No contract smartphones are those phones that are not obligated to a mobile carrier service plan. Basically are like prepaid phones where you pay for data and calls on a no strings attached basis.
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Verizon HTC Droid Eris No Contract 3G Camera Touchscreen WiFi Android Smartphone US $49.001 Bid 17m left Buy/Bid Now |
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of No Contract Smartphones
No contract smartphones unavoidably are more expensive as compared to those that have a contract. Many consumers choose the no contract smartphone models for several reasons discussed below and they do have a lot of benefits. Read on to learn the various advantages and disadvantages to buying smartphones without a contract.
Advantages of No Contract Smartphones
Price
Whenever you purchase a no contract smartphone, you will be having to pay a large amount of money upfront, however, you could very well wind up saving some cash in the long run. Even though some cell service providers offer the phone free of charge, this, of course, is in exchange for signing a contract with them, which is usually for 2 years. So, when in doubt, just do the math, is the monthly charge multiplied by the contract length less expensive or maybe more costly as compared to purchasing a no contract phone in the first place?
Upgrade Benefits
When you are not trapped inside a contract, it is possible to upgrade the cellular phone whenever you want to. This can be especially useful as the market of smartphones goes through rapid changes all the time and new and advanced technology is always available, with a no contract phone you can keep up with the changes and not be tied down. This is especially true when you are the type of person that loves to have the latest and greatest, if so, you might wind up stuck for 2 years in a contract before being able to upgrade.
The Dreaded Extra Charges
Oftentimes when there is a contract there are also hidden charges. For instance, the huge fees that are charged in case you need to cancel the contract early, or those that are charged for going over monthly allowance of minutes or texts.
Availability and Accessibility
The last real big advantage to no contract smartphones, and this actually applies to all cell phones without a contract, is that they are much more accessible to a larger number of people. They don't call for a credit check, there are no age requirements such as having to be 18 as with contract phones, and no need for a fixed address. They're a great idea for parents who wish for their child to have a phone of their own.
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Disadvantages of No Contract Smartphones
Price
Even though no contract smartphones can be cheaper in the long run, as mentioned above, they can also cost more, it really depends. Quite often the price of making calls and sending messages is more for the no contract phones versus those that have a contract with a service provider. You will also have a much larger upfront expense because you will need to purchase the phone outright. If you would prefer to pay smaller monthly p[payments over with versus one big charge at once then the contract phone is a better option.
Data
Smartphones are created to connect with the web. In the event you generally connect with Wi-Fi, that is great. Nevertheless, in the event you want to connect with 3G or 4G then you can easily run up a massive bill, so a contract may be better for you. Just check the terms of the contract and how much data you're permitted to transfer.
Having To Replenish Credits on the Smartphone
Paying in advance for all the usage you need is one of the issues with no contract phones, if you are busy you can easily run out of credits and be stuck not being able to use the phone until you reload.


US $164.99