As More Wireless Customers Choose Prepaid, Should You?

April 5, 2010— -- Is it time for you to rethink your relationship with your cell phone contract?

If it is you, you wouldn't be alone.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, new prepaid wireless customers exceeded new contract customers for the first time ever, said the Washington, D.C., think tank New Millenium Research Council. In that quarter, prepaid cell phone users accounted for 65 percent of 4.2 million net new wireless subscribers. That's two out of three new customers who chose prepaid over postpaid.

Wireless experts and consumer advocates say the trend shows no signs of letting up. As Americans look for ways to cut corners and save, even wireless customers used to cell phone contracts are deciding to go commitment-free.

"I think it shows consumers are starting to vote with their wallets when it comes to wireless service," said John Breyault, vice president of public policy, telecommunications and fraud for the Washington, D.C.-based National Consumers League.

The ideal candidates for prepaid plans used to be those who were credit-challenged or who didn't make many calls in a given month, he said. But as the prepaid marketplace has grown, Breyault continued, more "all-you-can-eat" prepaid plans have emerged that are increasingly appealing to all kinds of customers.

Although prepaid plans used to be more expensive than contract, or postpaid plans, new services such as Cricket from Leap Wireless or Straight Talk from Tracfone Wireless can be more cost-effective for many wireless customers, Breyault said.

"I think you will see more people who have had cell service, they will look more at prepaid options," he said. "In a recession, that's one place where most customers can look and save money."

And, while prepaid customers used to have to forego the latest and greatest handsets (that are often subsidized by multiyear cell phone plans from bigger carriers such as AT&T and Verizon), he said that cell phone options are increasing.

"I don't think that a prepaid plan and the latest handset are mutually exclusive," Breyault said, predicting that customers will increasingly see more prepaid handsets that more closely resemble postpaid handsets.

Even as the economy starts to improve, Breyault said he doubted he'd see the trend reverse.