Pre-paid cell phone plans are geared towards customers looking for flexibility. Pre-paid plans allow you to purchase (via pre-paid cards, online or from your handset) a specific number of minutes or dollar value of airtime. Pre-paid plans ensure that you'll use only what you've paid for while avoiding overage charges, monthly fees, and surprises. The major U.S. cellular carriers, including Verizon, AT&T (formerly Cingular) and T-Mobile, all offer a pre-paid option, while smaller companies like Virgin Mobile also provide reliable pre-paid calling plans.
Prepaid phone deals are usually few and far between, so it's always worth mentioning when we see one. Best Buy currently has the Motorola c168i for AT&T's GoPhone prepaid option for $19.99. That's a nice pre-paid phone for a good price.
Virgin Mobile is running a special on three of their popular pre-paid cell phonesthe Oystr, Shorty, and K10 Royale. The phone is $19.99 but you get $20 in airtime which works out to a free phone. Free cell phones on pre-paid options are hard to come by so this is a good deal. And it includes free ground shipping.