AT&T invested in Mexico with the hopes that they could tap a market that could grow significantly with a growing number of Data users. The secondary objective was to create a "borderless" North American market where AT&T would be the go-to provider for users who wanted to travel freely with cellular between the US and Mexico. It is that secondary project that gave us all hope for seamless wireless travel across the continent. As expected, this kicked off a flurry of competitive plans that gave actually us more than what we expected: Cheap Roaming for Talk, Text and Data!
As frequent Mexico travelers we tried to address the challenges on Mexico Cellular. Our most popular Mexico Roaming solution was a Mexico "Travel" phone, a choice of a low-cost GSM phone or SIM from AT&T GoPhone. We also recommended a few other alternatives, but all of them now have limited usefulness. Most carriers currently offer either FREE or low-cost Mexico Roaming. The only mainstream providers that don't are US Cellular, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile and, oddly, the Mexican-owned America Movil networks (with the exception of TelCel America). We can't help but think America Movil will jump on the bandwagon as well. The travel phone concept still works for those of us who use the low-cost providers like PTel, Red Pocket and the America Movil companies (Tracfone, PagePlus, NET10, StraightTalk and others). As we said last winter, this may still be an evolving process, but we sure like what has happened so far.
AT&T's actions have also sparked the Mexico networks to speed up their own upgrades toward faster broadband which will benefit US travelers using whichever Mexico network for roaming. We currently favor AT&T's Cricket Wireless now that they offer full North American roaming as well as well-priced US service, and the potential of accessing the better AT&T 4G-LTE network in Mexico. There should be more to come in this arena. Yes, we can travel thousands of miles away to a warm Mexican beach and still be able to completely remove ourselves from our surroundings...just like home. Be careful what you wish for.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Thursday, November 5, 2015
T-Mobile Fixes Their Weakest Link
We admire many of T-Mobile's recent marketing tactics which have forced many of the other carriers to compete more aggressively. Would you ever switch to T-Mobile? Most visitors to this site would claim T-Mobile's coverage has too many holes to entice us away, and I would agree. But we may be wrong.
T-Mobile did not participate in the FCC auction that offered 700 MHz spectrum which provides better coverage than almost all other cellular channels. However, they did buy up quite a bit of that spectrum from others later to provide new, robust coverage in mostly rural areas. We're seeing ads for T-Mobile's, "New Extended Range" coverage...but should we believe it? I too was skeptical until I realized that T-Mobile has indeed added significant coverage in many areas using these superior 700 MHz channels. Not everyplace, but some really significant places. These are the channels given up by TV stations back in 2009 when you and I had to get a digital converter to keep our old analog TV working (I still use mine).
The only limitation to this improved coverage is that we need to use a 700 MHz device, or "4G LTE Compatible." This includes many of T-Mobile's newest phones including the iPhone 6S. Yes, that means older iPhones can't go there. But when you do go there, it's real 4G LTE, not the old HSPA. They're helping all of us by pressuring the other carriers into improving their product now that T-Mobile has checked off one more objection to their network. Coverage...what a gimmick!
T-Mobile did not participate in the FCC auction that offered 700 MHz spectrum which provides better coverage than almost all other cellular channels. However, they did buy up quite a bit of that spectrum from others later to provide new, robust coverage in mostly rural areas. We're seeing ads for T-Mobile's, "New Extended Range" coverage...but should we believe it? I too was skeptical until I realized that T-Mobile has indeed added significant coverage in many areas using these superior 700 MHz channels. Not everyplace, but some really significant places. These are the channels given up by TV stations back in 2009 when you and I had to get a digital converter to keep our old analog TV working (I still use mine).
The only limitation to this improved coverage is that we need to use a 700 MHz device, or "4G LTE Compatible." This includes many of T-Mobile's newest phones including the iPhone 6S. Yes, that means older iPhones can't go there. But when you do go there, it's real 4G LTE, not the old HSPA. They're helping all of us by pressuring the other carriers into improving their product now that T-Mobile has checked off one more objection to their network. Coverage...what a gimmick!
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
More Lost Carriers We Don't Care About
It has been unnerving to see the real cellular carriers disappear, some of which were top performers among our Mountain Wireless Ratings. Then there is the handful of prepaid carriers that sort of came and went without much notice. PrepaYd (yes, with a "Y") and Voyager Wireless made an attempt at prepaid success and eventually threw in the towel. Target made a much more feeble try at wireless with their Brightspot Wireless (named after their dog, Spot?). Even Kroger has been able to maintain their own, iWireless.
All of these "Secondary" wireless companies are MVNO's (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) who just use the network facilities of the top carriers that own the towers and sites and such, and these MVNO's can just go into business with a desk, a phone and a website. Such is the case with a handful of other prepaid companies who may also just fade away without notice. Walmart has started 3 prepaid services of their own and we wonder how many of these will survive.
If the major carriers continue to cut prices on their own prepaid product (Cricket, MetroPCS, Boost, etc.), the small guys who don't operate efficiently will be pushed aside. Does that mean higher prices again some day? Probably not...as long as most of the MVNO's stay sane and competitive, and no more retail chains think they can make their own wireless product. Even Jennifer Lopez tried her own wireless and had to say, "adios."
All of these "Secondary" wireless companies are MVNO's (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) who just use the network facilities of the top carriers that own the towers and sites and such, and these MVNO's can just go into business with a desk, a phone and a website. Such is the case with a handful of other prepaid companies who may also just fade away without notice. Walmart has started 3 prepaid services of their own and we wonder how many of these will survive.
If the major carriers continue to cut prices on their own prepaid product (Cricket, MetroPCS, Boost, etc.), the small guys who don't operate efficiently will be pushed aside. Does that mean higher prices again some day? Probably not...as long as most of the MVNO's stay sane and competitive, and no more retail chains think they can make their own wireless product. Even Jennifer Lopez tried her own wireless and had to say, "adios."
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
New Brand in Mexico: AT&T
AT&T has chosen the AT&T name for its new wireless product in Mexico. They have combined the Iusacel and Nextel networks, started to add more cell sites, are upgrading the entire network to 4G-LTE, and should offer a very competitive product south of the border. So, how do you pronounce "AT&T" in Mexico? It should be: AH-TAY-Y-TAY...but their ads say A-TEE-N-TEE instead.
At MexicoCellular.com we now show AT&T as an official Mexico carrier and added Unefon as their prepaid brand, somewhat like GoPhone in the US. Additionally, AT&T has expanded the international calling abilities of their Cricket Wireless prepaid brand to include most of the western hemisphere as a reasonable add-on. The world indeed seems smaller.
At MexicoCellular.com we now show AT&T as an official Mexico carrier and added Unefon as their prepaid brand, somewhat like GoPhone in the US. Additionally, AT&T has expanded the international calling abilities of their Cricket Wireless prepaid brand to include most of the western hemisphere as a reasonable add-on. The world indeed seems smaller.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
3 More Networks to Exit
Wireless network consolidation continues. NTelos, a player in the Virginias has sold some of their spectrum to T-Mobile and the rest of their network and customers to Shenandoah Telecom. Shenandoah, a.k.a. Shentel is an affiliate of Sprint which means if you live in the Shentel area, your service looks, feels and smells just like Sprint...right down to the name on the stores. NTelos has been one of our favorite networks. At least their customers will not suffer any degradation in service.
A carrier in northeast Pennsylvania, NEP Wireless, is giving up their cellular operations. AT&T bought their spectrum but not necessarily the network or their customers. NEP users are free to go where they want. Some transactions like this maintain the contract with the new carrier. Not in this case. AT&T may need to provide some incentives, even if it's just to bring your own phone. NEP is going officially pull the switch on September 22nd of this year.
The other network slip sliding away is MTA Wireless in Alaska. They haven't announced any shutdown of their existing network, but if you want to sign up with a nice new Smart phone, you need to sign up with Verizon, and MTA is an official retailer of Verizon products. Verizon used MTA's newly-acquired spectrum to build their own 4G-LTE network and made it available to MTA users. So, Verizon may or may not take over the MTA network, they really can take it or leave it.
A carrier in northeast Pennsylvania, NEP Wireless, is giving up their cellular operations. AT&T bought their spectrum but not necessarily the network or their customers. NEP users are free to go where they want. Some transactions like this maintain the contract with the new carrier. Not in this case. AT&T may need to provide some incentives, even if it's just to bring your own phone. NEP is going officially pull the switch on September 22nd of this year.
The other network slip sliding away is MTA Wireless in Alaska. They haven't announced any shutdown of their existing network, but if you want to sign up with a nice new Smart phone, you need to sign up with Verizon, and MTA is an official retailer of Verizon products. Verizon used MTA's newly-acquired spectrum to build their own 4G-LTE network and made it available to MTA users. So, Verizon may or may not take over the MTA network, they really can take it or leave it.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Your Mexico Coverage
It was a big deal when AT&T purchased 2 of the wireless networks in Mexico. There was hope that someday US vacationers could use their phones in Mexico just like they do at home. While AT&T gears up to spend Billions to upgrade their new networks, T-Mobile comes up with a deal that opens that door, today, and for a much lower cost. T-Mobile's roamers use the best Mexico networks available...today...and we get Canada thrown in, too. In our world this also means Cricket Wireless, GoPhone and MetroPCS change their roaming story as well.
It's no small deal that AT&T customers get no data roaming...yet...and T-Mobile's do. Of course this will change sometime in the future. AT&T will construct a 4G LTE network and data will be included for Mexico roamers, but they may end up playing catchup for years.
To the benefit of Mexican wireless users, the other wireless networks in Mexico have also promised Billions to improve their own networks to 4G LTE as well, which will also benefit T-Mobile roamers. We have no idea what will happen in Canada. AT&T probably won't buy a network there. They will need to eventually do what T-Mobile has already done. Not only has the magenta network invaded the rest of North America with a pen, they continue to disrupt the wireless landscape in the US with a better idea.
Sprint is coming out with a similar plan, Open World, which offers free calls, text and Data while roaming in Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay. There may be some limits with this plan unless your Sprint phone includes GSM circuitry.
We're following the deals at MexicoCellular.com.
It's no small deal that AT&T customers get no data roaming...yet...and T-Mobile's do. Of course this will change sometime in the future. AT&T will construct a 4G LTE network and data will be included for Mexico roamers, but they may end up playing catchup for years.
To the benefit of Mexican wireless users, the other wireless networks in Mexico have also promised Billions to improve their own networks to 4G LTE as well, which will also benefit T-Mobile roamers. We have no idea what will happen in Canada. AT&T probably won't buy a network there. They will need to eventually do what T-Mobile has already done. Not only has the magenta network invaded the rest of North America with a pen, they continue to disrupt the wireless landscape in the US with a better idea.
Sprint is coming out with a similar plan, Open World, which offers free calls, text and Data while roaming in Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Paraguay. There may be some limits with this plan unless your Sprint phone includes GSM circuitry.
We're following the deals at MexicoCellular.com.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Google Fi: New Opportunity, New Problem
Google's introduction of "Project Fi" (as in Wi-Fi without the "Wi") provides a unique opportunity. Your can use whatever signal your phone can access among Wi-Fi, T-Mobile and Sprint broadband sources. Google has changed the pricing and technical profile of using wireless, and usually, most things that Google touches benefits the average consumer.
So, does this mean Google will be an "MVNO", or a re-seller of network access from 2 of the top 4 wireless carriers, or something else? As we peek over the horizon, instead of expecting the major carriers doing something different to compete, we see other MVNO's going in the same direction and offering some kind of network combination. Our challenge is to find where to classify Google's wireless. Is it "Wireless," "Prepaid," or "Broadband"? Instead of waiting to see what direction it goes, we'll just include it in every related corner of our Mountain Wireless Cellular networks and see if we can do our part to help this innovation grow.
To get in on the first round of the fun you only need a Gmail account and to request an "invite", which is similar to the start of other Google projects. Then, let the wireless innovation begin.
So, does this mean Google will be an "MVNO", or a re-seller of network access from 2 of the top 4 wireless carriers, or something else? As we peek over the horizon, instead of expecting the major carriers doing something different to compete, we see other MVNO's going in the same direction and offering some kind of network combination. Our challenge is to find where to classify Google's wireless. Is it "Wireless," "Prepaid," or "Broadband"? Instead of waiting to see what direction it goes, we'll just include it in every related corner of our Mountain Wireless Cellular networks and see if we can do our part to help this innovation grow.
To get in on the first round of the fun you only need a Gmail account and to request an "invite", which is similar to the start of other Google projects. Then, let the wireless innovation begin.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Sprint Expands Foreign Roaming
Sprint has finally come to the table with an International Roaming package that finally puts them at par with the other major carriers. Aggressive pricing, paying ETF's and Unlimited Data can only go so far. Now Sprint will offer a competitive International Roaming Value package that allows Text, Voice and Data at reasonable rates. They also offer a Wi-Fi calling app that puts them into T-Mobile's arena that expands calling abilities to many extreme corners of the house and the globe.
Recognizing overall service improvements, Mountain Wireless has increased Sprint's "MW Rating" from a dismal "6" to a respectable "7". Positive field reports from Sprint users might even improve that rating again.
We have noted these changes on our Mexico and International Roaming web sites. One odditiy is that none of these improvements include service in Canada. We hope that's coming soon.
Recognizing overall service improvements, Mountain Wireless has increased Sprint's "MW Rating" from a dismal "6" to a respectable "7". Positive field reports from Sprint users might even improve that rating again.
We have noted these changes on our Mexico and International Roaming web sites. One odditiy is that none of these improvements include service in Canada. We hope that's coming soon.
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