K10
Royale he uses his "teenage girl phone" because of the way Virgin
Mobile targets a young, hip audience. I too ended up using Virgin
Mobile USA, a joint venture of Richard Branson's Virgin Group and
Sprint Nextel, first with a Kyocera Party Animal and now with a $50
Audiovox Snapper. The company offers a variety of mostly inexpensive
phones at Target, Best Buy, and many other stores, although it's
just as easy to purchase one directly from Virgin Mobile's Web site.
They have exclusive tie-ins with MTV, VH1, and Comedy Central for
content, marketing mainly to teens and twenty-somethings. Virgin
Mobile was the first prepaid cellular provider to offer simple plans
that did not expire, and has developed a word-of-mouth following
among older folks. For a minimum of $20 every 90 days, or $15 if you
register your credit card for automatic payments, you get the basic
plan of 18 cents per minute and 5 cents per text message. Funds
added accumulate as long as the account remains active and do not
expire, and there are no multi-year commitments. Virgin Mobile
offers a wide variety of plans - two per-minute plans and six
monthly plans for more frequent use. Coverage is nationwide using
the Sprint PCS network with no long distance or roaming charges.
<http://www.virginmobileusa.com/>
**Boost Mobile** -- Boost Mobile, owned by Sprint Nextel, is another
prepaid cellular provider that markets to the same "active youth
demographic" as Virgin Mobile, albeit with a more urban tone. One
thing setting them apart is that many of their phones can use the
Nextel walkie-talkie feature. Boost offers a variety of plans to
choose from as well, with one per-minute and three monthly plans
with no long distance or roaming charges. On the per-minute plan,
paying at least $20 every 90 days keeps the account active with no
expiration; minutes cost 20 cents for local and long distance, or 10
cents per minute on nights and weekends and mobile-to-mobile calls.
Unlimited use of the walkie-talkie feature costs $1 for each day
it's used. Automatic payment via credit card can be set up for when
the balance reaches $5 or less, but there isn't an every-90-days
option as there is with Virgin Mobile, which means you have to watch
the renewal date. The three monthly plans cost $30 (no included
minutes; 10 cents per minute), $50 (400 minutes, which works out to
12.5 cents per minute), and $70 (600 minutes, or 11.6 cents per
minute). Coverage is nationwide using both the Sprint PCS and Nextel
networks, and phones are available at Best Buy, Target, and other
locations as well as the Boost Mobile Web site.
<http://www.boostmobile.com/>
Two more monthly plans, Unlimited by Boost, are currently offered
only in Texas and California. For $55 you receive unlimited minutes
with a 15 cents per minute roaming charge and 10 cents per text
message sent, and for $60 you get unlimited minutes and unlimited
text messaging with 15 cents per minute roaming. Unlimited by Boost
phones do not support the walkie-talkie feature.
**TracFone** -- The first nationwide prepaid cellular provider in the
United States was TracFone. TracFone uses several cellular networks,
and it's not at all obvious whose network they use in a particular
area. I'm not entirely sure what their rates, plans, and payment
methods are (other than the ubiquitous prepaid cards seen in most
any convenience store or drugstore) because of their
difficult-to-navigate Web site, but it appears that minutes cost 20
cents each when purchased in bundles of 50 ($10) or 100 ($20)
minutes. There are also several plans that add minutes
automatically, also at 20 cents per minute. TracFone has had some
customer service issues over the years. In February 2007, a class
action lawsuit settlement was approved over customers being assessed
roaming charges while they were in their home area. Again it's
impossible to say for certain, but it appears TracFone no longer
charges extra for roaming or long distance. Phones are available at
Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, and other stores as well as the TracFone
Web site. Overall, I wouldn't recommend TracFone.
<http://www.tracfone.com/>
<http://www.wagnercase.com/>
**NET10** -- NET10, whose slogan is "Pay as you go made simple," is a
second brand created by TracFone. Like TracFone, NET10 uses several
cellular networks. However, the NET10 Web site is easier to
navigate, yielding the information that paying $30 every 60 days
keeps basic service active with no expiration; minutes cost a flat
10 cents each. You can add funds only via prepaid cards, not
automatic credit card deduction. There are no monthly plans. Long
distance and roaming is included at no extra charge. NET10 phones
are available at Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, and other stores as well
as the NET10 Web site.
<http://www.net10.com/>
**AT&T** -- The big national cellular providers also sell prepaid
options. AT&T's GoPhone service offers four monthly Pick Your Plan
plans and two per-minute Pay As You Go plans. The Pick Your Plan
monthly plans are similar to, but less expensive per month and more
expensive per minute than, their contract plans, starting at $29.99
for 200 minutes at 15 cents per minute and going up to $69.99 for
650 minutes at 10.8 cents per minute. The Pay As You Go per-minute
plans start at $15 for 30 days; one has a $1 daily access fee when
used but costs only 10 cents per minute, whereas the other costs 25
cents per minute. Both include rollover minutes that do not expire
for one year from the purchase date as long as the account remains
active. Monthly payments are automatically billed to your credit
card, and per-minute plan funds can be added with a prepaid card or
by calling customer service. There are no roaming or long distance
charges. Phones are available in AT&T stores and on the AT&T Web
site as well as at many other AT&T retailers.
<http://www.wireless.att.com/gophone/>
The iPhone is not officially offered as part of GoPhone, but the
service becomes available if the credit check at activation in
iTunes fails. As Erica Sadun of TUAW found out, you can force a
failure by entering 999-99-9999 as your social security number. The
prepaid GoPhone packages available for the iPhone cost between
$49.98 and $89.98, and include between 200 and 650 rollover minutes,
unlimited data, and Visual Voicemail; the more expensive plans also
include night and weekend minutes and mobile-to-mobile minutes.
Erica also learned that it's possible to use the SIM card (and thus
the plan) from another AT&T/Cingular phone in your iPhone; it's a
major hack, but could be worth trying. Not all iPhone features, such
as Visual Voicemail, may be available if you go this latter route.
<http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/02/iphone-prepay-the-right-way/>
<http://www.tuaw.com/gallery/iphone-prepaid-gallery/296285/>
<http://www.tuaw.com/2007/07/18/iphone-disposable-cellphone-prepaid-cards-new-activation-t/>
**Verizon Wireless** -- Verizon Wireless has an INpulse per-minute
plan and two EasyPay monthly plans that seem comparatively
overpriced. The INpulse per-minute plan charges a $1 daily access
fee when used but only 10 cents per minute, and offers various 30-,
60-, 90-, and 120-day renewals starting at $15 and with expiration
dates that go up with the amount you pay. There is also a $35
activation fee. EasyPay features a $50 plan that provides 350
minutes (14.2 cents per minute) and a $70 plan that includes 700
minutes (10 cents per minute). It's easier to find the details than
with TracFone's Web site, but Verizon Wireless publishes a lot more
information that occasionally contradicts. Roaming costs 69 cents
per minute, while long distance is included. Payments can be billed
automatically to your credit card or paid directly from the phone
with a pre-registered credit card. Phones are available in Verizon
Wireless stores, at Circuit City, at many Verizon retailers, and on
the Verizon Web site.
<http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/prepay/>
**T-Mobile** -- You can maintain T-Mobile To Go for as little as $10
every 90 days. Monthly plans are not available. T-Mobile To Go is
easily the simplest of the prepaid cellular plans offered by the
three major contract providers, but it's still a bit tricky to
figure out. You can purchase minutes in $10, $25, $50, or $100
chunks, varying the per-minute rate from 30 cents per minute down to
10 cents per minute. Minutes purchased for less than $100 expire in
90 days, but once you have purchased $100 worth of minutes, they
don't expire for a year after purchase. Long distance and roaming
are included, and phones are available at T-Mobile stores, Target,
Kmart, Wal-Mart, and many T-Mobile retailers as well as the T-Mobile
Web site.
<http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/default.aspx?plancategory=4>
**ET Phone Home, Prepaid** -- If you've never considered a cell phone,
are tied into a contract you aren't taking full advantage of, or are
just looking to pay less for cell service, prepaid cellular service
is likely a good choice for you. Virgin Mobile has the best variety
of plans that work well for almost anyone, from the emergency phone
user to a frequent talker. Boost Mobile offers a bit less variety,
but the Nextel walkie-talkie feature can be handy if you and several
friends sign up together. AT&T focuses mainly on monthly plans that
are a bit pricier than their comparable contract plans (and of
course it's the only service that's compatible with the iPhone),
while T-Mobile and NET10 offer only per-minute plans that differ
mostly in how much you must pay to keep the service active and if
minutes expire.
[Tom Schmidt is an aspiring writer and a service technician at First
Tech Computer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.]
<http://homepage.mac.com/tomdar2/>
PayBITS: If Tom's research helped you save on your cell
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Hot Topics in TidBITS Talk/23-Jul-07
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by TidBITS Staff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
article link: <http://db.tidbits.com/article/9083>
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