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April 7, 2008
Unlimited Cell Phone Use for $99 per Month
The big guys - Verizon, AT&T, TMobile and Sprint now all have unlimited talking plans for $99 with no roaming or long distance charges. No more worries about going over on your minutes and ending up with a large bill. I currently have a 2000 minute plan for $99 dollars and have gone over several times, a couple of times very painfully - $400+.
All the plans have unlimited minutes $99, but there are some differences:
Verizon: Unlimited call plan and their Mobile Web 2.0 - this gives you access to news, weather, sports, etc. Text messaging, GPS navigation and other services are extra. For $119.99 you get everything in the $99 dollar plan plus unlimited texting. For $139.99 there is a plan with unlimited minutes, texting, GPS, VCast VPak and mobile email.
AT&T and TMobile: Unlimited calling, all other services are extra.
Sprint: Unlimited call plus mobile internet and messaging: Web surfing, email, GPS Navigation, Sprint Music, Sprint TV, text, pictures, video.
It looks like the Sprint is the best bang for the buck if you are interested in services beyond calling. Of course the best value in a plan doesn't count for much if that carrier doesn't offer the phone you want or doesn't have good coverage in your area. And remember that a $99 plan does not mean a $99 bill. My current $99 Verizon plan costs me about $116 each month, if I don't go over 2000 minutes.
Are any of these plans right for you? Probably not if you usually don't use close to 2,000 minutes (or more) each month. Or if most of your calls are to and from people on the same carrier. Most carriers offer plans where calls from, for instance, a Verizon customer to another Verizon customer are not billable minutes. TMobile has a few MyFaves plans that lets you choose five numbers that you can call without using your minutes - the numbers can be landlines or with any mobile carrier. TMobile is not an option for me, they currently do not offer service in Knoxville, TN.
What do you like - dislike about your current plan? Are you going to sign up for one of these plans?
Posted by Bob Gatton at April 7, 2008 7:18 AM
Comments
Service plans are a lot like ice cream.
Its all good but some folks like vanilla and others prefer chocolate.
Still, a good reminder of the need to re-evaluate your service plan now and then...
Posted by: TiVoPrince at April 11, 2008 3:47 PM
What do I like about my mobile plan? The fact that my company pays for it. :)
Posted by: Eric V. Greenman at April 11, 2008 4:09 PM
All the companies have plus and minuses, and have for some time. The $99 unlimited plan is a good idea that should be continuously improved upon with even lower rates or more meaningful features. And God forbid if you're late with a payment for a few days. That collection agency will be on the phone in a N.Y. minute chasing you down! Too bad they can't get after their system problems with that zeal!!!
Posted by: P. Redmond at April 14, 2008 2:41 PM
