By I-Hsien Sherwood (i.sherwood@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 12, 2013 02:16 PM EDT
Tags Verizon Wireless, Prepaid Plan

We usually report of changes in the smartphone market, but here's some news for those of you who eschew data plans.

Verizon is offering new contract-free prepaid plans for only $35 per month, and they're only accessible with "feature" phones -- any phone that isn't a smartphone.

The new plans come with 500 anytime minutes, unlimited text messages and unlimited internet browsing, though additional minutes are 25 cents apiece.

You can bring along a feature phone you already own, but Verizon is also offering discounts on several feature phones in its stable: the LG Cosmos 2 and the Samsung Gusto 2 for $49.99, the Samsung Intensity 3 for $59.99 and the LG Extravert for $69.99.

However, these plans don't include free mobile-to-mobile minutes, so talking to other Verizon customers counts against you allotment of 500 minutes. Verizon does have $50 monthly plans that include unlimited calling, so if you're a chatterbox, that might be a better deal.

The $35 plans are about as cheap as it gets from the big carriers, though a few small, local carriers have plans as cheap as $25 per month, no frills.

If you already own a phone, though, you might want to look into T-Mobile which has switched completely to no-contract monthly plans. They start at $50 per month for unlimited talk and text and 500GB of data, and you can bring your own phone.

If you feel like splurging a little, every T-Mobile phone is $99 down and about $20 per month for 24 months, though some have lower monthly fees. If you need a new phone and plan to keep it for a long time, this is probably the way to go, since you actually end up paying off the phone after two years, so your monthly bill will drop back down to $50. You can pay off the balance for the phone early, but there's no interest, so there's really no incentive.

T-Mobile will even unlock the phone afterward, so you can keep it and take it to another carrier once you're done.

So, Verizon for $35? What do you think?

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