Do prepaid cell phones have to be activated right away?
One of my relatives is planning to buy one as a Christmas gift for someone, and they asked me but I have no idea.
2006-12-03 03:57:59 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Consumer Electronics ➔ Cell Phones & Plans
No, it doesn't matter when they get activated, to an extent. You don't have to pay for it until it's activated, but you shouldn't let it sit for any huge amount of time, as it could become outdated. Also, you probably don't want to activate it until it's been given, because you'll be paying for minutes they never got a chance to use.
2006-12-03 04:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by katluver005 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can be activated right away or they cannot. When you buy a prepaid phone they come with a sim card that has already been scanned and activated. But they also come with a prepaid card worth $5. That card is not activated until you punch the card code into the phone to fill it with the $5 worth of minutes. I work for cingular, and with us you can get a prepaid plan that would be $1 per day for the first call no matter how long you talk, and the calls after that would be 10 cents per minute. Plus you can also send and receive texts for 5 cents per text. The second plan is a 25 cents per minute plan. the reason it is 25 cents per minute is because you dont get charged that dollar for the first phone call of the day instead you get charged 25 cents per minute. Both plans have rollover minutes month to month. Hope this helps. If you have anymore questions feel free to contact me. click on my avatar and my email should be there.
2006-12-03 04:07:44 · answer #2 · answered by funkucla!!! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. They do not. Activate it Christmas Eve, and remember to give the battery a good long initial charge.
.
2006-12-03 04:25:30 · answer #3 · answered by robabard 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its best to activate them now and then and charge them up so that the person receiving the gift can use it when they receive it
2006-12-03 04:00:38 · answer #4 · answered by MsThang 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋