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'Unlimited' Wireless Voice & Data Plans
Business Week spots a trend that probably isn't....
Business Week (via Slashdot) suggests that truly unlimited wireless phone plans (that includes text messaging and data) are on the horizon. It's not cheap of course: they note that Sprint has started offering an all-you-can-eat voice and data plan for $150 in San Francisco. While they suggest this is a trend, so far it looks like only Sprint is offering it, and on a trial basis at that. Verizon Wireless execs have previously stated they may, in fact, be headed the opposite direction: the scuff-up over their very limited unlimited wireless broadband service has left them considering billing by the byte.
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tnroroc
Let's Rock
join:2001-04-25
New Jersey

1 edit

tnroroc

Member

Broadband Extra?

Last month, Sprint started selling a package in San Francisco that provides unlimited voice, text-messaging, and data services for $120 a month. For an extra $30, customers get all that, plus unlimited mobile broadband access.
If broadband is extra, what does the data services included in the $120 cover?
jtel
join:2005-06-28
Bristol, RI

jtel

Member

Re: Broadband Extra?

I believe the extra charge would allow be for a wireless card for a laptop.

deadi
Premium Member
join:2001-08-26
Perry, OH

deadi

Premium Member

Yeeha!

They should go unlimited. I have been waiting for this for a while. I will be ditching Verizon if they dont loosen up.....

inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK

inteller

Member

Funny, I get all you can eat data for $20.

Combine that with my Cingular $40 voice plan with rollover, I virtually get all you can eat for $60 pre tax.

Robert
Premium Member
join:2001-08-25
Miami, FL

Robert

Premium Member

Re: Funny, I get all you can eat data for $20.

said by inteller:

Combine that with my Cingular $40 voice plan with rollover, I virtually get all you can eat for $60 pre tax.
What is the tax amount? Another 10-12 dollars?
VansHSI
join:2005-01-29
America

1 edit

VansHSI to inteller

Member

to inteller
said by inteller:

Combine that with my Cingular $40 voice plan with rollover, I virtually get all you can eat for $60 pre tax.
But you missed the whole point... it's voice too
zlm44mut4b
join:2003-07-28
Plano, TX

zlm44mut4b

Member

On the horizon?

Is this really a new concept? I first heard of MetroPCS doing the same thing the Fall of '05 and their still in business so I'm assuming it isn't gimmicky.

»www.metropcs.com/plans.php

Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
Premium Member
join:2005-01-28
Miami, FL

Michieru2

Premium Member

Re: On the horizon?

They basically started to my knowledge in Florida. They where never a gimmick and simply had problems with over capacity.

Now they expanded to many states and improving. The prices are cheap and competitive but for data usage which just recently became available a few months back which is 1xrtt you are basically allowed to only surf the net for certain amount of data until you must wait 15 minutes to do so again.

But for 5.99 what can you expect?
russotto
join:2000-10-05
West Orange, NJ

russotto

Member

Yeah, unlimited, right....

Until you actually start using the service and hit the invisible cap. Like the old joke about getting thrown out of a buffet restaurant: "That's ALL you can eat!"

cdigioia
Premium Member
join:2005-06-08
korea, repub

cdigioia

Premium Member

Re: Yeah, unlimited, right....

said by russotto:

Until you actually start using the service and hit the invisible cap. Like the old joke about getting thrown out of a buffet restaurant: "That's ALL you can eat!"
Actually, Sprint's unlimited is known to actually be truly unlimited. I've seen no reports of anyone getting booted for any amount of usage.

Really, check it out over @ sprintusers.com

unltdservice923

Anon

Why are they just seeing this now!!!????

Have they been under a rock??!?! People have been complaining about 'unlimited' service since it was first offered!

10 years ago, my Nokia 101 came with 'unlimited' evenings (which started at 6pm i think), and it was TRULY unlimited, i used it A LOT in the evenings and weekends.

Look now, unlimited isn't really unlimited, and evening service starts at 9pm?!? what the hell is that?

We all know its just about money and how to squeeze every cent from every person. Whether it's 6 different fees, from Network access charges, Long distance access charges to e911 access charges, text messages and now "Premium" text messages, this is getting RIDICULOUS. Why can't someone just offer a good service with out trying to screw people over at every chance.

StarFish267
join:2005-11-25
Keller, TX

StarFish267

Member

Re: Why are they just seeing this now!!!????

Premium Text messages are 3rd party service charges, not from your wirless provider, usually companys like;
wirefly, or blox, or jamster, etc., etc. that the FCC allows to use your wireless carrier for billing. Like a few years back AOL could bill to your home phone service, till the law was changed.

jgkolt
Premium Member
join:2004-02-21
Avon, OH

jgkolt

Premium Member

Revol and NorthcoastPCS

I used to have a phone long time ago from NorthcoastPCS that was like this. I thought the unlimited minutes were a good deal until the coverage was a problem. the phone was an audiovox and they had a huge failure rate. I went through 4 phones (free replacements mind you) then i gave up on them. I had unlimited calls but the clals would drop all the time or i wouldn't have coverage. this was before web on the cell phones and texting was huge. this carrier was a regional one and now has been purchased by Revol. I would compare it to cricket or metro pcs. It is great for people without credit and those that do not want contracts. Generally these people didn't have much money, were located in not the best parts of town, and gouged on phone prices.

I wonder if the big cell phone companys started to do this if thier deployment of new service towers would start ot shrink. Would phone prices rise to make up some of the costs. And would quality start to degrade. Don't get me wrong i would love unlimited services with my verizon phone but somehting to think about.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Revol and NorthcoastPCS

Cricket is the same .and so is Voce---Voce is nationwide selling Sprint- Voce charges $200 per month plus a $500 "membership" fee. www.voce.com

StarFish267
join:2005-11-25
Keller, TX

StarFish267

Member

Re: Revol and NorthcoastPCS

But Sprint already has a unlimited plan for anyone willing to pay $199.99 monthly per line with no membership fees * just the 2 year term agreement which if broke requires a $250 membership fee to leave the contract.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: Revol and NorthcoastPCS

But Sprint doesnt offer other services for free with the plan as the resellers do.

rob78
@verizon.net

rob78 to hottboiinnc4

Anon

to hottboiinnc4
said by hottboiinnc4:

Cricket is the same .and so is Voce---Voce is nationwide selling Sprint- Voce charges $200 per month plus a $500 "membership" fee. www.voce.com
Wrong about Voce. Voce works on the Cingular/AT&T network, not Sprint. It is $500 to sign up, but this is going to $525 soon and it is $200 per month, but this is going to $220 soon. I know because I have the service. Where do you get your information from? My phone is a Dolce & Gabbanna Moto RAZR (gold color) and is Quad-Band GSM, not dual-band CDMA. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR SOURCES BEFORE POSTING!

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

FFH5

Premium Member

By the byte plan best way to go

The heaviest users pay the biggest fees and very light users get a break.

Michieru2
zzz zzz zzz
Premium Member
join:2005-01-28
Miami, FL

Michieru2

Premium Member

Re: By the byte plan best way to go

Sorry to go off topic but I will assume it will be the same and that you do not agree with tax cuts for the rich right?

karlmarx
join:2006-09-18
Moscow, ID

karlmarx

Member

40% wireless only?

In 5 years, 40% of the people won't have a land line? I can see that. Already I don't pay for a land line, I just don't see the point in paying 40.00 a month for something I don't use. I only use about 200 minutes a month, and with prepaid wireless, my total communication (voice) bill averages less than 25.00 a month. In other words, my voice budget for the YEAR is only $300.00. Compare that to the average user, who pays $40.00 a month for voice, + $60.00 a month for cell, that's $1200.00 a year. I don't know about you, but I have much better use for my $900.00 a year I save than giving it to the megacorps.

Granted, I still pay comcrap about $60.00 a month, and my town another $75.00 a month for 100mb symmetrical. So my total comm/entertainment budget is still an outrageous $160 a month (I'm considering cancelling comcast, but then I would be stealing if I kept downloading my TV shows). And I could drop my connection to 10/10 for $30.00 a month. Hmm.. As I think about it, that makes the most sense.

$30.00 for 10/10 internet.
$25.00 for voice.. Total Comm/entertainment budget for a YEAR, would only be $660.00. That's STILL a lot of money, but a dollar amount I consider at least remotely reasonable.

batterup
I Can Not Tell A Lie.
Premium Member
join:2003-02-06
Netcong, NJ

batterup

Premium Member

Re: 40% wireless only?

said by karlmarx:

In 5 years, 40% of the people won't have a land line? I can see that. Already I don't pay for a land line, I just don't see the point in paying 40.00 a month for something I don't use.
Right, Verizon is running all new land lines.
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Re: 40% wireless only?

thats true but ONLY to people who order them. Other than that the lines are just sitting there.

StarFish267
join:2005-11-25
Keller, TX

StarFish267

Member

Re: 40% wireless only?

Not in all areas, the whole city of Keller Texas is FIOS now only they are dumping copper nationwide for fiber in a mission to knock out cable for tv & home internet, might as well have a home phone with a bundled package like a fast food value meal. "Especially since NO wireless carrier guarantee's indoor coverage."