This is amazing. Basically, it’s an Android based phone service that uses wifi to make calls, text, and data whenever possible, and then when wifi is not available, it defaults to the Sprint network. It’s $19 for unlimited everything as long as you stay within the average usage zone. They say that most people are in wifi zones 60% of the time, and that is how they can keep the cost down that much. So if you are on the average and are using mostly wifi, or if you are using low volumes of actual cellular activity, you will be fine for the $19 a month pricing. If you go way over, they don’t bill you, but they let you know you should adjust your usage, or consider switching to a different carrier.
It’s a really smart business model, and from what I am reading, it’s pretty seamless. I think there may be issues with if you are in wifi, walk outside out of range, and it may drop the call to where you would have to call back from Sprint, but I have not confirmed this yet. You also have to use their phone currently, but it is an LG Optimus, so it is a good phone, and it’s only $99 for new customers using the discount code, and that includes the first month of service.
Good:
No contract
Only $19 a month plus taxes
Good phone
Really unique concept
Unlimited talk, text, and data
Bad:
Possible dropped calls when switching from wifi to cellular network
Only one phone
What do you guys think? I am pretty sure I am going to sign up, give it a try, and then decide on whether I want to keep it or not during the 30 day risk-free trial!
I don’t know what to think. Sounds like it would be good for the younger crowd. That you want to keep tabs on. Or even for a home phone. I might have to look into this some more.
---------- Post added at 04:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------
I had a sprint account for ten years, never had a problem with their service or their network. Sometimes it would roam to Verizon when inside a walmart, or in really remote areas but for most people it is fine.
I actually just went to a Virgin Mobile account which is owned by sprint. The only thing with Virgin is there is no roaming, so you just won’t get service if you go off the sprint network. I carry a ATT gophone in the car for emergencies, and I have yet to use it. I pay 45 dollars per month for a lot of minutes and unlimited web/texting for the Virgin.
I ended up doing it. I made it in the beta program, they are now closed. They sold so many initial accounts, that they are unable to meet the demand, so they told me it could be 30 - 60 days until I get my phone! Anyways, I will get 30 days from when I receive the phone to cancel, and I can get back all of the money, including the cost of the phone. So why not try it out!
I will report back to you all when I get it, and let you know how it goes.
I have a Sprint cell phone for work…Coverage sucks. I lost signal in downtown Chicago, I constantly lose coverage in Buffalo, my friends went into INTL roaming at the Erie County Fair. I couldn’t activate a few cell phones in our building, and the lady on support said that it might not activate in that building. Yet AT&T and Verizon work without a problem.
I got my startup kit today, and have been using / getting used to the phone all night. I will post up my first review tomorrow, and keep you all updated on how it works.
So far, it’s great. Texting and data are 100% the same as normal plans. Voice acts the same, but the quality is not as good as a cellular plan. The voice sounds good, and real time, but it is a little bit tin sounding. It’s more like using Skype than using a phone. Either way, so far so good, and I am really liking the Gingerbread Droid OS. The phone isn’t as good as the iPhone, but it’s loading all of my apps just fine.
The wifi/cell handoff is getting better. I have setup some business mobility paltforms that watch the call over WiFi and when you roam out of it, it will call you on your call network. Only issue there is a couple second delay where sometimes the person goes “hello?” but other than that, its solid.