My father sells the cards that youp buy to have minutes on those phones. One thing to note, that once you use the card, they expire in 6 months after the first use, or when you use up all the minutes. One thing I've notice people who use these for emergency use only, usually will forget and be in an emergency and have a expired card. I see this happen quite often when I'm at one of stores my father manages. Person is usually very upset, the card is expired and they just had to walk from the freeway down to us, so they could buy a card to call someone. Also most of these cards have an use expiration. What this means is say you buy it in January of 04, and have never used it, well say in Feb 05 you break down, and need to call someone the card will be no good, as it's use time limit is only a year. This can be cheaper then what your paying right now, but how good are you at keeping things you don't use up to date, and make sure they aren't expired with your own memory?
One thing I'd suggest, is to see if you can get an emergency plan from your cell service. My mom pays $10 a month for her cell threw Verison. No free anything, no voice mail. Just basically an active phone. But it's always active, if she breaks down or something, she just picks up her phone and calls, and doesn't have to worry about a card expiring or anything. Cell companies have all different names for this type of plan, but you only pay for the minutes you use so is very cheap most months.
And from the prices, of the cards, and the phone, the $10 a month for her is much cheaper then to get one of those Tracphones.
Also the fact that Tracephones can be a pain to use, if your not very into eletronics, or the new type of cell phones. Basically if your not 20 something and like techy gagets, these things can inspire you to drive over them. Simple isn't in, it really takes reading the instructions on those phones. I get a call from my father about every week, as someone comes into the gas station and they can't get the card to work with the phone, or it won't call out, it will only recieve calls, or it will call out, but no one can call them. All different fuctions and features, and no one ever sticks their instructions for the phone in their car. Also there is the new 911 lock, basically you call 911, it will give you the highest priority and the best line so you can talk to 911 without losing connection, etc. Just when you hang up, your still in 911 mode, if you don't know what button to push to release yourself from this mode, you won't be able to call anyone else. This happen to my dentist about 3 weeks ago, he was driving home and hit a dear and totaled his minivan. He called 911 etc, with a TrracPhone, and then he couldn't call his wife to come and get him. He had to wait for the police and have them call his wife, as he had no idea how to take it off 911.
Also note Tracphones don't work everywhere, they don't get the same service, as a cell phone. Even if you buy it from the same cell company as you currently have. If there is a storm or power out, or whatever, standard cell users get priority over Tracphones. I'm not sure what type of emergency your thinking about using it for, or how often storms etc take out your power or destory the neighborhood etc, so you may or may not have to worry about that.
HTH,
Kit
