dslreports logo
 story category
Ting Wants to Pay Your ETF
Has Set Aside $100,000 to Lure Contract Customers

While MVNOs initially flamed out spectacularly, several new wireless MVNOs have launched recently, all trying to do things slightly differently. Republic Wireless plans to lower prices by offloading most of the daily traffic to Wi-Fi. FreedomPop promises to offer users a basic free tier of service with low priced data and voice options layered on top. The third upstart is Tucows' Ting, a company we explored back in 2011 that plans to auto-upgrade users up (or down) the sliding tier scale to help users find the best price plan for them.

Ting was the first one out of the gate last year, though I've yet to see subscriber totals or any metric of company success in what's quickly becoming a very crowded prepaid alternative field. To try and lure in new users, a company blog post this week insists that Ting has set aside $100,000 to pay off the early termination fee (ETF) of any user willing to switch. Well sort of: the total of your ETF will be deposited into your Ting account as a service credit:
quote:
On Feb 1, the Ting $100,000 ETF payoff page will go live (we’ll update this post with the link). Continuing through the end of the month, Ting will be paying off the early termination fees (ETF) up to $350 per line for anyone that’s ready to ditch their mobile contract and come over to Ting. We’re not buying out your contract and asking you to sign a new one; Ting is (and always will be) contract-free. Your ETF payment comes in the form of a non-expiring service credit dropped straight into your Ting account.
The company has posted a FAQ for those who are interested.
view:
topics flat nest 

DataRiker
Premium Member
join:2002-05-19
00000

DataRiker

Premium Member

Can't really bring your own device

They only support a few Sprint phones.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: Can't really bring your own device

They are apparently moving to a more open "BYOSD" meaning only Sprint phones or Ting native, but as you allude this is a restricted list.

I looked at them heavily before moving to ST, but:

1. At the time is was only Ting devices (very expensive). Solved somewhat. Can use many Sprint native phones now.
2. Its on the Sprint network and only 3G. Not solved. Sprint network is pathetic in UNY. LTE I hear is coming, but Sprint has no mention of upgrades upstate so forget it.
3. The pricing is meant for low data users. You can see that the way data is priced that if you use a few gig you are getting into retail rates.
4. Tax - They charge taxes almost like postpaid and you don't know upfront what it is. I live in NY, almost the tax capital... For ST with my discount it's $46 all in, even after taxes.
5. They charge $6 base fee. I can go to PPC and get a full year for like $36 for just light usage. It really depends.

So the service is really meant for low data users and those who can pool (say 2-4 folks). If you can't control data usage (well Sprint does that for you), then you can end up with significant bills. It's really hard to justify for just one person. In that case there are a number of other sprint MVNO that a less expensive.

The ETF thing is nice, but for only 350 or so people. That would be a bummer if you are the odd man out.

morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000

morbo

Member

Re: Can't really bring your own device

The price is best for users that use wifi connections for their data. If you use mobile data (3G/LTE/WiMax) then you pay for it, of course.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband to elefante72

Member

to elefante72
TING is set up to roam onto VZW. Any MVNO on Sprint can elect for that if you're willing to pay. Many are not though as it is extra.

j1349705
Premium Member
join:2006-04-15
Holly Springs, NC

j1349705 to DataRiker

Premium Member

to DataRiker
said by DataRiker:

They only support a few Sprint phones.

I have always felt this was their biggest drawback. If they were an AT&T or T-Mobile MVNO, there would be more phones available at a much lower cost. A perfect example would be the Nexus 4. A $299 unlocked no contract high quality phone (when it is actually in stock) with Ting's pricing flexibility would appeal to a lot of people.

Their pricing structure is a great idea. I like how they don't pretend that it is unlimited and then jerk people around for actually using their "unlimited" service. Their overage rates are very reasonable as well I almost switched to them, but device selection killed it for me.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

No thanks

I just upgraded to the iPhone 5 on Verizon and I'm happy with it. The LTE on it is amazing. Besides, I don't trust public Wi-Fi (the only Wi-Fi I trust is my Apple AirPort Extreme in my home that has three layers of security and the Wi-Fi at my Grandma's house, which is secured as well).

I renewed my Verizon contract in the process as I took the discounted price.
elefante72
join:2010-12-03
East Amherst, NY

elefante72

Member

Re: No thanks

@IC:

Neither do I. With the iphone you can setup a VPN (I use privatevpn) and when you log onto the wifi access point, you just enable the VPN (it's located in Manassas, VA) and you are running a secure tunnel. Nobody watching. It works perfectly on my wifi-only ipads too.

Also, unknown to most people it that if you are browsing or doing anything on LTE/3G, etc, Verizon is collecting that data and reselling it to other people, including your location. Something to think about. They "say" its anonymous, but it's only anonymous until it's not.

If you don't have coverage issues or data limit problems, then this is just an unnecessary hassle for you, but just in case...

The nice thing about it is that I can use it on my laptops, ipads, phones, etc and they don't limit.

IowaCowboy
Lost in the Supermarket
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA

IowaCowboy

Premium Member

Re: No thanks

I have both the iPad and iPad mini, both with Verizon cellular radios in then and they are on my share everything plan. I also have a mobile hotspot as well.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: No thanks

You do realize that your public wifi can be as secure as your home network by using VPN and SSL right? The people that claim they'll never use Public Wifi for anything due to secuirty, is only as weak as the settings on the computer that is using it.
Expand your moderator at work

Txfeinbergs2
@spcsdns.net

Txfeinbergs2

Anon

LTE is available on Ting

My family is using 2 Samsung Galaxy S3's on Ting with LTE in Dallas and one Galaxy S2. Our total monthly bill is $70. It was $200 on AT&T and we have not cut back on our actual usage at all. We are just paying for what we are actually using now instead of being overcharged.
BosstonesOwn
join:2002-12-15
Wakefield, MA

BosstonesOwn

Member

Really?

Wonder if they will pay my 900 ETF for Verizon, then ill have 9 years free service !
uteck
join:2009-12-30
Elgin, IL

uteck

Member

DAMN!!!

I just switched over to them today and broke my contract with Sprint. I could have waited until next month and saved $200.
silbaco
Premium Member
join:2009-08-03
USA

silbaco

Premium Member

Interesting

Not a bad idea. But I don't find their prices that spectacular to be honest.
TBBroadband
join:2012-10-26
Fremont, OH

TBBroadband

Member

Re: Interesting

same here. To actually pay for what I use, I would actually pay MORE with Ting that I do now. Ting isn't that great for a lot of people. Maybe for the ones that only text or phone a few times a month.