Archive for: plans
Back when Sprint came out with their Simply Everything plans, I said that while it wouldn’t bring Sprint back into the black ink, it would at least appease heavy mobile users who are getting gouged by rising cellular plans. And as we look back on the past year or so that Sprint has had said plans, I was pretty much right. They really didn’t cause a massive influx of customers to the CDMA carrier. However, as Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T start capping and limiting plans, Sprint stands alone.
Alone until now that is. Some new marketing material for upcoming Verizon Wireless cell phone plans has made its way out into the open. Most surprisingly, not more than a few weeks after VZW announced their new capped data plans, a new $69.99 450-minute/Unlimited Text/Unlimited Data plan is revealed on this new flyer. (Paying for everything separate would cost $90+!) For families, there’s a $139.99 version that allows 2 lines to divvy up 1400 minutes while also enjoying the same unlimited text/unlimited data.
**As pointed out below, Sprint still has a leg up on Verizon as their $69.99 plan offers unlimited minutes regardless of carrier as well as unlimited texts and data.
Hopefully Verizon gets around to announcing and releasing these new plans sooner rather than later. Check out the full flyer after the jump…
And so it starts — the downfall of the mobile world. AT&T has released information concerning sweeping changes to their iPhone/iPad data plans. Namely, there are now two teirs: Data Plan Plus (200MB/month) and Data Plan Pro (2GB/month). What do heavy users get to choose from? Nothing. But, they did finally manage to add tethering. Full gist right inside…
As if the wireless world couldn’t suck any more for consumers, AT&T is going ahead and fucking us all over. While the now standard practice of requiring a data plan on smartphones is ridiculous enough, being forced to pay for a messaging plan against your will is downright highway robbery. Now to be clear, this isn’t a retro active rollout or one that would affect someone who is simply changing their voice plan. This new AT&T raping is strictly for new activations. Gee, lucky new AT&T customers huh? And so we come to the dirty details.
- Phones requiring messaging at activation: Pantech Reveal, Pantech Impact, Motrola Karma, Samsung Flight, Samsung Impression, Samsung Magnet, Samsung Solstice, Samsung Mythic, Samsung Propel, LG Xenon, LG Vue.
–As you can see, these aren’t necessarily “high-end” phones. I don’t know how much time many of you have spent with the onscreen keyboards on some of these “feature phones” but the harsh reality is that they suck. They’re utter garbage. Moving on…
- Minimum “Quick Messaging Phone” Cost: $20…on top of your normal voice plan. That $20 breaks down into $5 for an allotment of 200 SMS/MMS and the $15/month required “unlimited” data plan.
–Seriously?! How can AT&T think this is in any way “good” for business? I understand some people are idiots and don’t buy a messaging plan, racking up eye bleeding overage charges. But you know what? That’s their problem. Why penalize users who don’t want or need a messaging plan. It’s that insatiable greed factor in capitalism that is so frustrating and maddening when companies such as AT&T abuse the system and take advantage of their customers.
To recap, the only people benefiting from this new change is AT&T and their pockets. The thing that is the most disturbing is that as prevalent as common as text messaging is these days, it isn’t a “necessity”. You can go your entire life using a cellphone and never send/receive a text message yet still communicate just fine. So how is it legal to forcefully charge someone for something they don’t want nor will ever need? It’s bullshit is what it is. Yet another reason I’m glad to not have to associate myself with AT&T.
Furthermore, if AT&T really were “looking out for the customer”, they wouldn’t charge $5 for 200 measly text messages. It’s no secret anymore, we all know how text messages cost next to nothing to send and receive. AT&T could easily toss in 500 or even 1,000 text messages and bump up the allotments on the other texting tiers accordingly.
Am I alone in thinking AT&T has crossed into a new level of asinine?
BGR
T-mobile’s Project Dark has been quite the talk of the town these past few weeks especially after the prices leaked earlier last week. Those leaked prices were in fact legit as T-Mobile has gone ahead and acknowledged the Project Dark pricing and details on their website. The only thing that hasn’t been announced or revealed yet *fingers still crossed* is that of a rapid 3G expansion or ‘ol flip of the switch on their 21Mbps HSPA+ network that they’ve been caught bragging about once or twice. There is still time…
After having a few days to let the details soak in and crunch the numbers, how are you feeling with Project Dark and TMO’s new direction?
Androinica > TmoNews > @ERK > T-Mobile
I know all you want to see is pictures and prices so I’ll get on with it. You might or may not be a tad disappointed. I on the other hand am pretty excited. If the wifey and I go with a 500 minute + unlimited text + web family plan on a contractual agreement, we’re looking at a mere $109/month. That may sound like a lot. Mind you it’s for two lines and is a much better price than we would get on either Verizon or AT&T. How is your setup going to fair?
Looks like I got a bit too excited. The confusion comes from the fact that non-contract pricing is cheaper per month. Under this, it would make more sense for the wifey and I to go contract free so that we could escape with that $109/month price. Going the normal route jumps us up to $139. Sorry for (1) misinterpreting and (2) getting your hopes up. The $109 quoted price is for a family plan w/ no yearly contract and includes 750 minutes + unlimited text + unlimited web for two lines. Again, my bad.
Even More: 2 year contract w/ handset subsidies
Even More Plus: Contract Free — Flex Pay — Installment based payments on handsets
**Bigger pictures immediately below
For the solo artists, the $80/month Even More plan (with subsidy and two year contract) that includes 500 minutes and unlimited text and talk is pretty decent if you ask me. In comparison, my solo iPhone contract on AT&T with 450 minutes, unlimited text, and the data plan is $95/month. I hate talking on the phone and try to avoid it as much as possible. Because of that, the lowest minutes plan is perfect for me. Of course, everyone is different and your mileage may vary.
If you’re the family type, the $10/month just for each additional line is still a disappointment. Though there are deals to be had here as well. In particular, non-talkers with equally silent companions will find that the 500 minute Even More plan w/ unlimited text and web at $109/month is quite a bargain. To remind you, that’s practically my bill on AT&T for my iPhone with less minutes and occupied by myself. How’s it looking for you?
As mentioned before, I got too excited and got confused. *hangs head in embarrassment and shame.* Now that I really see the price structure, the luster is still sorta here and sorta not. Question still stands — what’s your take?
Engadget > TMO News
Fans of Verizon’s “Test Drive” service and “New Every 2″ have a wide awakening coming to them. On February 15th Verizon will discontinue the Test Drive period. The Test Drive was a way for someone to try Verizon’s service for 30 days and if they didn’t like it they could walk away without paying. ”Not anymore”, says Verizon. Also on the chopping block is the New Every 2 feature. Under the old rules plans of $39.99-$79.98 received a NE2 discount of $50 and customers with plans over $79.99 received a $100 NE2 discount. Those prices have since fallen to $30 and $50 respectively. What does this mean for you the customer? If you were planning on joining or upgrading to Verizon, better do so before February 15th while you can still enjoy the deeper discounts. It’s definitely a sad day for Verizon customers. Big Red takes away another feature. It’s ok to cry. Continue on for a bigger picture of the flyer above.
Sprint has received some pretty bad press over the last couple years. Their policies were edging toward downright anti-consumer, the phone selection sucked, and the plans weren’t any better. Well, with the $99 unlimited plan, and some newer smartphones that have cropped up on their network, times are a changing for Sprint. They have also just made public their decision to prorate their ETF’s. The longer you are into your contract and cancel, the less you’ll pay, definitely a win for the consumer! It seems like Sprint is actually trying to please its customers for a change.
source: Boygenius
