[Randolph has updated his original 2001 post (below) with
these new comments:]

Date sent:  Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:21:33 -0500
From: Randolph Lee
Subject:  Virgin mobile phone

I last used it on my last time in the UK about 18 months ago so I  
really can not speak to it today

at that time after more than a year of disuse my phone was fine for  
the time I was there though so they were keeping to the pledge in  
force when I bought it that if the phone had credit it would not be  
killed no matter how long it was not used I hope to get to the UK for  my
next canal trip in Sept so we will know for sure then

-----------------------  Original post -----------

Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 13:05:23 -0500
From: Randolph Lee
Subject: Your page on Mobil phone hire

I used to hire a mobil phone for my annual trip but I have found that for any
one who visits every year or so the cheapest way is to buy a "Pre-pay as you go"
phone.

I used http://www.virginmobile.com/mobile/ as after much research I found that
their Phones will 'stay on the system' as long as a credit balance of even a
quid or so is maintained... the credit does not vanish if the phone is not used
every month or 3 months as it does with many other systems the phone can be left
unused for 2 years if you like and it will still be up and running when you
return to the UK.

 I bought the £99.99 Motorola Timeport P7389 last fall as it is a tri band phone
 meaning I can use it back here in the USA but you could right now get the
 Alcatel for £39.99 with (until the 18th of march a £20 air-time voucher
 included).  (Price was based on 'March 2001Special' but the cell phone outfits
 run these 'specials' all the time.)

The last time I rented a Vodaphone phone (for 4 weeks in 1999) with air time of
less than 3 hours it cost me almost £170. Inc. VAT

My 3+ hours of air time with Virgin during the month of September last year cost
me less than £20... the first 5 min each day are £0.15 a min and then its £0.05
a min (billed to the second) for the rest of that day full details at
http://www.virginmobile.com/mobile/services/price.html

Other Pay as you go phone providers may also offer time that is not lost through
non use and/or phones that will keep active numbers even if not used without a
monthly account fee... but last summer I could not find any.

Randolph Lee
Nantucket Island USA  
Randolph Lee
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Windshadow Engineering           Nantucket Island, MA USA
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