Tracfone

  

  A few years ago I begin to consider purchasing my first cell phone. I was once stranded and discovered that payphones were becoming obsolete. I couldn't find a payphone anywhere while stranded. So, I begin to research cell phone companies. First, I took a look at Boost Mobile. But, due to my lack of a steady income, I wanted to see if there was anything a little better. In my second search, I discovered Tracfone.

  After completely researching Tracfone, I discovered that this was the best option for me. Months later, I purchased my first cell phone from Tracfone.

Airtime cards

   When you first purchase a Tracfone you have to decide on which airtime car is right for you.

   Tracfone offers airtime cards in 60,120,200,450, and one-year formats. Depending on what type of phone you choose airtime cards can double or triple. Currently, I have a triple minutes phone. I usually buy airtime cards in the 60-minute format and it triples to 180 minutes. The price that I pay for this option is $19.99.

Airtime activation

   Once you have selected an airtime card you have to use the code located the back of the card. The code can be entered through the phone itself or online using the Tracfone website. Once the code is entered you will be alerted and your phone will be ready to use. You will know how many minutes and days of service you will have after you have been alerted. On standard phones, minutes available and days of service will be clearly displayed on the main screen. On smartphones, it can only be seen with an app or requested from the Tracfone website. Whether you use an app or the website you will receive a text message indicating the amount of minutes etc you have available.

This is how minutes and days of service are displayed on a standard phone.

Airtime expiration

   Airtime cards have to be purchased every 90 days. But, if you decide to purchase an airtime card before your old one expires, days will also be added. This makes it possible to extend the expiration date beyond 90 days.

This display is also an example of when days are added to the expiration date.

Phone selection is becoming better

   My first cell phone from Tracfone was a standard feature phone. At the time when I bought the phone, there were complaints here and there about Tracfone not having smartphones. As I begin to use my first phone and became aware of its capabilities, I complained as well. My phone performed well but it was very weak in the app department. I became disappointed because some of the apps seemed outdated and because the phone wasn't capable of using the popular apps that I was hearing about.

   Fortunately, Tracfone(as I hinted at earlier) now offers smartphones. I was lucky enough that they became available 7 months after I got my first phone.

   I bought my first smartphone from HSN and I am now enjoying all the popular apps from the Google Play Store.

This is my Samsung Galaxy Centura that I bought from HSN.

My opinion of Tracfone

   So far I don't have any regrets about using Tracfone as my cell phone provider. I haven't had any problems with call quality or reception. Their service is affordable, simple to use, and I haven't had a need to contact customer service. They appeal to me more than any other cell phone provider.

Overall

  

Using Tracfone as a cell phone provider is a wise choice. They are perfect for those that are looking for a phone to use in an emergency, minutes rollover, once activated you are given 90 days(instead of the typical 30) before it's time to pay again, smartphones are now available, users can select a new phone to purchase (instead of being required to wait) at anytime, and you don't have to have a steady income to use the service.

This was the balance that I requested from the website that was sent to my smartphone as a text message.