05 November 2003

Disposable cell phones

By Jim Pinto

Finding the right wireless phone plan is not easy. Competing carriers, features, prices, and rebates, as well as incompatible phone technologies—all confuse the wireless phone shopper.

Soon you'll be able to keep your telephone number, and then you can switch carriers without too much trouble. And then, why not disposable cell phones?

Hop-on, a California company, is now selling "throwaway cell phones." The Hop-on cell phone brings cellular phone technology to virtually everyone, regardless of age, income, or credit status. This cell phone comes with sixty minutes of prepaid calling time, with no contracts, long-distance charges, or other fees. It's easy to use, and when the minutes are used up, you can add more minutes with a credit card, return the phone to Hop-on for a $5 rebate certificate, or simply discard it.

The Hop-on phone can make and receive calls, and it features a convenient one-touch emergency call button. This phone also allows users to add calling minutes by purchasing Hop-on Chat Cards. Added calling minutes can be used anywhere within the continental U. S. without roaming or long-distance charges. And for extended talk times, the phone features a rechargeable battery and a convenient battery charger.

Reportedly, the stripped-down cell phones will cost $40 and offer sixty minutes of initial local service, though cards that can add on additional minutes will be available, as will the ability to make toll calls for extra charges. The plastic phones are about the size of a deck of playing cards.

The product first rolled out in Southern California, and then became available throughout the country. Several major companies appear to be "hopping-on" the bandwagon. India is buying 2,000,000 of these throwaway cell phones.

Another company, Diceland, is making a disposable outgoing-only cell phone of paper that they plan to sell for $10. Officials say it is about the size of a triple-thick credit card and made from recycled paper. It will sell at supermarket checkout counters and the like with sixty minutes of prepaid calling time. When you use up the time, you can toss the phone, or add time through your credit card.

Related Links: 

• Hop-on Disposable cell phones 
• Talk Is Cheap: Disposable Cellular In The Works  
• Disposable Cell Phone - Phone-Card-Phone
• Cellular downgrade 

Behind the byline

Jim Pinto is an industry analyst and founder of San Diego–based Action Instruments. You can e-mail him at jim@jimpinto.com or view his writings at www.JimPinto.com. He is also the author of the book Automation Unplugged.