TracPhone recs?

[sasha_feather]

In an effort to cut costs, I'm looking for a tracphone. Here is a little secret about me, and that is, I hate shopping for things I actually need. Jesse the K gave me a rec, but I thought I would ask here as well to see if anyone has experience or advice on what to buy.

What I would like ideally:
--not a whole lot of minutes; I don't make tons of calls
--lots of texting
--a texting keyboard on the phone itself, and even better, a flip phone (because flip phones are cool and you can't hit the buttons accidentally)

Tell me what to do, internet! Advice appreciated!

Comments

[owlectomy]

Are you looking specifically for a TracFone-branded phone, or any phone that's pay-as-you-go with no monthly contract? (I had a TracFone many years ago and the service was lousy then, but it's been four or five years so I have nothing useful to say about what they might be like now.)

Virgin has a $25-a-month plan with 300 talk minutes, and unlimited texting, data, and web. My sister is really happy with them and they have a cheapish phone with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard (LG Rumor 2, at the bottom)

I have a pay-as-you-go thing with AT&T, but I have been having SO MANY dropped calls that I'm going to switch. I think their network can't handle all the iPhone-having hipsters in New York.

[sasha_feather]

I don't care about brands-- I care mostly about money right now, and the Virgin Mobile deal sounds good. Thanks for the info!