Pure Talk is the gsm branch of Telrite , telecom company based in Georgia. They used to run the similar but now defunct brand, Pure Mobile which had 10 cents a minute rate too. They also have a Verizon cdma based mvno called Pure Mobile.
Pure Talk is basic talk/text with no web options. They coverage is limited to the native Att Gophone network with no roaming whatsover.
They have a decent range of older phones which are being put on holiday discounts now. They include a Razr, Krzr, Rizr, Nokia 6010 and other classic gsm phones.
They have a sim only plan which is $10, but they are giving away their entry level Simemens A56 phone for free right now, so if you want to try that plan, that is the way to go.
Their text rates are 5 cents a text. They do have some disadvantages. I'd say having credit card only with autotopup is their only option (but logical considering they are too obscure to have hard cards out).
I don't know if they really know their stuff because they're claiming that Pure Talk sims can be used in any Att locked or unlocked gsm phone. The unlocked list includes Tracfone and Net10. Any Hofo worth his or her salt will tell you that's not right. Tracfones/Net phones are near impossible to fully unlock.
I called them up a while back but had a bad experience with their customer service which completely turned me off. Bad customer service is bad customer service whether outsourced or based in Georgia/USA.
Their Verizon mvno has only two garden variety phones and DON'T allow Byod like most Vz mvnos do. Their plans are all very similar to Mingo Wireless and are basically prepaid versions of Verizon national type plans. They do have full Postpaid coverage from what the map looks like.
But they have an ETF fee of $175! So much for everyone being approved.
The Att /gsm Pure Talk has some potential, though I could recommend Air Voice or even O2 just as easily. Plus O2 has a roaming option.
The Verizon/cdma based Pure Mobile I can't recommend at all. Mingo wireless has very similar plans , costs less (especially data), has better CS, no ETF and allows any Verizon device.
Pure Mobile is a joke and Pure Talk is only run of the mill. They do have cheap phones though. $39 for a Razr V3 is actually reasonable coming from an mvno though I don't now if it is refurb or new.
Straight Talk charges $100 for theirs, though it is a cdma version.
Nothing really too compelling about either one really unless you want a free or cheap gsm phone from Pure Talk /gsm side. Another thing that stands out is their claim that "rollover minutes never expire". I want to check that out. Only STI , a Sprint mvno does that and they deduct a maintenance fee per month. If minutes never expire, can one keep an account going for $10 a year? We'll see.
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