While not as convenient as owning an actual android phone, Your tracfone can be linked to your google voice, in a more seamless way than you think.

Tracfone contacts can be rigged so that you call through your google voice, (assuming you want the others to see your google vice number instead of tracfone number)

Also, you can also set it so that SMS can be sent using your tracfone using google voice. but this requires you first know the google voice equivalent number for your contact. This can be  easily configured by setting it so that google voice number is displayed for incoming sms). This number is not your google voice  number but the alternate number that google assignees to your caller, specifically for this purpose. (imho, google engineers have thought of everything... Smart bastards). once this is set, their alternate google voice/sms number can be obtained after you have Texted the person from your gmail or google voice. Once they respond,  It is seamless. Their actual number might be 555-1234 but to your tracfone it will show up as some different number, say 222-6666. You can save this in your contact and text to it. The other guy will see your google voice number.

Optionally, you can save tons of minutes by only using the tracfone as a proxy, when not near a laptop or smartphone.

If you have a laptop/smartphone, just log on to your gmail ... you can see missed calls, make calls via google voice (free) send receive text  (free), and send text for free too. All from the browser.

Tracphone

I use Tracphone and it hasnt failed me yet. I usually get a good signal and theyre cheap so re-upping for minutes isnt that bad. I only ever use it for hobbying so my minute usage is limited. Unless you are married or in a LTR having 2 phones is no big deal. I usually turn mine off when I dont use it and leave it in my glove compartment. I keep the charger in my car, too. Never tried the Google option but if you have to connect it to your regular phone that could prove to be more trouble than its worth. If you have a bad experience or want to change your number, you just throw your Tracphone away and get a new one. Problem solved.

Just what deed will you be doing that might attract enough attention of a governmental agency and motivate them to spend the time and resources needed to trace you on that number?

Let's get real about this, can we?

I use GV because I found remembering minutes' expiration dates and having to buy minutes every other month or so to be too cumbersome.  Also in order for it to remain "anonymous" you have to pay for the phone and all the minutes with cash at a drugstore or Target.  You also have to activate your phone from a public computer at a place like a library.  Lots of steps/shopping trips for something that you may use a total of 2 hours per year.  Disposable cells are not impossible to trace.  Nothing stays private once LE gets involved (ever hear of a subpoena?).  So that advantage is inconsequential when you really need it.

I don't use SMS as I have push email installed on my mobile phone.  Most of the providers I deal with have smartphones as well.  So I don't miss the feature much.

If you have a problem with GV just unlink your mobile phone from GV and then close the entire Google account.  Then just open a new Google account and get a new GV number.  It's the same as throwing a disposable away and getting a new one or having Tracfone switch your mobile number.

Food for thought: if you ever use your real name/work info for hobbying, it doesn't really matter which option you use since your hobby phone number is then linked to your real information.

The verdict is use GV if you like convenience and saving money.  Use Tracfone if you want a minor added measure of security that won't come through for you if you find yourself in a serious situation while at the same time spending some more money and having to remember to keep your minutes up to date.

I use a pay as you go. I purchased my current phone through tmobile. I have had a pay as you go through Cricket and Boost in the past.
Basically I went to tmobile picked out my pay as you go phone and went to the cashier I gave them a fake name and address. They dont even check your drivers license nor your social- because its a ZERO contract phone. Then will the bill is due I either go into the store or I go to a circle K. Circle K has a bill pay center- its a Kiosk where you can pay your  bills with cash. I pay cash every month.
My bill for unlimted txt and talk is $50 a month.

Benefits:
1.Untraceable
2. Not registered in your name.
3. Cheap-unlimited monthly plans.
4. good service
5. Pay in cash every month.

Hope this helps

In my day we gave a hooker a tin can and a piece of string and it worked just fine.

Vice could never trace you unless they found the string and cut it.  

That was OK because it was no-strings-attached sex anyways.

Jesus fucking christ. Another fucking phone thread....

I wish there was an option to moderate subjects as much as people. Fuck.

abt google voice

well i use it as its like a answering machine for me . i can have it on forward to any of the 2 cells i use..
your choice use it or not..

Indiana Provider

I have a client that only uses email to get a hold of me.like most phones now days you can email and recieve emails just like text messages and is a lot safer than carrying around 2 phones if your trying to be discrete!