Cell phones have become indispensable to almost everyone in almost every sector of society. They are invaluable for the successful functioning of a large range of businesses and for public services like the police and the fire squad. They are essential for communication between friends and family and for the successful running and management of our lives.
Besides communication, their other purposes and benefits include entertainment, social media, the taking, storing and sending of photographs, videos and audio, calendars, alarm clocks, calculators, games, surfing the internet, taking notes, writing and editing documents, keeping up to date with the news and much, much more. Without them, we would be lost.
Cell phone network providers
Because there is an important niche in the market for cell phone providers and networks, there are several cell phone networks providers available who offer a myriad of cell phone contracts and a large range of different makes and models of phones. Some of these cell phone network providers include Cell C, Vodacom, MTN, Virgin Mobile and 8ta.
Options for cell phone usage
The options for cell phone usage fall into two broad categories (although some options overlap both of these groups): prepaid and contract. Within the contract category there are many different options. Most contracts offer a free phone if you sign up for a contract (usually for two years). Some contracts give you a limited amount of airtime with the option to top up if you run out of airtime, while others allow you unlimited airtime and sent you a bill at the end of the month. The benefits of most contracts and deals include the following:
- Most contracts offer the customer a free cell phone. This means avoiding paying a large once off fee. Instead, the customer pays an amount each month for the contract and then either pays a bill for the airtime used or has a limited amount of airtime.
- Most contracts offer an upgrade option after a certain amount of time. If you have signed a two year contract, for example, you will have several options once the contract has expired: you can either cancel the contract, change from one contract option to another or stay on the same contract but upgrade your current phone for a brand new one. There are usually several options for which phone you could choose.
- Many contracts offer more than just a free cell phone. With the upgrade option you could get a cell phone and a voucher or another gift.
- Many contracts come with package deals; for example a free cell phone, laptop and internet dongle. You will usually receive data on your dongle every month as well as airtime with this contract.
A free Blackberry phone with your contract?.. Nice!!
Cell phone deals and contracts with free phones
There are a vast number of cell phone network service providers and contract providers who offer contracts that come with free cell phones and other items. Some of these companies include the following:
- Autopage Cellular
- Vodacom
- MTN
- Cell C
- Virgin Mobile
- 8ta
- FNB
The options for the type of contract you could sign are very vast. Most of the cell phone contract and network service providers offer some if not all of the following contracts: family top up, business and personal.
It is important to consider your needs very carefully before signing a contract. It might be tempting to go with an unlimited contract that comes with a bill at the end of the month and a top of the range cell phone, but it might be better for your budget to go with the family top up option in most instances. This will give you the freedom to top up if you want to with the safety of a limit.