by MyRatePlan Staff on October 25, 2009
T-Mo
bile completely overhauled their cell phone plans today, droppping ‘myFaves’ and simplifying to just 3 plans each for individual and family plans. The highlight is a new low-water price point for contract unlimited voice service — just $59.99 for one line and $99.99 for a two-line family plan. All plans include unlimited mobile-to-mobile and free nights and weekends. On a per-line basis, unlimited text messaging is $10.00. The optional data feature is an additional $10 for regular phones, while the required data plan is $30 for BlackBerry and other smartphone devices. At the same time, T-Mobile has launched an identical series of no-contract plans that are priced $10 ($20 for some family plans) less than the corresponding contract plan. As with other no-contract and prepaid plans, you’ll pay significantly more for the phone. To compare the new contract plans with other carriers’ options, visit our CellCalc rate plan comparison tool.
MyRatePlan Analysis: We’ve been forecasting that by the end of 2010, there will be just two voice plan options –a small bundle or pay-as-you-go for light users, and a flat rate unlimited voice for everyone else, with text and data as add-ons (probably marketed as bundled plans). T-Mobile has taken a big step in that direction with these changes. They’ve also addressed a pricing distortion in the marketplace, where contract unlimited service was $100 per month, while prepaid unlimited with services like Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile is about $50 a month. T-Mobile is now matching the $50 for no-contract service, and sets a price point for contract service that will force other carriers like AT&T and Verizon to respond.
Digging deeper into the changes, T-Mobile has actually raised some prices as part of these changes. Data pricing for smartphones has increased $5 per line, while text messaging has been consolidated into a single $10.00/month plan. Previously, there was a $5.00 plan offering 300 texts. Since pay-as-you-go messaging remains $0.20 each, this will force more new customers to opt for a more expensive text bundle than they might have otherwise preferred. The low-end $39.99 rate plan actually has fewer minutes now than before; this will also encourage more new customers to trade up to a more expensive rate plan.
Tagged as:
cell phone plan,
t-mobile,
unlimited
by MyRatePlan Staff on September 26, 2009
At long last, AT&T has made picture and video messaging available on the iPhone. For those who already have a text messaging package, these message types are included in the plan and are treated like text messages.
To receive the new capability, you’ll need to connect the iPhone to your computer and download the latest update from Apple.
Tagged as:
iphone,
text message
by MyRatePlan Staff on September 10, 2009
Shipped directly from AT&T with priority two-day free shipping. Requires new two-year AT&T service. Per AT&T, “refurbished phones are previously owned devices that have been unused or lightly used and returned during the 30-day trial period.”
8 GB iPhone 3G: $49
16 GB iPhone 3G: $99
Apple iPhone 3G
Tagged as:
deals,
iphone
by MyRatePlan Staff on September 10, 2009
Correction added 9/11: This offer is a bit better than we originally thought. Despite specifically indicating in the press release that this new service applies to calls “from the Sprint network”, it actually applies to both inbound and outbound calls between two wireless phones.
Sprint announced today a new feature called “Any Mobile, Anytime” that builds on the concept of free mobile-to-mobile calling by offering free calls to any wireless phone on any U.S. carrier. The new feature will be available to new and existing subscribers of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, which start at $69.99 for one line and $129.99 for a family plan.
MyRatePlan Analysis: This move is a bit of a yawner. Sprint is obviously hoping this feature will encourage more people to move to the higher revenue data plans. They are promoting the feature as a way to break free of restrictive calling circles (where a subscriber can call a set number of ‘favorites’ free of charge, whether wireless or not). We’re not sure the comparison is relevant, since Sprint is pre-determining what the calling circle is (all wireless phones) and it only includes outbound calls. Granted 250 million cell phones is a big calling circle, but since most people probably don’t know if numbers they are calling are wireless or not, it is going to be tough for customers to translate this feature into anything actionable in terms of saving money. We think it will make it more confusing for prospective customers to choose the right Sprint plan for their needs.
Bigger picture, however, this is one step closer to the day where all cell phone plans have unlimited minutes.
by MyRatePlan Staff on August 25, 2009
Starting September 6, new AT&T customers who purchase a smartphone or BlackBerry, as well as existing AT&T customers that upgrade to one of those devices will be required to purchase a $30 data plan with their phone. This requirement puts AT&T in line with the other major carriers, all of whom have had this requirement for a while (although pricing varies by carrier). Until now, AT&T had only required a data plan for the iPhone, one that is built into a separate series of plans available for that device.
MyRatePlan Analysis: The impact is likely to be fairly small, as most people who purchase a high end device would likely purchase data service to take full advantage of the features. However, future customers (and those upgrading) who are mainly interested in having one of these phones for texting via the QWERTY keyboard may choose to instead purchase one of the many “quick messaging” phones offered by AT&T. These will not require a data plan. On the business side of things, BlackBerry may see a slight reduction in market share of AT&T’s business if customers forgo those devices to avoid the data plan.
Tagged as:
AT&T,
blackberry,
smartphone
