Wal-Mart StraightTalk by TracFone

Click Here for Straight Talk Information
 

A new plan from Wal-Mart is a pretty good deal for $30 for a maximum of 30 days. Called "StraightTalk" it offers 1000 anytime minutes, 1000 text/multimedia messages, 30MB of data, and unlimited 411 calls, for $30, with a 30 day expiration. You can also choose unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited text messages, 30MB of data, and unlimited 411 calls, for $45, with a 30 day expiration.  You have a choice of three basic handsets and you can't use other handsets. The service is on Verizon's network only, with no roaming, even at extra cost, so it won't work in places like Alaska, or in many rural areas where CDMA coverage is provided by smaller carriers. Not sure about tethering. The PagePlus Unlimited service is  probably a better choice at about $33/month for unlimited voice, unlimited texts, and 20MB of data.

One advantage of StraightTalk is that in the event you run out of minutes or texts prior to the 30 day expiration period you simply reset your account for another 30 days and you don't pay high overage charges. With Talk n Text, if you run out of minutes or texts prior to the monthly reset date then you pay a lot for minutes and texts.

You can think of this as a $30/month plan or a $45/month plan, but it really is simply a regular prepaid card with a 30 day expiration.

Remember, no roaming. There are a lot of non-urban areas, and some urban areas such as Anchorage and Fairbanks in Alaska, where you will have no coverage. Ditto for places like Yosemite National Park in California, and a lot of Oregon.