They do, and they are slowly improving, but there are a lot of flaws in the system. From what I read that is getting better in the last few years, but there is still a lot to be desired. It has been a few years since I lived in the states, though.
I was paying more than that with a prepaid "plan" with less data, for example. The service is generally more expensive - I just happen to be a light user so it worked out for me. But if I call an 800 number or answer a phone call? I get charged. Plans subsidize the cost of the phone: Pre-paid does not, and the selection is generally full of refurbished phones and models 1-2 generations out of date. Most didn't have the option of the newest phone if you were on prepay. It used to be that some prepaid services wouldn't work on other networks or would charge so much it wasn't feasible (verizon wouldn't work on at&t network).
Some companies simply don't offer international calling or texting on a prepaid plan: I had an issue where the company suddenly started charging extra for international texts because Norway suddenly wasn't on their list of included countries - and that was the entire reason I paid for that bulk texting.
I also found the customer service to be lacking. One company refused online customer service for prepaid customers: More than one had special, seemingly second class call centers for prepaid customers.
Simply put: I think the pay-as-you-go is probably a better setup there than in the states.
I was paying more than that with a prepaid "plan" with less data, for example. The service is generally more expensive - I just happen to be a light user so it worked out for me. But if I call an 800 number or answer a phone call? I get charged. Plans subsidize the cost of the phone: Pre-paid does not, and the selection is generally full of refurbished phones and models 1-2 generations out of date. Most didn't have the option of the newest phone if you were on prepay. It used to be that some prepaid services wouldn't work on other networks or would charge so much it wasn't feasible (verizon wouldn't work on at&t network).
Some companies simply don't offer international calling or texting on a prepaid plan: I had an issue where the company suddenly started charging extra for international texts because Norway suddenly wasn't on their list of included countries - and that was the entire reason I paid for that bulk texting.
I also found the customer service to be lacking. One company refused online customer service for prepaid customers: More than one had special, seemingly second class call centers for prepaid customers.
Simply put: I think the pay-as-you-go is probably a better setup there than in the states.