compare pre-paid mobile cell phone plans before you buy

The market for pre-paid cell phones is very crowded, and the various companies that sell them are taking advantage of the confusion that creates.

For example, if you compare just on the cost per minute, you could end up making a mistake. Some providers charge an additional dollar per day over and above the per minute charge. With such a variety of carriers, like T-Mobile, ATT Go Phones, Net10, Tracfone, Virgin, etc, it's also even hard to tell who offers service in your area....

Fortunately, there are some online resources that simplify the comparison process: Phonedog.com offers a comparison tool that allows you to specify your zipcode, and narrows the search to just those phones that work in your area: Phonedog Comparison Tool About.com has a "chooser" tool for pre-paid cell phones at: About.com comparison tool Be sure to look carefully at the per-minute charges, per-day charges, etc.

Another idea would be to look at this article on flat-rate cell phone plans. These plans charge a flat rate for unlimited calls, with no contract.