One of the mobile data junkies biggest complaints when it comes to their digital-loving lifestyle is that of data plans. It used to be that the US was the pioneering front in price and data allotment. As of late, however, US carriers have become just as blood sucking and greedy as the rest of the world by raising prices and/or lowering data allotments. To that effect, the solution to pesky mutli-year contracts was to ditch the contract altogether and go pre-paid.
T-Mobile is poised and prepared to make a killing on the seemingly ready to explode pre-paid market with new “Passes” pre-paid data plans. At first, the $10, $20, and $30 tiers sound like they have “win” written all over them — that is until you take a look at what you actually get… –>
Live the nomadic life do ya? Venture from place to place without a care in the world, or at the very least, places with spotty cellphone coverage? For some, paying each and every month for cellphone service is still a distasteful idea. Fair enough. Can’t please everyone. That’s why we have pre-paid plans though, so that the wireless world can please almost everyone. The only problem so far has been that pre-paid plans don’t give you too many options in the way of smartphones and data plans. If you can manage to find a “decent” pre-paid option, they’re still overpriced compared to post-paid plans and give you laughable data allowances. Laugh no more as Verizon is working on a solution.
Nothing is quite set in stone yet or 100% confirmed, but word from a few BGR ninjas is that VZW is working on some new additions to their pre-paid offerings that would include BlackBerry devices and data plans. For now, we’re not sure which device or devices would be eligible. As for the price, current rumors point at the $35 mark which isn’t too bad all things considered. Hardware pricing would follow your standard hardware pricing schemes for post-paid, settling nicely into place somewhere in between a normal subsidized price and full retail.
Anyone out there in gadget land feeling like a pre-paid BlackBerry would be right up there alley?
BGR
- September 10, 2009 6:18 am
Why am I crying? Because I everytime I get my AT&T phone bill (speak of the devil…just received my email notice they’re ready to collect), I look at my $95 dues and question the charge. “Am I really getting $95 worth of service?” For many, the answer would be a momentous and resounding “Hell No!”. For myself, I came to the same conclusion — that is, AT&T, as well as pretty much every other carrier over charges for service. Heck, a paltry 450 minutes and unlimited data costs $70/month. *Side note: That $95 bill I mentioned is after my school discount…all $3 of it /side note. So it’s no surprise that I wept as I read the details of Sprints more affordable unlimited plan. $70. Unlimited calling. Unlimited data. Unlimited texting. Unlimited MMS (which should be grouped with either texting or data btw…). You do the math. I could save roughly $300/year by switching to sprint. Do I like them? Not really. Bad service and equally bad CS back in their PCS days has left a bad taste in my mouth. Not to mention, since I’ve joined the whole SIM card/GSM group I can’t find myself going without the little wonders.
At $99/month, Sprint’s Unlimited Everything Plan wasn’t bad compared to comparable plans from other carriers. Now with a $70/month Unlimited *Almost* Everything (be honest…who uses that carrier branded crap TV junk anyway?) plan, it may be time to brush my teeth and give Sprint another go. Maybe? Swayed?
Engadget, TechVi
