01 Apr
Posted by admin as Editorial
It's time to update and take another look at the four major US wireless plans and how they stack up for your bottom line.
Since the last installation a wave swept through the industry like a
money saving tsunami, swirling up high expectations and slamming down
few benefits.
But after taking a look at all of the combine plans, I have found
that some companies do offer more when they use the term "Unlimited"
then others.
For my money, or lack thereof, an "Unlimited" plan is the only way to
go. If you're a frequent talker, high talker or close talker, being
able to use your phone for as long as the battery will take you is a
good thing.
If you're a data hound, (as I am) being able to surf the internet,
send and receive email and whatever else you do with a data connection,
without fear of MB charges is Freeing.
If your thing is SMS or MMS (as mine is), sometimes even when you have
300 to 500 messaging plans, you can find yourself on the business end
of a big surprise come billing time.
So the idea of Unlimited was a long time coming and can be a big help toward your daily cellular life.
So here are the plans and details of your favorite wireless carrier.
Listed by order of Top ranking
AT&T: Unlimited Plan $99
Rate Plan Details
Anytime Minutes Unlimited
Night & Weekend minutes Unlimited
Mobile to Mobile minutes Unlimited
Long Distance $0.00
Roaming Charges $0.00
Additional minutes $.00 per minute
One-time activation fee $36.00
Contract length 2 years
Included Features
Three-Way Calling
Call Forwarding
Unlimited Mobile to Mobile Calling
Caller ID
Call Waiting
Basic Voice Mail
Long Distance
If you want text, GPS, Blackberry Plans, and so on, they will all cost you extra as add-on plans. So if you want to be safe and get 1500 text messages, it will cost you an extra $15. If you can deal with 200 messages, it will cost you $5.
Want GPS?
TeleNav GPS Navigator 10 Routes $5.99 a month
TeleNav GPS Navigator Unlimited Routes $9.99 a month
Want Data?
MEdia Net Unlimited $15.00 a month
BlackBerry® Personal $30.00 a month
PDA Personal $30.00 a month
BlackBerry® Personal Bundle $50.00 a month
PDA Personal Bundle $50.00 a month
PDA Personal with tethering $60.00 a month
BlackBerry® Personal with tethering $60.00 a month
So as you can see, your unlimited AT&T plan can get pricey real fast. As soon as you start adding on those extras you're going to want, look out for a at highest $183.99 or at cheapest $139.99 bill plus tax and fees that no one has been able to explain. I did not include the plan for the iPhone which is an entirely different animal.
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Unlimited Text, Picture, Video & Instant Messaging
Mobile Email
VCAST VPak
VZ Navigator
Unlimited Mobile Web 2.0
Unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes
Unlimited National Calling
No Domestic Long Distance Charges
3-way calling
Voice Mail
Caller ID
This plan does not include Smartphones such as Palm devices, Blackberries or Windows mobile phones. Web 2.0 is not the real internet.
Want a Smartphone Unlimited plan?
$149.99 includes all of the above except VZ Navigator and VCAST VPak
Want a Blackberry Unlimited Plan?
$149.99 includes all of the above except VZ Navigator and VCAST VPak
For $10 more you get unrestricted use of the internet. But if you want VZNavigator (GPS) $9.99 Monthly Access, and VCAST VPak $25.00 or $15.00. At highest $184.98 at cheapest $139.99 plus tax and fees. But that $139.99 is serviced only on VZW VCast phones with very limited internet and email choices.
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T-Mobile Unlimited $99.99
All national voice plans include:
No nationwide long-distance or roaming charges
Nationwide Whenever Minutes®
A low rate for additional minutes
This plan features:
Whenever minutes Unlimited
Weekend minutes Unlimited
Weeknight minutes Unlimited
myFaves minutes Unlimited
Mobile to mobile minutes Unlimited
Shared minutes None
Additional minutes $.00 per minute
Data transfer None
This is for their Basic phones. Want a Blackberry or other Smartphone?
BlackBerry Unlimited Add-on
Add access to BlackBerry's powerful data functionality to a voice rate plan. The BlackBerry Unlimited Add-on includes unlimited BlackBerry Web Client e-mail and Web browsing. Does not include text/instant messaging. $19.99 per month
T-Mobile Internet
The T-Mobile Total Internet Add On Feature gives you unlimited Internet access and unlimited T-Mobile HotSpot access. Use T-Mobile Internet to access your e-mail and browse the Internet no matter where you are. Does not include text/insant messaging.
Windows Mobile Email Only Add-on $9.99 per month
T-Mobile Total Internet Add-on $19.99 per month
Want Texting?
$14.99 Unlimited or $4.99 for 400
At highest $133.98 at cheapest $99, without internet or text, just unlimited voice. T-Mobile also has a myFavs unlimited plan for $139.99 per month, which frankly, I don't understand the point of.
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Sprint Unlimited Everything $99
Everything your phone, PDA or smartphone can do nationwide — text, surf, email, listen, watch, find and, of course, talk — on one simple plan.
This plan includes
Unlimited mobile internet and messaging: Web surfing, email, GPS Navigation, Sprint Music, Sprint TV®, BlackBerry® Internet Services (BIS), text, pictures, video
Domestic long distance and roaming
900/450 plans: Unlimited mobile to mobile, night calling starting at 7 p.m. and weekends
The Unlimited everything plan for $99 includes Unlimited voice, nights and weekends don't apply.
As far as this plan goes, the above says it all. Everything is included, everything. No need to add-on. Same rules apply for every type phone.
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For this breakdown I only included "Single User" plans. I did not include "Alltel" because I have yet to meet a single person on the network. Sorry if this excludes you.
For my money the clear winner here is Sprint. It's a shame they can't get their act together concerning customer service. They clearly still best the competition when it comes to giving you your mobile money's worth.
But there you have it, the four top US carriers and their "Unlimited" plan breakdown.
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