It was exactly 3 months ago we advised you that if you don't get a new wireless phone at least every 2 years, you're paying more for that phone than you expected. Today, T-Mobile is now selling phones at a predictable price, and plans that don't include a monthly payment for the phone. At first glance you might shudder at the thought of paying as much as $600 for your next wireless phone, but it could be less than what you were paying before, especially if you don't regularly upgrade your phone. This means the contract is going away, too! T-Mobile will help you spread the payments for your phone over a couple years. We're hoping other carriers will follow.
For now, this means a reduction in plan prices, but we're hoping for more. You may be among our more savvy readers who already buys a Prepaid phone for full price, then get service from a re-seller like Straight Talk at a much lower cost than you pay the carriers directly. So this method of phone payment isn't new, it's just being done by carriers for whatever plan you want and not be limited to their selection of prepaid plans and potentially the associated limited coverage. Will will be able to retire our Getting Out of Your Cellular Contract Page?
The FCC said that if AT&T was permitted to acquire T-Mobile, the wireless market would lose a major "disrupter". Well, T-Mobile, disrupt away.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
SouthernLINC Finds A Roaming Solution
Just last week we downgraded SouthernLINC, and iDEN carrier on the US Gulf Coast to a much lower Rating to reflect the loss of nationwide roaming on its only possible roaming partner, Nextel. Sprint will be shutting down the Nextel network in June leaving SouthernLINC customers with no where to use their phone but in their own 4-state region. That was indeed unfortunate because SouthernLINC is a pretty good wireless carrier backed up by an awesome electric utility company.
SouthernLINC has signed up with a roaming partner to allow their customers to roam on various GSM networks, potentially AT&T, T-Mobile and others, when away from SouthernLINC's home territory. The only catch is that you'll need a new 'dual SIM' phone that they will be offering soon, and an additional prepaid roaming plan. If you ever travel out of their home area, this is a good compromise.
We believe this improves SouthernLINC's usability. We upped their Mountain Wireless Network Rating, and when they begin offering the GSM roaming we'll probably up it another notch or two. This is good news from a very good carrier.
SouthernLINC has signed up with a roaming partner to allow their customers to roam on various GSM networks, potentially AT&T, T-Mobile and others, when away from SouthernLINC's home territory. The only catch is that you'll need a new 'dual SIM' phone that they will be offering soon, and an additional prepaid roaming plan. If you ever travel out of their home area, this is a good compromise.
We believe this improves SouthernLINC's usability. We upped their Mountain Wireless Network Rating, and when they begin offering the GSM roaming we'll probably up it another notch or two. This is good news from a very good carrier.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Viaero's President Responds
I recently saw an anonymous response by a Viaero customer to an old blog posting of ours:
In place of that, Mr. DiRico suggested that if a customer does not get a satisfactory solution, "They should ask to have their call 'escalated' to the technical department." Frank noted that the southeast Colorado area is so busy he already has plans to add 2 more cell sites in the area. He states he can't add them fast enough, especially during the winter, but they do construct 1 or 2 new sites a week. Viareo installs their own sites and does not contract that work out.
This is why Viaero has earns a "10" in the Mountain Wireless Ratings. Why can't they all respond this well?
I have been a Viaero customer for about 2 years now in the south eastern part of colorado. service was fine at first, but since about the middle of 2012 we have seen alot more dropped calls and internet on phone is as slow as dial-up. there are rumors that there is a lawsuit between them and AT&T that happened around that time. phone customer service is a joke. most the time they tell you to remove battery and sim and wait 30 sec so phone can reset. that never helps. i have been disappointed that there cell service has decreased from a radius of 12 to 15 down to 6 to 8 miles from there towers. this leaves a lot of there rural customers in a bind. we are unable to chose another carrier because we would be roaming of viaero's towers and other carriers will cancel your contract within 6 months and we have to pay the early termination fees.So I contacted Viaero Wireless, a cellular carrier serving Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and surrounding states, and the President of the company, Frank DiRico called me back. Frank is a stand up guy and takes pride in their attempts at technical excellence. He stated that the southeast Colorado part of his network is getting very busy. So busy that they further subdivided their cells into more quadrants which could have adjusted the signal away from customers like the one above. He offered to send a tech down to that person's home if only they shared their location.
In place of that, Mr. DiRico suggested that if a customer does not get a satisfactory solution, "They should ask to have their call 'escalated' to the technical department." Frank noted that the southeast Colorado area is so busy he already has plans to add 2 more cell sites in the area. He states he can't add them fast enough, especially during the winter, but they do construct 1 or 2 new sites a week. Viareo installs their own sites and does not contract that work out.
This is why Viaero has earns a "10" in the Mountain Wireless Ratings. Why can't they all respond this well?
Friday, February 15, 2013
One More Lost Carrier
I neglected to report one additional carrier that has gone out of the wireless business, XIT Wireless of extreme northwest Texas. The XIT cellular network has been sold to AT&T. They had very good 800 MHz coverage and helps further AT&T's dominance in the Lone Star State. Unlike the systems reported on yesterday, XIT will be missed, although their customers will notice very few changes...and may not have noticed anything at all.
I was certainly fooled. Passing through Dumas, TX my AT&T phone said I was roaming on XIT, and the XIT store I drove past still promoted wireless plans in the window. Additionally, FCC records show that AT&T and XIT have a separate spectrum lease agreement that implies that XIT may offer some kind of wireless service, most likely a form of Internet access.
So, we add one more name to our Wireless Archives...
I was certainly fooled. Passing through Dumas, TX my AT&T phone said I was roaming on XIT, and the XIT store I drove past still promoted wireless plans in the window. Additionally, FCC records show that AT&T and XIT have a separate spectrum lease agreement that implies that XIT may offer some kind of wireless service, most likely a form of Internet access.
So, we add one more name to our Wireless Archives...
Thursday, February 14, 2013
More Vanishing Carriers
It looks like our fastest growing data page is the Mountain Wireless Network Archives. Over the past few months a few more cellular operators have decided to go out of business. Etex Wireless of Gilmer, TX have decide to drop their wireless business with apparently no buyers. They recommend going to Verizon Wireless.
In Nebraska the news is good as AT&T will finally be able to take over the Indigo Wireless network in the panhandle area. This has been a 12 year disagreement that pretty much caused the indigo network to virtually disappear. Under AT&T the area will be served like never before, although the squabble helped make Viaero Wireless the top dog in the area, especially since they now serve most of the area with 4G.
Another network that fell out of bed was Via Wireless in Georgia. Their technical teams have been spending all of their time upgrading the fiber and wireline segments of the owner, Wilkes Telephone Company, and pretty much gave up the wireless network. This is another operator that will probably just flip off the switch to the cell sites and only the employees will notice.
One of the trends that causes us to consider the difference between "cellular" and "wireless" is that when we call and ask about the status of a wireless network, the response is, "Which one?" A few forward-thinking reps answer that although they are turning off their cellular network, you can subscribe to their Internet service and access the wireless part of your home router with your Smart phone and limit the amount of broadband charges from the surviving cellular operators. We include Clear Wireless among our network data and need to stay aware that there are viable wireless options among every single Internet service node whether it's up the street or in your house.
In Nebraska the news is good as AT&T will finally be able to take over the Indigo Wireless network in the panhandle area. This has been a 12 year disagreement that pretty much caused the indigo network to virtually disappear. Under AT&T the area will be served like never before, although the squabble helped make Viaero Wireless the top dog in the area, especially since they now serve most of the area with 4G.
Another network that fell out of bed was Via Wireless in Georgia. Their technical teams have been spending all of their time upgrading the fiber and wireline segments of the owner, Wilkes Telephone Company, and pretty much gave up the wireless network. This is another operator that will probably just flip off the switch to the cell sites and only the employees will notice.
One of the trends that causes us to consider the difference between "cellular" and "wireless" is that when we call and ask about the status of a wireless network, the response is, "Which one?" A few forward-thinking reps answer that although they are turning off their cellular network, you can subscribe to their Internet service and access the wireless part of your home router with your Smart phone and limit the amount of broadband charges from the surviving cellular operators. We include Clear Wireless among our network data and need to stay aware that there are viable wireless options among every single Internet service node whether it's up the street or in your house.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Straight Talk Throttles Case by Case
From today's Fierce Wireless:
TracFone's Straight Talk service provided a few more details on its newly launched Apple iPhone service. The company said that it does not limit subscribers' data usage at a specific threshold; instead, it evaluates customers' data intake on a case-by-case basis and will throttle the speeds of those users who the company deems to be consuming too much data.
On its website, Straight Talk claims its iPhone plans can save users up to $950 a year in service fees.
A Straight Talk spokesperson told FierceWireless that "continuous video streaming" and other data-heavy services could cause a user to consume too much data, in which case the company would contact the user and warn them of a possible slowdown in their data speeds. The spokesperson, who declined to be named due to company policy, wasn't immediately available to provide details, including Straight Talk's terms of service.
The news is notable considering Straight Talk was rumored to throttle iPhone users' data speeds after a 2 GB per month limit. However, the company's spokesperson said Straight Talk does not have a specific usage cap, and instead will throttle the speeds of "excessive" data users in order to provide quality service to its entire customer base. The spokesperson repeatedly pointed out that the vast majority of Straight Talk's users are pleased with the service and that most wouldn't run afoul of the company's data monitoring.
Straight Talk isn't the only wireless company to employ this kind of case-by-case approach to throttling. Clearwire in 2010 announced a network management system that allows the company to selectively throttle the data speeds of heavy data users.
The Straight Talk spokesperson also confirmed to FierceWireless that Straight Talk does not support the iPhone's "Personal Hotspot" function. The service allows iPhone users to broadcast a Wi-Fi connection from their phone, thereby connecting other devices like laptops and tablets to their iPhone's cellular Internet connection. Such scenarios can chew through a significant amount of data, and most MVNOs do not support personal hotspots.
However, there remain questions about Straight Talk's iPhone service. The company's spokesperson could not immediately say whether the company's iPhone 5 is able to connect to LTE networks. Support for LTE was a major feature Apple trumpeted in announcing the iPhone 5 last year.
América Móvil's U.S. MVNO TracFone Wireless announced earlier this month that its Straight Talk brand would sell Apple's iPhone, including the LTE-capable iPhone 5, coupled with unlimited talking, texting and data starting at $45 per month--significantly cheaper than what other carriers charge. Although neither company would confirm the relationship, Verizon Wireless likely provides service to Straight Talk's iPhones. Last week, Straight Talk announced it would also support existing GSM iPhones that users port to the service.
The Straight Talk spokesperson also confirmed that the company's iPhone financing plans, supplied by Straight Talk retail partner Walmart, are only available on the 16 GB iPhone 5 and the 8 GB iPhone 4. The financing plans allow Walmart shoppers to pay for the devices in monthly installments of $25.
TracFone's Straight Talk service provided a few more details on its newly launched Apple iPhone service. The company said that it does not limit subscribers' data usage at a specific threshold; instead, it evaluates customers' data intake on a case-by-case basis and will throttle the speeds of those users who the company deems to be consuming too much data.
On its website, Straight Talk claims its iPhone plans can save users up to $950 a year in service fees.
A Straight Talk spokesperson told FierceWireless that "continuous video streaming" and other data-heavy services could cause a user to consume too much data, in which case the company would contact the user and warn them of a possible slowdown in their data speeds. The spokesperson, who declined to be named due to company policy, wasn't immediately available to provide details, including Straight Talk's terms of service.
The news is notable considering Straight Talk was rumored to throttle iPhone users' data speeds after a 2 GB per month limit. However, the company's spokesperson said Straight Talk does not have a specific usage cap, and instead will throttle the speeds of "excessive" data users in order to provide quality service to its entire customer base. The spokesperson repeatedly pointed out that the vast majority of Straight Talk's users are pleased with the service and that most wouldn't run afoul of the company's data monitoring.
Straight Talk isn't the only wireless company to employ this kind of case-by-case approach to throttling. Clearwire in 2010 announced a network management system that allows the company to selectively throttle the data speeds of heavy data users.
The Straight Talk spokesperson also confirmed to FierceWireless that Straight Talk does not support the iPhone's "Personal Hotspot" function. The service allows iPhone users to broadcast a Wi-Fi connection from their phone, thereby connecting other devices like laptops and tablets to their iPhone's cellular Internet connection. Such scenarios can chew through a significant amount of data, and most MVNOs do not support personal hotspots.
However, there remain questions about Straight Talk's iPhone service. The company's spokesperson could not immediately say whether the company's iPhone 5 is able to connect to LTE networks. Support for LTE was a major feature Apple trumpeted in announcing the iPhone 5 last year.
América Móvil's U.S. MVNO TracFone Wireless announced earlier this month that its Straight Talk brand would sell Apple's iPhone, including the LTE-capable iPhone 5, coupled with unlimited talking, texting and data starting at $45 per month--significantly cheaper than what other carriers charge. Although neither company would confirm the relationship, Verizon Wireless likely provides service to Straight Talk's iPhones. Last week, Straight Talk announced it would also support existing GSM iPhones that users port to the service.
The Straight Talk spokesperson also confirmed that the company's iPhone financing plans, supplied by Straight Talk retail partner Walmart, are only available on the 16 GB iPhone 5 and the 8 GB iPhone 4. The financing plans allow Walmart shoppers to pay for the devices in monthly installments of $25.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
AT&T Buys Alltel
Atlantic Tele-Network announced today that they are selling their Alltel wireless network and customers to AT&T. We had hoped this day would not come, but if it did, the sale would be to a smaller company. The new Alltel had a number of advantages and customers were lucky to still have them as a choice in their six-state service area. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
The biggest disappointment is that Alltel was allowed to survive just to keep Verizon from being too dominant from its purchase of the old Alltel network. Instead, AT&T will become that much more dominant in rural areas of the US. Atlantic Tele-Network make a good effort to make Alltel a viable competitor, but with declining subscriber numbers, a sale looked inevitable. We had hoped that it would have been to anybody but the Top 4. After AT&T's failed purchse of T-Mobile, this purchase seems like chump change. A quick glance at Alltel vs. AT&T coverage shows there's little reason for the FCC or DOJ to object to the purchase. If any spinoffs are required, who could buy them? Verizon? We will have come full circle. Hopefully, they could keep a few of the sites in the Comnnet Wireless family, if they survive.
Alltel was still one of the Top 10 carriers in the US and their fate may be shared with some of the other lower-top 10 companies like Cincinnati Bell, C Spire and even US Cellular. Sadly, these 3 carriers also happen to dominate the top of our Mountain Wireless Ratings. We do not dislike AT&T, we just don't like losing customer choice. As our US networks get bigger, our wireless experience gets worse. But hey, you get a new phone!
The biggest disappointment is that Alltel was allowed to survive just to keep Verizon from being too dominant from its purchase of the old Alltel network. Instead, AT&T will become that much more dominant in rural areas of the US. Atlantic Tele-Network make a good effort to make Alltel a viable competitor, but with declining subscriber numbers, a sale looked inevitable. We had hoped that it would have been to anybody but the Top 4. After AT&T's failed purchse of T-Mobile, this purchase seems like chump change. A quick glance at Alltel vs. AT&T coverage shows there's little reason for the FCC or DOJ to object to the purchase. If any spinoffs are required, who could buy them? Verizon? We will have come full circle. Hopefully, they could keep a few of the sites in the Comnnet Wireless family, if they survive.
Alltel was still one of the Top 10 carriers in the US and their fate may be shared with some of the other lower-top 10 companies like Cincinnati Bell, C Spire and even US Cellular. Sadly, these 3 carriers also happen to dominate the top of our Mountain Wireless Ratings. We do not dislike AT&T, we just don't like losing customer choice. As our US networks get bigger, our wireless experience gets worse. But hey, you get a new phone!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Prepaid & Taxes
As we get more of our wireless products from Prepaid sources, more gotchas pop up. The most frustrating unforeseen circumstance is Taxes. There was a time when a $50 prepaid refill cost only $50, any taxes or fees were covered by the Prepaid provider. Now those extra charges appear on some of the Prepaid costs. When I buy a prepaid phone from a retailer like Wal-Mart or Target, I pay the usual sales taxes, but I am now also charged fees that presumably go toward local 911 services. OK, I'm good with supporting my own community.
The next charge that seems a bit of a surprise is the taxes and fees that are added to our Straight Talk (and supposedly all the TracFone-related companies) monthly unlimited plan. With an online refill (Straight Talk calls it "buying a service plan"), they add taxes and 911 fees that adds about $3.83 to the $45 Unlimited plan. I'm OK with that, too. Then comes the final checkout which appears as a nice round $50 charge. Wait. Where did the extra $1.17 go? Other fees? Extra profit? A donation to the Red Cross?
The big picture is this is still a savings over postpaid charges from the large wireless carriers, but after a number of nickles and dimes, much less so. What raises our rankles even more are the lack of such extra charges from some of the other Prepaid providers. Our favorite T-Mobile Prepaid plan, $30 for 5Gb & 100 minutes, is still only $30. Even further consideration goes to those Prepaid refills that are available for as much as 10% off, such as those on AT&T GoPhone from our own Mountain Prepaid site.
Of course all this can change at any time and there are indeed a number of strategies to avoid those extra and "mystery" charges (like switching services or where you buy your refills). We'll try to keep you on top of who is charging extra across our various web sites and how it affects your Prepaid costs. It's now about telling the good guys from the bad guys. Oh, and saving money.
The next charge that seems a bit of a surprise is the taxes and fees that are added to our Straight Talk (and supposedly all the TracFone-related companies) monthly unlimited plan. With an online refill (Straight Talk calls it "buying a service plan"), they add taxes and 911 fees that adds about $3.83 to the $45 Unlimited plan. I'm OK with that, too. Then comes the final checkout which appears as a nice round $50 charge. Wait. Where did the extra $1.17 go? Other fees? Extra profit? A donation to the Red Cross?
The big picture is this is still a savings over postpaid charges from the large wireless carriers, but after a number of nickles and dimes, much less so. What raises our rankles even more are the lack of such extra charges from some of the other Prepaid providers. Our favorite T-Mobile Prepaid plan, $30 for 5Gb & 100 minutes, is still only $30. Even further consideration goes to those Prepaid refills that are available for as much as 10% off, such as those on AT&T GoPhone from our own Mountain Prepaid site.
Of course all this can change at any time and there are indeed a number of strategies to avoid those extra and "mystery" charges (like switching services or where you buy your refills). We'll try to keep you on top of who is charging extra across our various web sites and how it affects your Prepaid costs. It's now about telling the good guys from the bad guys. Oh, and saving money.
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