What is the best option for cell service for a foreign exchange student that will be here for 1 year?

Question

* Would like to not have to sign the contract for her

* She is with us for only a month, then with her other host family for the remainder of the year.

* She would like to take her cell back to Germany (tri/quad band phone?)

Answer 1

Most service providers (in the US?) have pre-paid cell phone service. These are, ofcourse, more expensive than post paid service. There is a connection fee associated and also the balance on the card will decrease with the time you use the phone. These plans also come with a certain amount of free talk time with the recharge amount that you choose.

As for the phone, you can buy any phone that the service provider provides but you will not be able to get the discount that they offer when you buy 2 or 3 year contract. Rarely, they do offer 1 year contract, its worth you asking them if they offer it at the time.

Also the phones are locked so that they cannot be used outside the country, for that you will need to unlock it from the service provider once she wants to go back (but that applies only if the phone is a quad band).

Answer 2

What ever your cell service plan is, look through there. I am not all that smart with cell phones but I know that your service provider will have that information for you. Hope that helped!

Answer 3

Most of the cell phone carriers now have pay as you go plans without contracts. Howvery she will need to pay full price for a phone if she will not do the contract.

DO NOT sign a contract for her. International kids tend to make calls with out thinking about what it costs and before you know you could have a bill close to a thousand dollars.

believe me I have seen this happen.