A prepaid phone plan is a great way to get cheap service. If you are looking for a very basic phone just to make calls and text you may be able to find one for as little as $20! The more features that you are looking for will determine the price. It really depends on what you need in a phone. People who have a tendency to lose track of their minutes and talk for a really long time can also benefit from a prepaid phone because they won't rack up lots of fines from their service providers. These phones are also great for cheap overseas calling. Most other countries use GSM technology. This simply means that it takes a "SIM card". Search for "quad band phones" to find good solutions for prepaid phones to use internationally.

Most electronics stores and cell phone shops offer free or highly discounted phones for people who are willing to sign new contracts. If you're after a regular service contract, then taking advantage of these new promotional offers is the best way to go. There are some benefits to service plans, including locked-in lower rates and generous allotments of minutes for the money. Prepaid phones are also cheap, and you can get insurance for them too. This depends on your service provider. Most prepaid phones will come with a manufacturer's warranty to protect against defects, however, you may or may not be able to protect the phone against accidental damage or theft with an insurance product. You will want to call the service provider and ask if you are interested in this.