AT&T (frm. Cingular) is the largest GSM wireless provider in the United States. It
has one of the best and most reliable wireless phone networks.
AT&T has two prepaid plans, the first is pay as you go with unlimited
mobile to mobile, in which you pay a $1.00 access fee every day which
you use the service. The second has a base rate of .25 per minute. Both
plans feature text messaging at .05 to send and receive and wireless web
access at .01 per kb.
If you only use phone and text messaging and you value the strength of
Cingular/AT&T's network you are better off purchasing service from
NET10 which primarly uses Cingular/AT&T's network
and has a base rate of .10 per minute without the daily access fees.
If you use wireless web access and like the quality and flexibility of GSM
service then T-Mobile To Go is a better option
which offers cheaper rates without a daily access charge and with free wireless web.
Cingular/AT&T has a large portion of the wireless phone market share and
is focused on the contract plan market. Their prepaid customers are
primarily parents who are afraid their children will go over their
minutes on a contract plan, and those people who reach for the brand
name on the shelf without doing a price comparison. However, initial
equipment costs are reasonable, at or below the competition.
AT&T Go Phone is also a popular choice with American Idol fans because
Cingular/AT&T has an exclusive relationship where you can use their text
messaging service to cast votes.
