Not everyone needs a lengthy cell phone contract; check out your options -- and save some money while you're at it For many of us, our cell phone is our constant companion, electronic leash, safety harness, and tiny entertainment bundle. But some people don’t see the point. “I wouldn’t mind having a phone for emergencies or to occasionally call home and say I’m running late,” says David. “But I’m not signing one of those 2-year contracts. They are a rip-off for people like me who don’t talk much. And once you sign, they lure you to stay forever by offering you a new phone every two years. And what do you do with last year’s phone? Throw it in the trash? No thanks. My sister already has a drawer full of old phones she doesn’t know what to do with.” David makes a good point. For many people — your parents, kids, or ne’er-do-well brother perhaps — committing to a monthly fee is prohibitive and wasteful. I suspect that’s why consumers are lately seeing a lot of offers like Prepaid and Flex-Pay (from T-Mobile) and Go Phone (from AT&T) that allow you to pay in advance every month or buy packs of minutes and pay for only what you use. And Virgin Mobile’s entire business model is prepaid — you never sign a contract. With any of these plans, you can buy a package of minutes and text messages, and have your emergency, occasional, or starter phone for as little as nothing (with a rebate) up front and a few dollars a month. Cell phone companies are also offering to take back your old cell phone or sell you a refurbished one at a discounted price to help cope with some of the waste. But, in David’s case, there is an even better solution. He could rummage around in that drawer of discarded phones his sister is hoarding and choose one he likes. Then look for the name of the cellular company emblazoned on that phone, and order a SIM chip for it from them. If the phone is from AT&T, call them (888-333-6651) and they will send a SIM card (the phone number comes with it) for $6. At T-Mobile, a SIM card with a phone number and 10 minutes of airtime costs $6.99. If that old phone is a Virgin Mobile model, David and his sister will each get 30 minutes of talk time when he registers the phone and buys it some minutes — just because they recycled a phone. Oh, and that drawer of old phones? Why not pass those on to someone in need? If your phone company won’t take it back, Virgin Mobile has a program that finds someone in need who could really use your old phone (from any provider). Or you might be able to get a little cash for those old phones at SellYourCell.com. Technology Industry