What You Need To Know
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If you've spent any time researching prepaid cell phone providers, you may have noticed a similarity between Tracfone and Net 10.
There's a reason for the similarity.
Both brands are owned by the same company, called American Movil, and both provide virtually the same cellular coverage.
But while the two brands share similarities, there are also important differences.
How Two Prepaid Brands Are Similar:
Service Coverage
Both carriers are MVNOs, or Mobile Virtual Network Operators, which means that they don't own their own cellular network. Instead, they "rent" space on other carriers' networks for their wireless service.
In order to obtain wireless coverage for customers' calls, both Net 10 and Tracfone buy service from more than 30 national and regional carriers.
National network providers include the four major carriers, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile. Regional carriers include Alltel, US Cellular, and smaller, more localized network carriers throughout the country.
Which cellular service provider you'll be connecting to during a call depends on which carrier has the nearest cellular tower.
Cell Phone Models
Both carriers offer a nice assortment of cell phone models, which operate using CDMA and GSM technology. Both carriers offer only phones that work on Digital networks. Analog phones have beenphased out, and are no longer available.
Prices for phones with both carriers range from around $30 for basic phones, to $85 and over for higher end phones with morefunctions.
Pay-As-You-Go
Both brands offer Pay-As-You-Go plans, in which you need tobuy airtime minutes in the form of a card. Airtime is needed before you can activate your phone, or if you run out of minutes on your existing card.
And, neither carrier requires a contract for service, or a credit check before purchase. Refill cards can be purchased online, or through various retail stores.
How The Two Prepaid Carriers Differ:
While both carriers provide virtually identical service coverage, cell phone models and plans, there are a few important differences.
Rates Per Minute
Tracfone rates vary from 25 to 33.3 cents per minute, depending on the prepaid phone card you choose.
Net 10 charges a flat rate of 10 cents per minute on all their prepaid cards.
Roaming Charges
Net 10 doesn't charge more for roaming, but in some cases, Tracfone will.
According to Tracfone's Terms and Conditions, you may be chargeddouble the minutes for roaming on phones that are not compatible with GSM technology.