We're almost embarrassed to admit our latest project has consumed the better part of this month. We're looking for the best value (cheapest?) in a Smart phone and data plan. The process has been daunting, including waiting for a phone that turns out to have been shipped directly from China. I'm going ahead and publishing where we stood last week:
We found that the cheapest way to make that step up is to pay an additional amount of $25 per month, minimum. That's a huge increase for those of us who look for ways to save $5 to $10 a month by shuffling plans or changing carriers.
To do this on the cheap we had to find a Smart phone with 2-year old technology and a Prepaid plan that allow us to pay for broadband by the day, and not use it very many days. Is there a better, or cheaper, way? If you're often within accessible wi-fi coverage, most wi-fi capable smart phones will work through broadband and can make calls without an assigned calling account. With a prepaid calling account, Voice & Text can be had for just a few bucks per month. If you can limit your new Smart phone's web access to wi-fi, you can do it cheap. Pay by the day broadband plans are the next step up for $2 or $3 a day, depending on your speed, from 2G to 4G.
Today, the best plan seems to be from SIMple Mobile for $40 per month, using the T-Mobile network. However, that is best used when you bring your own GSM phone. If you want a nicer or newer phone, the math changes substantially, based on the fact that most carriers will give you a new phone if you agree to pay a stiff fee for the next 2 years. We're afraid this project has no clear end, so I'll call it a work in progress.
If you've read this far, be amused with the fact that I had to send that phone from China back as being defective. Back to square 1.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
T-Mobile Acts Like They Mean It
T-Mobile has made some substantial moves recently that makes them a really attractive place for your wireless business. Here are some highlights:
- They gained a significant amount of cash and spectrum from the failed AT&T takeover. This helps expand T-Mobile coverage, especially broadband.
- They started to "re-farm" their spectrum to offer LTE broadband at 1700 MHz, and HSPA+ (their form of '4G') on their current 1900 MHz channels, making their higher speed services available to existing iPhones.
- They now offer Unlimited broadband for Smart phones, not available at any price on other carriers. T-Mobile's price can be as low as $30.
- They now encourage people to bring their unlocked iPhone directly to the T-Mobile store for immediate activation on the T-Mobile network.
- They have hinted at soon selling their own iPhone.
- The FCC gave T-Mobile permission to test the 1755-1780 MHz band for sharing with existing users to see if wireless service is compatible before all old users are required to move.
- They now offer new broadband (USB modem) plans, some are now more generous.
- They have signed up some new MVNO companies (resellers) indicating a new confidence in the continued operation of their network.
- They have discontinued their unlimited prepaid text plan at $15 per month.
- They have increased the price of the 2nd tier of their prepaid plans from $25 to $30.
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