Prepaid is no longer uncool

Confession: I’ve been snobby about prepaid mobile providers.  I saw it for those who couldn’t get credit or didn’t know how better it was with one of the big four. Savings benefits have always been a big appeal of these services--and that may be amplified in the current client. Further: new devices and services are actually making prepaid carriers cool.

Let’s take a look at the Motorola Triumph on Virgin Mobile. This Android-powered handset could be compelling no matter what carrier it landed on. With a 4.1-inch screen, 1 GHz processor and a 5-megapixel camera, the Motorola Triumph boasts specs and performance that you wouldn't find on prepaid carriers just a few years ago.

If you don’t talk or text very much, you could get away with the $35 a month plan for unlimited data and a bucket of minutes. An unlimited service plan will cost roughly $55 a month--which is at least $30 cheaper than similar plans with the four major carriers.

The one major downside of buying a high-powered handset on a prepaid carrier is shelling out major bucks up front for the handset. The Motorola Triumph costs $299 up front, as there are no carrier subsidies.

A top-of-the-line iPhone on contract has similar pricing. But if the goal is to save money, it can be a pain to get all of that cash. Many smartphones on contract can be found with a major carrier that are both cheap and good; handsets like the Samsung Exhibit 4G on T-Mobile. The monthly savings add up, but be aware that many of the hottest handsets on prepaid carriers can’t be used on other networks.

The Motorola Triumph on Virgin Mobile isn't the sole entity that's making prepaid cool. Other carriers are picking up some stellar handsets with nnovative services. Boost Mobile--owned by Virgin’s parent company Sprint--just introduced the BlackBerry 9670 and the Samsung Galaxy Prevail; both are powerful, appealing handsets. Even better: iBoost Mobile is encouraging shrinkage. No guys--it’s not that kind of shrinkage. The company is rewarded users who stick around by shrinking their bill. Over a period of time, if you pay on time then your unlimited plan can cost as little as $35 a month--a shockingly low amount for unlimited voice, text and data.

Boost Mobile isn’t just trying to be nice: prepaid customers are mercenary because there’s no long-term contract holding them back. Additionally, your first discount wont happen until after six months of on-time payments. Thankfully, missing one payment won’t reset your status.

Cricket Wireless also has a few decent smartphones. I appreciate that devices like the LG Optimus C and Huawei Ascend II can be purchased for less than $200 with reasonable monthly unlimited plans. What's impressive about Cricket:it outwits the big four carriers when it comes to mobile music. The Cricket Muve Music service is included with any $55 monthly plan; allowing users to stream and download a wide variety of songs to their devices. It's all-you-can-eat music with a good catalog and you can even chop up individual tracks to turn into ringtones. That last feature is a huge deal because music labels have been notoriously difficult to work with when it comes to licenscing music for ringtones. So kudos to Cricket.

Onward to MetroPCS. Dubbed “GhettroPCS” in some circles,  last year they beat Verizon to the punch with a 4G LTE phone. I wouldn’t choose Samsung Craft over Verizon’s LG Revolution, Droid Charge or HTC Thunderbolt, but it does show that MetroPCS is keeping up with the latest technologies with handsets that should improve.

Important note: you can use no-contract services with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon--but expect to pay more up front if you don’t want to be saddled with a long-term contract. Example: an unlocked iPhone 4 can cost as much as $749 for the 32 GB model. This route isn't recommended--unless you’re in a special category. Mobile fanatics, like myslef, should have no problem shelling out that kind of cash multiple times a year for the latest and greatest. For those who do a fair amount of international traveling, you may find prepaid on a major carrier worth the cash--but be sure to get a GSM device and read our tips for staying connected abroad.

While I just foolishly locked myself into another two-year contract with Verizon, the innovative services and excellent devices have me considering prepaid carrier options--finally it's now cool!

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