My husband and I have those pay as you go phones. I have been with Virgin Mobile for over 3 years and he started with T-Mobile a year ago. I don't use my phone much and pay 25 cents for the first 10 minutes then 10 cents after that. The service has been really good. My husband got in on the Gold plan the first year... Target had a sale which included a $100 card and free phone for only $88. It gives 10 cents a minute good for a year and if you purchase additional minutes, even as little as $5, it will extend your minutes for another year. His reception doesn't seem as sensitive as mine, but it is still acceptable. We have different phones, so I don't know if it is the plans or phones that makes a difference in signal strength. I bought a T-Mobile Gold plan for my elderly Mom too. Works for us!