TracFone Prepaid FAQ about general Rhode Island
cellular and prepaid wireless services
 Read
our prepaid & cellular FAQS to familiarize yourself with how the TracFone
service works
General Cellular Phone FAQS
How does a cell phone differ from a regular telephone?
A free prepaid cell
phone is a wireless telephone and operates as a mobile phone, therefore
it does not work exactly the same as your home telephone, and you may
have an occasional service interruption. Your phone will work
well in town, but in some rural areas you may have an occasional service
problem. There are locations in the U.S. that do not have wireless coverage
and the quality of wireless service may be affected by capacity limitations,
geographic, topographical and atmospheric conditions.
What does "dual-mode" mean?
A "dual-mode" phone can utilize either a digital signal or,
if necessary, an analog signal. This additional ability will keep you
connected in some remote regions that do not have digital cellular capability
yet.
How do you add personal ring tones to a cell phone?
Certain models of Nokia, Ericsson, and Siemens cell phones allow the addition
of personal ring tones to your phone. The easiest way to do this (if it
is available on your model) is to directly "compose" a ring
using your cell phone. Instructions are included with your phone if this
feature is available. Otherwise, you have two options: You can buy a data
cable specific to your phone and use software on a computer to compose
a song and download it to your phone, or you may visit a Web site and
have them send a special message that includes a ring tone to your phone
(usually for a small fee).
Are cell phones really dangerous?
Today's major medical studies have not shown any conclusive evidence that
cell phones are dangerous to humans. For further details, see our cell
phone radiation page.
What's the difference between Analog and digital?
The difference is how the messages are transmitted and the sound quality
of those voice transmissions. Analog technology uses a system called Advanced
Mobile Phone Service (AMPS). AMPS uses analog radio frequency modulation
(FM) for voice transmission. Digital technology uses one of the following
systems: CDMA, TDMA, or GSM. In general, digital transmissions provide
for highly private conversations with superior sound quality to analog
transmissions.
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What is the cost of prepaid?
The service is as low as $7.99 per month with the purchase of a 1 year
prepaid wireless service card and rates are as low as $.26 per minute,
which includes all wireless taxes and fees that can add up to 20% of most
other wireless service plans.
What is the coverage for prepaid?
TracFone has national coverage covering 99% of the U.S. population by
piecing together the best networks around the country. The networks are
provided by major companies including Verizon Wireless, Cingular, and
ALLTEL. Rhode Island residents enjoy statewide coverage.
Is there an age limit?
NO. With prepaid, there is no age limit.
How long does it take to get my service active?
In most areas in Rhode Island, your service will be active instantly. In some
other areas it will be within 24-48 hours. Phones programmed on Fridays
may take up to 72 hours (3 days) to be activated.
How often do I need to purchase and redeem a Prepaid Wireless
Card?
You must purchase and redeem a TracFone Prepaid Wireless Airtime card
when you run out of airtime units or before your card due date that is
displayed on the TracFone, whichever comes first. The amount of units
you use is entirely up to you. To keep your service active, simply purchase
and redeem additional airtime cards every 60 or 365 days depending on
which card denomination is redeemed. Your card due date will appear on
your phone display every time you turn on the TracFone.
What happens if I forget to purchase and redeem airtime?
In the event you do not redeem a TracFone Prepaid Wireless Airtime card
every 30, 60 or 365 days, service will be suspended until you redeem an
additional TracFone Prepaid Wireless Airtime card, at which time we will
reactivate your service and assign you another wireless phone number.
Why would my phone number be canceled if I do not redeem an airtime
card on time?
TracFone pays all charges to the carriers every month when we issue you
a wireless phone number for your use. If you stop purchasing and redeeming
airtime cards, TracFone will stop paying the charges on that line for
your use and will reassign that telephone number to a new TracFone customer.
All it takes to get your phone activated again is to purchase and redeem
a TracFone Prepaid Wireless Airtime card.
If my service is deactivated, will I lose my airtime units?
The units remaining on your phone will carry over if your service remains
active or if service is reactivated within 120 days from the date your
TracFone becomes deactivated. Unused units will expire if you wait longer
than 120 days from deactivation to reactivate your TracFone.
What should I do if I move to another city and need to change
to a new local number?
If relocating to a new home area in the United States, simply call the
Customer Care Center at 1-800-867-7183. You will be reassigned a new local
wireless phone number. In some cases, your handset may need to be exchanged
in order to be compatible with the digital technology in your new home
area. The changing of local numbers is limited to four times in a given
year.
What is the warranty on my cell phone?
TracFone guarantees the customer a fully operational prepaid wireless
phone. TracFone does not issue refunds, but will gladly repair or replace
any TracFone that contains a manufacturer's defect that hinders or prevents
its proper operation for up to one year from the date of purchase.
What are the additional features of the digital cell phone?
The features include Caller ID, Call Waiting and Voice Mail. Caller ID
will identify the incoming call. Call Waiting allows you to be on the
phone and receive a second incoming call. Voice Mail allows callers to
record a message when you cannot be reached.
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Prepaid FAQ - Rhode Island
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