Jim,
If you have a 7-Eleven nearby, check out their SpeakOut phones. They are
GSM using the Cingular network, and a $25 refill lasts a YEAR. They charge
$1.25 month, and you need to use the phone once every 120 days, but it's
cheaper than Virgin, lasts a year, and it appeasr would have better
coverage. Minutes are .20/min.

I had nothing but problems with Cingular prepaid, but switching to SpeakOut,
I get the same network, cheaper rates, no charge for voice mail calls,
better customer service, and refills last a year. You can manage the
account online, too! If you use a lot of minutes, T-Mobile is even better.


Bill Radio
Click for Wireless Reviews at:
http://www.mountainwireless.com




"Jim Burks" <jbburks@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hGBZg.15981$OE1.9583@tornado.ohiordc.rr.com.. .
> Now, the are adding $5/month for TDMA surcharge, and
> TDMA goes away the end of next year.
>
> EVEN IF I BRING MY OWN GSM PHONE they won't
> move the account from TDMA to GSM without switching
> to a $39.99 or higher plan.
>
> Guess I'll switch mom to Virgin Mobile. They have a
> pay as you go plan that's effectively $20/quarter, so
> I'll be saving $$. Only downsides are that it's CDMA,
> and on the Sprint network, so coverage is spotty off
> the highways.
>