A little follow up. My phone, itself, came with 60 days of service and 20 minutes of air time. When I activated the phone I actually had 425 days of service (365+60=425) and 1520 minutes of air time. The main screen helpfully shows how many days and calling minutes I have left. The phone still has over a full year of service left.
You can choose a GSM phone or CDMA phone, based on what is available in your calling area. They have simple, inexpensive, even free, phones and more pricy full featured phones. Your choice. I think they can "unlock" CDMA phones so some/many people do not have to buy a new phone to switch to Tracfone.
I use some functions like the calendar to keep track of appointments, birthdays, fun things to do, etc. The directory is very useful to store names, phone numbers and addresses. Family, friends, and the Auto Club are all in it. There is a handy calculator. I have yet to use the built-in camera or video. I will learn to use the MP3 music player "some time soon." A memory card can be added to store more music or photos, etc. I need to learn how to use wifi with the phone. Free hot spots do not count against air time. There are many more functions I have yet to explore...at my leisure.
My niece and hubby have a family plan with a major carrier that costs them $150 per month. They are seriously considering dropping their cell phone company and switching entirely to Tracfone. They could save $100-$150 per month.
Another reason they may switch is the "free" international long distance. It would be a sizable savings in their budget. Hubby is a wounded US veteran. When he was in the hospital not long ago my niece could not call his parents and family in the UK on her cell phone to keep them informed which greatly distressed her, and his family. Tracfone has international calling to most of the world at no extra charge.
Niece and Hubby currently have Android phones with internet access. Now Tracfone does too. So if they switch they can save a considerable amount of money, have most or all the services they're used to, and get "free" international calling which they do not get from their present cell phone company.
tracfone.com