Contrack Killers

Man, I find it so hard to pay my cell phone bill every month.  For one, I don't make that much money.  Two my bill magically increases every other month.  Cell phones have become a necessity in today's world, and these companies out here know it.  We gone just call them the "Big 4 (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint)."  While we sit and drool over the next iPhone, Evo, or Galaxy phone with the newest technology, they are rubbing their hands together and practicing their oh so sinister laugh. 

We are so excited when we first get our new phones, but after a few months here comes the late payments, partial pays, and promise to pays.  Now your wondering how did the bill get this high.  Maybe it was that extra line they talked you into getting for your son or girlfriend for just $20 more a month.  Well after the $20 federal taxes, $4.99 local taxes, $4.99 for not paying directly from your checking account, $9.99 for paying your bill late (cause your only paying the pass due amount), $7 per phone line for insurance, and $10 just for having a smart you feel like you been knocked upside the head with a rubber mallet. 

Have you just ever been tired and wanted to go some place where "you won't pay a lot for this muffler?"  Well how many of you finally got fed up with one of the "Big 4" and went somewhere that didn't make you pay half your rent just to talk and text?  Well this will be about doing just that.  Let's talk about four small companies that will be a little more easy on your pockets.

Boost Mobile

Boost has moved beyond promoting its walkie-talkie feature and viral "Where You At" campaign.  The company has expanded is marketing by targeting a young, urban demographic to gain a broader audience, spanning ages 25 to 45, Boost has also ranked pretty high in customer service performance.  With the recent addition of ClearWire's 4G network, Boost is now targeting people looking for 4G speeds with no strings attached.

There aren't a lot of plans at Boost.  Instead of rationing out minutes and data to its users, Boost offers unlimited talk, text, email, and web.  A monthly Android plan costs $55, while BlackBerry users will pay $60.  They also have a shrinkage option.  This will shrink you bill $5 every six months if you pay the bill on time.  You can end up paying as little as $40 a month for phone service.  Boost has Nationwide coverage because it uses Sprint's 3G network and it's WiMAX 4G network.

Boost Mobile currently offers a pretty nice selection of phones, including the BlackBerry Curve 8530, the Samsung Replenish and the ZTE Warp.  The HTC EVO Design 4G is their premier smartphone right now.  Overall people searching for 4G speeds without the hassle of a two-year contract will definitely want to check out Boost Mobile.  It's a solid choice for a no contract Android phone.

Cricket Wireless

Originally, Cricket Wireless aimed to be a regional alternative to contract carriers, but it has expanded to target a wider range of budget conscious people across the U.S.  Right now, the carrier has about 6.2 million users, both on its own networks and through a roaming deal with Sprint.  Expect that number to keep growing.  Especially with the iPhones now on board.

Cricket offers a music focused plan called Muve Music, which features unlimited song downloads via an app preinstalled on your phone. Music is stored on a specially encrypted SD card that can fit about 3,000 songs.  Cricket's service is available nationwide, but its deployment is split into two channels.  A CDMA/EVDO network in 35 states around the U.S. and roaming with Sprint in other major cities.

No 4G for Cricket users unless you live in Tucson, AZ, the only city where the carrier currently provides 4G LTE services.  However Cricket has signed a deal with ClearWire to provide 4G roaming for two-thirds of its current network within the next two to three years.

As part of its core plans, Cricket offers a $55 per month smart phone plan.  This gets you unlimited talk and text , but only 1GB of 3G mobile data.  The top Android Muve Music plan is $65 per month for unlimited talk, text and web for smart phones, though it's worth noting that if you exceed 1 GB of data, Cricket may throttle you.  Where Cricket isn't available natively, you can sign up for its $55 monthly Android Muve plan, which includes email, data backup and app store access.  This plan caps you at 1,000 U.S. minutes for calling, but you get unlimited texts and the same 1GB of data as you do with the core plan.  With the iPhone 4 or 4S Cricket guarantees 2.3GB of full-speed data per month.  After exceeding that, you speeds may be slowed.

Cricket used to be just a decent option for those interested in making the switch to a no contract carrier, but now the carrier has a weapon to wield with killer appeal: the iPhone. 

U.S. Cellular

U.S. Cellular boasts that it has the happiest customers in wireless due to its broad network and unique reward structure that's available with the carrier's Belief Plans.  You can get a new phone in as little as 11 months.  U.S. Cellular offers both contract and prepaid plans, though not all of its smart phones are available without a contract.  The carrier recently began rolling out its 4G LTE network and plans to cover 54% of its 5.9 million customers by the end of the year.

U.S. Cellular offers a reward program that gives customers monthly points based on their plan, points for customer longevity and points for referring friends and downloading apps.  Every 1,000 points redeemed takes one month off the standard upgrade time, so customers can get a new phone in as little as 13 months n a single line, with some phones costing just a penny.  Points may also be redeemed for accessories, ring tones or to cover an overage charge on your account.

Plus, if you're out and about and your phone battery dies, you can visit any U.S. Cellular store and swap it out for a new, fully charged battery, as long as you're not using a prepaid phone.  Thanks to roaming agreements, U.S. Cellular offers nationwide 3G voice and data and doesn't charge customers roaming fees. 

Text messaging is unlimited when added to any prepaid or postpaid plan.  Unlimited voice is available, but data is capped at 2GB for prepaid and a generous 10GB plus tethering for all contract based plans.  Monthly and prepaid plans both include free incoming texts, including picture and video messages.  The most least expensive prepaid plan for a smart phone cost $40 a month, which includes 450 minutes, unlimited texts and a minuscule 200 MB of data.  for $60 a month, you get 2GB of data, or you can up-grade to a top level prepaid plan with unlimited voice an messaging and 2GB of data f0r $70 a month. 

The most basic smart phone plan with 450 minutes, unlimited messaging and 2GB of data cost $74.99 a month, though users can get up to 5% off by signing up for automatic billing on any plan.  Unlimited voice and messaging with 2GB of data runs $114 a month, but this plan will allow you to upgrade your phone after 13 months.  If you reach for your smart phone to surf the web more often than to make a call, you'll likely want to upgrade to a 4GB, 5GB or 10GB monthly data allowance. 
Additionally, contract customers receive free incoming calls, unlimited mobile to mobile, nights and  weekends starting at 7 p.m. and coverage protection.

Though there's only one Windows phone available, the HTC 7 Pro, but U.S. Cellular offer numerous Android phones.  They also have a few tablets available with contracts too.  U.S. Cellular's stable of devices is more advance than other small carriers, but its pricing is more in line with the Big 4.  However, the company has spent years building up a strong customer service reputation.  I love that users can control their own smart phone destiny by earning points to get a new device in as little as 13 months, and newer phones are offered with prepaid plans.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile Unlike other small carriers such as Cricket Wireless, Virgin Mobile doesn't offer plan with a bunch of bells and whistles. However, Beyond Talk subscribers enjoy free access to Virgin Mobile Live, which allows uses to stream studio and live performances from past and present Virgin Mobile Festival Artists.

Virgin Mobile offers nationwide service via Sprint's network, covering major metropolitan areas on the West Coast, as well as most of the Northeast and the Midwest. However most of the country enjoy barely any coverage at all.

Even among small carriers, but Virgin Mobile's plans are cheap.. First off are the Beyond Talk plans, which includes unlimited data and messaging. For 300 anytime minutes unlimited texting and data, you'll pay just $35; 1,200 minutes and unlimited texting and data cost $45 a month and $55 a month gets you unlimited data, texting and talk time. These plans include 2.5GB of full speed data; once you hit that cap, you may get throttled speeds. You can get hotspot capability for $15 a month extra, if you get a phone that has that capability.

Virgin Mobile became the second small carrier to carry the iPhone 4S. You can also get the HTC EVO V 4G, HTC Wildfire S, LG Optimus V, Motorola Triumph and Venture. If you're looking to stay connected for the smallest monthly fee possible, it's hard to beat Virgin Mobile.  "Now that's real spit done done done......" Gangstalicious