Dear Internets,

[opabinia]

[Edit: I have an answer. Thank you, Internets.]

Two hours of online research could reveal the answer to my question, but I seek it from those who carry it in their heads already. What is the state of the art in dirt cheap cellular telephone setups? I would like:

1. One telephone number
2. One voicemail box.
3. At least one, but preferably two, diminutive, portable telephones.

I do not need texting, scheduling, photography, or FTL capabilities. Just a phone.

(There is nothing wrong with my personal phone. This is for business stuff.)

Comments

[pat-man-ta.livejournal.com]

Do you want prepaid or a plan?

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

I think a plan would be better.

[magg1es.livejournal.com]

You could get two of these:

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Only if that's an actual size picture.

[xany.livejournal.com]

...depends on how big your monitor is.

[pir.livejournal.com]

One number to ring on two phones?
If you can't find someone to do it directly then once google voice opens up it can be set up to call two phones at the same time and have one voicemail box.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Neat. sirendipity brought this service up recently.

[dosboof.livejournal.com]

I know Verizon offers barebones phones on pre-paid plans only and I think a lot of other service providers might be the same way; the needless "extras" are how they squeeze enough money out of customers to become profitable. Which is not to say there isn't something out there that works on a plan that's not pre-paid, but I just don't know about it.

Your best bet might be to see if anyone sells unlocked refurbed phones from circa 2004 for dirt cheap. Like maybe this guy.

[lepidosiren.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I have opted to try eReceptionist (http://www.ereceptionist.co.uk/).

[ahaseurus.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why you object to a prepay plan - a typical contract price exceeds the prepay requirements in 2 to 3 months? I don't use my cell very much so a prepaid $100 lasts me for 10 months or so.

Very few cell users actually use up anything close to their contracted number of minutes, messages, or calls. A magazine article I saw said that the average contract plan user paid $0.35 (I think) or more per call if you divide contract price by calls actually made or received.

I don't know of any vendor which lets you have 2 phones with the same number. You can get a "family" deal but each phone has a different number. If you must switch back and forth you have to move the SIM card.


There are two popular prepaid plan formats:

I'm using ATT as an example
1) This plan is really for people like me who only use it a few days a month or at most a couple times a week.

prepay in blocks ($100 is the best deal) which is good for a year
$1/day that calls are made or received
$0.10/minute for air time
$0.20/text or buy in blocks for $10-20 at $0.025/text

2) This is good for someone who makes short calls most days but doesn't stay on the phone long
prepay monthly for $20 or so
$0.05/minute (I think)
no daily fee.
$0.20/text or buy in blocks for $10-20 at $0.025/text

Any of the plans let you add more on the fly by calling 611 or some such and giving them a credit card number.