| Tracfone, which is now one of the top 10 cellular | | | | base, it is no surprise that the company has enjoyed |
| providers in the US [as well as Puerto Rico and the | | | | so much success and continues to grow every year. |
| Virgin Islands], has had an interesting history, as | | | | Tracfone actually provides two services - Tracfone |
| companies go. The company first made their mark in | | | | and Net10. The two services are provided by the |
| 1996, under the name Topp Telecom, Inc. Within a | | | | same company, with the same quality, though Net10 |
| few years, they found themselves being supported | | | | only offers GSM and CDMA services as of now. The |
| by Mexican company Telmex, who bought a | | | | company is expanding both of these services, as well |
| controlling interest [55%] in the company. By 2000, | | | | as their TDMA service, despite most customers |
| the company was split from Telmex, and began to | | | | migrating to the former two. |
| grow exponentially, after taking on the name | | | | Depending on the service that a Tracfone user |
| Tracfone. The company expanded its market share | | | | chooses, as well as the specific phone they purchase, |
| and began to bring in more business as the days | | | | there are different deals that can be obtained by |
| went by. | | | | Tracfone customers. Some people who buy a plan |
| Tracfone is now one of the biggest prepaid wireless | | | | with Tracfone will enjoy free text messaging, while |
| companies in the United States. Because they enable | | | | others will pay a few cents per text. It is important |
| users to buy prepaid minutes on a wide variety of | | | | to look at the fine details and choose a phone and |
| phones [including hot brands such as LG, Motorola, | | | | plan that will work best for your needs. If you |
| Nokia, and Kyocera] they have become an excellent | | | | frequently text people, those few cents per text |
| option for people who do not want to deal with the | | | | could add up, and it would be in your best interest to |
| hassles of credit checks and long-term contracts with | | | | invest in a phone that enables you to text for free. |
| phone companies. This accounts for much of | | | | As you can see, Tracfone is a company that many |
| Tracfone's success. | | | | people have come to rely on, and it is also a |
| Unlike some prepaid cellular services - especially those | | | | company with flexible options. It is the perfect choice |
| in the past - Tracfone enables people to use some | | | | for someone who wants a cell phone, but isn't ready |
| of the most popular phones and have all the options | | | | to commit a huge amount of money or time to a |
| that a cell phone user with a standard-issue binding | | | | specific company, as Tracfone's pre-paid plans do not |
| contract would have. As such, the company has built | | | | require a contract. People can buy minutes for the |
| its stellar reputation on this. Nobody wants an inferior | | | | phone based on both days of service as well as |
| phone simply because they chose to use pre-paid | | | | increments of time. This flexibility allows people to |
| services rather than be tied to a contract for | | | | choose what sort of plan will best suit them and their |
| anywhere from 12-24 months - or more. | | | | specific needs as a customer. This is definitely part of |
| In addition to being popular in the United States | | | | what attracts people to Tracfone, and why the |
| market, Tracfone dominates Puerto Rico and the | | | | company has so many loyal customers. Their |
| Virgin Islands. Further, they are the most popular | | | | innovative way of dealing with cellular users by giving |
| cellular provider in Latin America. With nearly 10 million | | | | them many options is an excellent way for them to |
| customers and an always-growing, eager customer | | | | continue to grow and profit as a company. |