Thursday, August 7, 2008

The Success of Prepaid Phones

Prepaid Cell Phones is one of the most innovative inventions of the twentieth century. People can find an individual anywhere in the country through calls, text messaging, and the mobile internet. When the cell phone first came on the scene it was targeted to doctors and other professionals. Those in this league paid around $1 per minute, so the number was not on business cards or anywhere else that someone could call without a real good reason. Cell Phones companies then revamped their target audience to the mother with children who might need to make an emergency call for help, such as a car breaking down on a snowy night. The rate was $19.95 per month for 30 minutes. Finally, someone realized that people wanted to be cut from their home phone cord, and made the cell phone available to the average person. The problem came with the deposits that some companies required. Some went as high $1200. Further, per minute charges was still high since block plans had not come out in full force yet. Therefore people who could not afford to pay these astronomical deposits and monthly bills were forced to be left behind technologically. Those with bad or no credit had no available options until cell phone companies came up with the prepaid plan. Consumers paid a higher rate than the average consumer, but at least they could have a phone. Cell phone companies began to target college students with the plan, since most did not have the credit to establish normal monthly service. Since this innovation, companies also started using this option for their sales reps out on the field, and as a benefit to their employees. The prepaid cell phone is great for those who want to keep their phone bill at a specific amount per month. With the advent of the free nights and weekends, users are hard-pressed to find a difference in the prepaid vs. normal cell phone service. In 1987, the monthly average of a U.S. cell phone bill was $96.85; in 1998, it was $39.43.

Mobile Phone Innovation

Do you remember the days when a cell phone was just a cell phone? You pulled it out of your pocket to make a call and that was about it. Now your cell phone can take pictures, send text messages, play music, become your personal organizer, play games, and even function as your GPS.

I'm not talking about the GPS chip embedded into all current cell phones. That GPS is only present to help emergency crews locate you in the event of an emergency. I'm talking about new Smart Phones that actually integrate with new GPS devices, allowing you to receive voice guided driving directions, trip planning, toll road avoidance, on the fly off-course rerouting, and now even real time-traffic information that will allow you to reroute to avoid heavy congestion. And for the cell phone purist, these new phones can even make and receive phone calls!

And just like other new GPS systems you'll have access to a huge database with points of interest. Need to know the nearest gas station? No problem. You can also find the nearest restaurant, movie theater, and even a parking garage - which is especially helpful if you're in an unfamiliar city. And if you happen to be somewhere where you don't have a detailed map - no problem - this isn't just a GPS unit, it's a Smart Phone so you can download the map you need. The new SmartPhone GPS devices can easily replace your in-car navigation system.

If you like to buy a Prepaid SmartPhone please visit GRLmobile.com