I’ll let you in on a boring little secret: I don’t own my own cell phone. Due to my job as reviews editor, I rely on using demo phone after demo phone and have a Grand Central number that I forward to whatever device I happen to be using at the time. The system’s worked out well so far, but I know there will come a point in time — a perfect storm, if you will — that I’ll have sent back whatever phone I’d been using and won’t have access to a new phone yet.

Being the cheap-ass frugal consumer that I am, I’ll need to find a super-low priced pre-paid phone to tide me over — an almost disposable phone. Enter, the Hop-On HOP1800, a $10 GSM phone that’s being advertised as the disposable “Anti-iPhone”.

It’s just a phone, though, as you need to provide your own SIM card to use it. But it works worldwide and with over 40 domestic wireless carriers, so you’ve got plenty of options. According to a recent press release,

“Though the iPhone is an amazing device, I challenge anyone to make a call faster than with the HOP1800,” says Hop-On CEO Peter Michaels.  “With the cost of living and roaming fees going though the roof, the HOP1800 is also the perfect iPhone traveling companion.  Just buy a local SIM card and you can use the HOP1800 with over 40 domestic wireless carriers,” Michaels said.

Both HOP1800 phones, one a Dual-band 850/1900MHz or the 900/1800MHz for Europe and Asia, weigh a scant 77 grams, offers 4 hours of talk time, 150 hours of standby time and polyphonic ring tones.  Though low in cost, the HOP1800 uses reliable Infineon chip sets for excellent audio quality, reception and call stability.

At a $10 price point in the US retail and convenient stores, the HOP1800 could be considered disposable, but the company offers a $5 rebate for returning the phone to encourage recycling the phone to “Keep it Green”.

The phone is available now “to retailers such as drug and convenience stores, big box retailers and to businesses looking for a unique branding opportunity,” so you may see this around town if you haven’t already.

via SlashPhone