Chris Morris
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Disney's 'Epic Mickey' Goes Back to Mischievous Side of Iconic Mascot
Due in late 2010, the in-game Mickey will be a far cry from the character many people are used to. Instead of the happy-go-lucky mascot, this Mickey will be more akin to the one Walt Disney introduced in the 1920s -- mischievous, and not afraid to get in a fight.
"One of our creative problems [at Disney Interactive] was Mickey Mouse," says Graham Hopper, president of Disney Interactive Studios. "He was one of the most popular characters in the world, but he had never reached his full potential in video games."
Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
Typical subscription plan providers offer networks that extend over the majority of the country, but some prepaid plans focus their coverage on select areas. If yours is one of those areas -- and you don't travel much (or ever) -- it's worth considering going prepaid, especially if you already have a landline. Call quality might be a concern, but doing a little homework can save you a lot.
Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
While traditional prepaid phones don't work overseas, you can buy a Go-Sim prepaid SIM card for international trips. (They cost $48 at GoSim.com.) It doesn't work in all countries, but when it does function in your destination, it's a great way to stay in touch with family and costs a lot less than roaming with a US-based subscription plan.
Alternatively, you can buy a local SIM in your country of choice and insert it into your any unlocked GSM phone -- even a high-end one like the HTC Touch Pro 2, for example. Local SIMs can usually be bought at local carrier shops at the airport as soon as you arrive, and usually cost as little as $15 with just a few minutes of calling time (and you can just add more time in $10 or $20 increments).
Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
You want to be able to reach your kids at any time -- or have them call you in an emergency, but you don't want them running up a big bill. With prepaid phones, you can have cellular security with minimal expense. $20 per month for Virgin Mobile's 'pay as you go' plan is a better cost for security than $40 and up with Verizon.
Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
2. If you are a cellular hater...
...but still want a phone available when you need it, pre-paid plans are a perfect option, since you can literally pay as you go, rather than add another expense to your monthly bills. If you're a really infrequent user, Boost Mobile offers a pay-as-you go plan that charges just 10 cents per minute for calls.
Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
3. If you don't talk much...
If you have a lot of leftover minutes each month on your current subscription plan and they don't roll over, you could be wasting money -- sometimes a lot of it. For example, Verizon offers a basic plan for $40 per month, giving subscribers 450 minutes -- or 7.5 hours -- of paid talk time per month. If you only use your cell phone for an hour or so each month, ...Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
4. If you talk too much....
On the other hand, if you live on your cell, prepaid might still be worth investigating. Prepaid customers average nearly 2,000 voice minutes per month -- twice as much as those on traditional plans. And they pay less for the unlimited calling, all-inclusive programs, which range from $30-$60, depending on your feature needs. Boost's $50/month plan, for example, ...Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
5. If you have bad (or no) credit...
Since there is no contract and no credit check with most prepaid plans, they're perfect solutions for people with bad credit scores who still need cell phones. And if, say, you can't afford a month of coverage? Well, with a prepaid plan, it won't show up as an unpaid bill to negatively affecting your credit score.
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...Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
6. If you're just not into technology and don't care about iPhones...
Plenty of you don't care about the iPhone or other hot smart phones, which means prepaid is a definite option for you. Why? Because none of those hot handsets you don't care about are available with prepaid carriers (without the two-year contract, carriers are reluctant to subsidize the price of these high-end handsets). ...Who Needs a Prepaid Phone?
1. If you're on a budget...
It's hard to argue with the numbers -- a prepaid cell phone will run you less than a traditional plan almost every time. For example, unlimited text and minutes with MetroPCS costs just $40 per month. A similar two-year contract service on Sprint (albeit with a few additional features like GPS, global roaming, and more) will run you $100. Coverage areas generally ...
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