Question about cell phones.

[Sightless]

Sorry don't know where else to post this?

I’m one of those rare people, who doesn’t have a cell phone and never had one. I was thinking of getting me one, but getting one of those Pay as you Go plans.

How does that work? You pay per minute right? First you buy some minutes, and then you spend them? But what about your cell phone # do u keep it, once u run out of minutes?

And are pay as you go plans any good for people who wouldn’t call much and are they cost effective and better then normal plans?

And which company provides the best pay as you go plan?