Sprint's Boost Mobile offers service at half-price on clarkhoward.com

The price points for cell phone service just keep getting lower all the time. In the latest twist, Sprint has made a tweak to its Boost Mobile sub-brand that makes it more of a value than ever.

When Boost Mobile first launched, the service routed its calls on the antiquated Nextel network. But the big news here is that Boost Mobile is now running calls on Sprint's own network.

Why would you pay $100 to Sprint for unlimited calling when you can pay $50 for the same thing through their Boost Mobile subsidiary?!

Similarly great deals abound all throughout the cell phone world these days. Clark's guide to cheap cell phone plans details some of the best offerings. In brief, these include Straight Talk at $30-$45 for unlimited calling and Metro PCS and Cricket at $30-$40. Metro offers a family plan for four lines starting at $100 that is available in-store only.

The industry's landscape changes so fast that Clark thinks we may see unlimited calling for as little as $20 by 2011! So don't sign any long-term contracts with a cell carrier or you could miss out on the coming deals.

What others are saying

Straight Talk Signal
I have had straight talk since August, the signal at my house is usually at max bars. There have been two weekends in the last month where I get no signal at all where I live. I was wondering if maybe Straight Talk is not paying Verizon for the use of the network??
By Steve Palmore @ 03/17/10 06:48:45 PMreport abuse
StraghTalk still tops
Dear author,
You can't even say MetroPCS or Boost and StraighTalk in the same breath. They are a class apart. Those companies' reception is spotty outside urban areas.

Straightlk is carried on the Verizon Network ranked top serviced coast to coast by Consumer Report Magazine. It's very well priced at placed like Walmart, Target or Best Buy at $45 a month for unlimited text, talk and 30G Data or $30 monthly with a 1000 minute limit - and most people use less than 600 minutes a month. Plus, StraighTalk not only offers an array of great telephones, it even includes the Finesse for $329, a handsome touchscreen similar to the iPhone for half the price. StraighTalk is all value!!!
By mariella @ 02/26/10 10:06:23 AMreport abuse
NET 10
Net 10 now offers a $50 unlimited voice text. Need to buy from a target store. CK info at nte10unlimited.com.
By S @ 02/25/10 04:55:27 PMreport abuse
Shopping 4 cell phone
I narrowed down my phone choices to two carriers: StraightTalk and Boost. I finally went with ST as my friend who went the other route (thanks to her!) has many complaints about shotty reception and dropped calls. I am very happy with ST, especially the price tag of $45 for unlimited.
By Annette @ 02/24/10 11:33:05 PMreport abuse
Really?
I have Straight Talk as while and I'm surprised to hear about negative feedback. I actually heard about and signed up with the company because of positive feedback. The whole experience, beginning with the purchase at Walmart and activation, was pretty simple and quick to do. I even loaded minutes onto my phone within the last week with no problems. Straight Talk makes me wonder why I never tried prepaid before.
By Kimberly @ 02/24/10 07:58:30 PMreport abuse
Shocked!
I have had my Straight Talk plan for quite a while now and have yet to come across ever hearing anyone give negative feedback. I am shocked! Straight Talk is a wonderful service and in my experience, VERY easily activated. No other prepaid plan compares and it is worth every penny!
By Cherryl B. @ 02/24/10 12:43:53 PMreport abuse
best prepaid
prsonally I think the best prepaid plan on the market is straight talk from Walmart. I have been with straight talk for a while and I really enjoy the service. Straight talk is easily activated and runs on the Verizon network at a great price. These other phone company's seem to be either untested(which scares me), more expensive, or on inadequate networks. I will be a straight talk supporter for life!
By jared @ 02/23/10 11:03:21 PMreport abuse
Suprised.
Wow, I am pretty surprised with the negative comments. I recently got on Straight Talk and am liking it thus far. I have the $45 unlimited plan. I actually just renewed my service last week, and it took no time at all. Definitely get it checked out Melody. I have yet to hear many negative reviews on Straight Talk and Tracfone overall.
By JohnnyK. @ 02/23/10 10:39:11 PMreport abuse
Straight Talk
Don't understand why Melody had trouble renewing her service. I've had the Straight Talk unlimited plan since October and I haven't encountered any problems.Walmart carries Straight Talk now, so maybe you could just pop into a Walmart store and get the problem solved.
By Jan @ 02/23/10 04:24:51 PMreport abuse
Straight Talk
Month three on straight talk service. Month two of trouble renewing my service. I renew it online like they advertise you can do and the next day I end up with no phone service and several calls and hours on the phone. This will be my last month with this provider, I am going on to try boost now. I am just glad I didn't buy an expensive phone like I wanted to from the start so I am only out $30. I will no longer recommend it to friends. I feel badly that I recommended it to a friend who uses it a home phone and I hope he doesn't have to go through this on his first renew
By Melody @ 02/02/10 05:45:11 PMreport abuse
cell phone taxes and charges
We are under contract--signed shortly before hearing Clark talk about NOT going contractual--and we're paying $30.00 a month above our service plan just for taxes and charges. How do these other companies handle that?
By Karen @ 01/23/10 05:48:00 PMreport abuse
Cheaper cell service
Page Plus Cellular from Ohio and is a Verizon reseller. (www.pagepluscellular.com) They give a $39.99 per month from unlimited talk/text and some data and a $29.99 plan also @ 1200min. Since they work on the Verizon CDMA network. This would be a comparable competitor for "Straight Talk" from Wal-Mart. $10.00 fee tot turn a phone on and/or port a number. Very satisfied...customer service very helpful. Online billing and call listing.
By Rodney Wells @ 01/19/10 06:22:13 PMreport abuse
Sprint
Clark don't you still have Sprint with a google phone? If so why don't you take the lead by example. Go to Boost unless your being hypocratical?
By F. Elyar @ 01/18/10 10:10:06 PMreport abuse
Cell phone plan 4 for $100 a month
I thought we heard from Mr. Howard we heard there was a plan from a provider that if you moved from another plan you would get this deal. thanks BA
By William Austin @ 01/17/10 09:45:02 PMreport abuse
Pensions & Annuitites
People that have pension & anuities, do they have to voluntary pay the state & federal so they don't get taxed big, at tax time? Has this been in affect for a long time?
By Marvin @ 01/16/10 07:31:49 PMreport abuse
antiquated ahole
Boost is/was a Nextel product and will continue to be offered on Nextel's iDEN network...and if you're not interested in high speed data...it's one of the best deals around...it's not antiquated in that regard. Boost will also be offered over Sprint's CDMA network
By Atrain @ 01/16/10 11:19:16 AMreport abuse
cell phones
it would be great if we could have it here but in most of wisconsin the plans do not work as no coverage in the northern areas
By margief @ 01/16/10 10:57:49 AMreport abuse
voice just got cheaper
Verizon's Unlimited Voice Plans Get Cheap, but What About Data?
Jared Newman, PCWorld
Jan 15, 2010 2:11 pm
Great news for those who love to yap: Verizon Wireless is slashing the price of its unlimited voice plan, from $99.99 to $69.99 per month on January 18.

Additionally, unlimited family voice plans will cost $119.99 per month. Unlimited text and voice will cost $89.99 per person and 149.99 per family (more details here).

Data users, unfortunately, are getting no love. 3G smartphones, such as Android and Blackberry phones, will still require a $30 per month data plan. Also, a mandatory plan of $9.99 per month for 25 MB of data will apply to more phones than ever, including the LG Chocolate Touch, LG enV3, LG VX8360, Motorola Entice W766, Nokia 7705 Twist and Samsung Alias 2.

I won't get on a pulpit and demand cheaper data plans -- although it'd be nice - but Verizon's strategy seems funny. Chief executive Lowell McAdam said in a conference call that the carrier's plan is to build up a 3G subscriber base now so that over the next two years, customers can be sold on 4G Long Term Evolution technology, which is rolling out this year.

So, why the emphasis on voice? My best guess is that people who sign up for unlimited talk, now $30 cheaper than before, might be more inclined to get a phone that requires a $10 data plan. Then, when it's time for a new phone, and they've gotten used to having the Internet in their pockets, they'll upgrade to a 4G phone, possibly with a pricier plan.

Still, Verizon's price changes do nothing for people who don't talk incessantly on their cell phones, nor are they a lure to existing smartphone users. But with Verizon carrying the Droid, Palm's upcoming Pre and Pixi Plus and eventually Google's Nexus One, perhaps the carrier doesn't need another influx of bandwidth hogs right now anyway.
By chris @ 01/16/10 10:54:19 AMreport abuse
Cell Phone Pre Pay Plans
Try NET 10, $30 for the phone and they throw in 300 minutes with it. So at that rate the phone is free and its a good phone too.
I'm now looking at Virgin because you can end up paying only 5 cents a minute which would make it the best out there.
By Jim @ 01/15/10 10:17:11 PMreport abuse

Straight Talk Signal

I have had straight talk since August, the signal at my house is usually at max bars. There have been two weekends in the last month where I get no signal at all where I live. I was wondering if maybe Straight Talk is not paying Verizon for the use of the network??

By Steve Palmore @ 03/17/10 06:48:45 PMreport abuse

StraghTalk still tops

Dear author,
You can't even say MetroPCS or Boost and StraighTalk in the same breath. They are a class apart. Those companies' reception is spotty outside urban areas.

Straightlk is carried on the Verizon Network ranked top serviced coast to coast by Consumer Report Magazine. It's very well priced at placed like Walmart, Target or Best Buy at $45 a month for unlimited text, talk and 30G Data or $30 monthly with a 1000 minute limit - and most people use less than 600 minutes a month. Plus, StraighTalk not only offers an array of great telephones, it even includes the Finesse for $329, a handsome touchscreen similar to the iPhone for half the price. StraighTalk is all value!!!

By mariella @ 02/26/10 10:06:23 AMreport abuse

NET 10

Net 10 now offers a $50 unlimited voice text. Need to buy from a target store. CK info at nte10unlimited.com.

By S @ 02/25/10 04:55:27 PMreport abuse

Shopping 4 cell phone

I narrowed down my phone choices to two carriers: StraightTalk and Boost. I finally went with ST as my friend who went the other route (thanks to her!) has many complaints about shotty reception and dropped calls. I am very happy with ST, especially the price tag of $45 for unlimited.

By Annette @ 02/24/10 11:33:05 PMreport abuse

Really?

I have Straight Talk as while and I'm surprised to hear about negative feedback. I actually heard about and signed up with the company because of positive feedback. The whole experience, beginning with the purchase at Walmart and activation, was pretty simple and quick to do. I even loaded minutes onto my phone within the last week with no problems. Straight Talk makes me wonder why I never tried prepaid before.

By Kimberly @ 02/24/10 07:58:30 PMreport abuse

Shocked!

I have had my Straight Talk plan for quite a while now and have yet to come across ever hearing anyone give negative feedback. I am shocked! Straight Talk is a wonderful service and in my experience, VERY easily activated. No other prepaid plan compares and it is worth every penny!

By Cherryl B. @ 02/24/10 12:43:53 PMreport abuse

best prepaid

prsonally I think the best prepaid plan on the market is straight talk from Walmart. I have been with straight talk for a while and I really enjoy the service. Straight talk is easily activated and runs on the Verizon network at a great price. These other phone company's seem to be either untested(which scares me), more expensive, or on inadequate networks. I will be a straight talk supporter for life!

By jared @ 02/23/10 11:03:21 PMreport abuse

Suprised.

Wow, I am pretty surprised with the negative comments. I recently got on Straight Talk and am liking it thus far. I have the $45 unlimited plan. I actually just renewed my service last week, and it took no time at all. Definitely get it checked out Melody. I have yet to hear many negative reviews on Straight Talk and Tracfone overall.

By JohnnyK. @ 02/23/10 10:39:11 PMreport abuse

Straight Talk

Don't understand why Melody had trouble renewing her service. I've had the Straight Talk unlimited plan since October and I haven't encountered any problems.Walmart carries Straight Talk now, so maybe you could just pop into a Walmart store and get the problem solved.

By Jan @ 02/23/10 04:24:51 PMreport abuse

Month three on straight talk service. Month two of trouble renewing my service. I renew it online like they advertise you can do and the next day I end up with no phone service and several calls and hours on the phone. This will be my last month with this provider, I am going on to try boost now. I am just glad I didn't buy an expensive phone like I wanted to from the start so I am only out $30. I will no longer recommend it to friends. I feel badly that I recommended it to a friend who uses it a home phone and I hope he doesn't have to go through this on his first renew

By Melody @ 02/02/10 05:45:11 PMreport abuse

cell phone taxes and charges

We are under contract--signed shortly before hearing Clark talk about NOT going contractual--and we're paying $30.00 a month above our service plan just for taxes and charges. How do these other companies handle that?

By Karen @ 01/23/10 05:48:00 PMreport abuse

Cheaper cell service

Page Plus Cellular from Ohio and is a Verizon reseller. (www.pagepluscellular.com) They give a $39.99 per month from unlimited talk/text and some data and a $29.99 plan also @ 1200min. Since they work on the Verizon CDMA network. This would be a comparable competitor for "Straight Talk" from Wal-Mart. $10.00 fee tot turn a phone on and/or port a number. Very satisfied...customer service very helpful. Online billing and call listing.

By Rodney Wells @ 01/19/10 06:22:13 PMreport abuse

Sprint

Clark don't you still have Sprint with a google phone? If so why don't you take the lead by example. Go to Boost unless your being hypocratical?

By F. Elyar @ 01/18/10 10:10:06 PMreport abuse

Cell phone plan 4 for $100 a month

I thought we heard from Mr. Howard we heard there was a plan from a provider that if you moved from another plan you would get this deal. thanks BA

By William Austin @ 01/17/10 09:45:02 PMreport abuse

Pensions & Annuitites

People that have pension & anuities, do they have to voluntary pay the state & federal so they don't get taxed big, at tax time? Has this been in affect for a long time?

By Marvin @ 01/16/10 07:31:49 PMreport abuse

antiquated ahole

Boost is/was a Nextel product and will continue to be offered on Nextel's iDEN network...and if you're not interested in high speed data...it's one of the best deals around...it's not antiquated in that regard. Boost will also be offered over Sprint's CDMA network

By Atrain @ 01/16/10 11:19:16 AMreport abuse

cell phones

it would be great if we could have it here but in most of wisconsin the plans do not work as no coverage in the northern areas

By margief @ 01/16/10 10:57:49 AMreport abuse

voice just got cheaper

Verizon's Unlimited Voice Plans Get Cheap, but What About Data?
Jared Newman, PCWorld
Jan 15, 2010 2:11 pm
Great news for those who love to yap: Verizon Wireless is slashing the price of its unlimited voice plan, from $99.99 to $69.99 per month on January 18.

Additionally, unlimited family voice plans will cost $119.99 per month. Unlimited text and voice will cost $89.99 per person and 149.99 per family (more details here).

Data users, unfortunately, are getting no love. 3G smartphones, such as Android and Blackberry phones, will still require a $30 per month data plan. Also, a mandatory plan of $9.99 per month for 25 MB of data will apply to more phones than ever, including the LG Chocolate Touch, LG enV3, LG VX8360, Motorola Entice W766, Nokia 7705 Twist and Samsung Alias 2.

I won't get on a pulpit and demand cheaper data plans -- although it'd be nice - but Verizon's strategy seems funny. Chief executive Lowell McAdam said in a conference call that the carrier's plan is to build up a 3G subscriber base now so that over the next two years, customers can be sold on 4G Long Term Evolution technology, which is rolling out this year.

So, why the emphasis on voice? My best guess is that people who sign up for unlimited talk, now $30 cheaper than before, might be more inclined to get a phone that requires a $10 data plan. Then, when it's time for a new phone, and they've gotten used to having the Internet in their pockets, they'll upgrade to a 4G phone, possibly with a pricier plan.

Still, Verizon's price changes do nothing for people who don't talk incessantly on their cell phones, nor are they a lure to existing smartphone users. But with Verizon carrying the Droid, Palm's upcoming Pre and Pixi Plus and eventually Google's Nexus One, perhaps the carrier doesn't need another influx of bandwidth hogs right now anyway.

By chris @ 01/16/10 10:54:19 AMreport abuse

Cell Phone Pre Pay Plans

Try NET 10, $30 for the phone and they throw in 300 minutes with it. So at that rate the phone is free and its a good phone too.
I'm now looking at Virgin because you can end up paying only 5 cents a minute which would make it the best out there.

By Jim @ 01/15/10 10:17:11 PMreport abuse

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Jan 15, 2010 -- Sprint's Boost Mobile offers service at half-price

What others are saying