Need help from someone in the USA, regarding cell 'phones and plans over there

[Arkley]

Okay, a friend of mine in the US is going back to college and decided now would be a good time to get a cellphone. He asked me to help him choose one since I'm a huge fan of the devices and change mine every few months, but I'm having trouble with it.

I live in the UK, and things are pretty different here. First of all, prices for the phones & monthly fees in the US are absolutely absurd compared to the UK (makes me feel a little better about the price discrepancy between video games and consoles), so we're having trouble finding something he can reasonably afford - as I mentioned, he's coming out of work to go back to school, so the typical "$300 phone with $80/month plan" just isn't an option for him.

In addition to that, I can't make any sense of how pre-paid or SIM-only contracts work over there. "Pre-paid" seems to refer to a specific kind of cell-phone sold by a network (usually bottom-end useless models priced at $150~$200), but SIM-only contracts also seem to declare that you need to have a "compatible pre-paid phone".

Does that mean my friend must buy a specific model of phone listed under the provider's pre-paid options? Or can he buy any phone from any location, provided it's "SIM free/unlocked" and use that with a pre-paid or SIM-only contract?

 

[Arkley]

Bumping this, could really use a hand here, half the US sites won't even let me browse them from the UK without redirecting me to a UK site.

 

[A Satanic Panda]

From what I understand, an old phone I had was SIM compatible and is now-a-days really cheap, the Motorola Razr. But as long as the phone is "unlock" and can understand whatever network you plan on getting, you should be solid.

[link]http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-V3-Unlocked-Player-U-S-Warranty/dp/B0016JDE34/ref=pd_sim_cps_3[/link]

Maybe you don't want to buy from that link specifically if the reviews are to be believed, but that is what you should be looking for. Then you will just need the SIM card for any carrier you need.

I suggest a pay monthly SIM card if he texts and/or talks a lot. It would be a flat rate for a certain number of minutes and texts. If you go above them they charge you ridiculously by the text or minute. But sense he's on a budget then a pay as you use contract is better, he just needs to make sure he won't use it too much or it will end up being more expensive then a monthly contract. You would have to get on a contract either at a network's store or (I think) online in the US.

 

[Vorpal Chill]

American here.
First I want to say "Can you believe the prices?" Yea. It just sucks like many things here.

Generally they will try and shaft you. It actually depends on your carrier as to what phones are available. Pre-paid would be the way to go, but as an honest recommendation I would get a home or apt phone. In some states those can be as low as $20. I'm not really a phone person even though I have a cell on the lowest plan I could find, but I hope someone has the knowledge your looking for.