I always get nervous when new companies claim they are launching true national unlimited voice and data packages –but Zer01 is a new company that is claiming this.
From the press release
“We are the first mobile service to offer consumers a true national unlimited voice, data and Internet plan without any contracts or commitments that is priced affordably at only $69.95 per month with taxes and fees included. We have licensed patent pending proprietary Veritable Mobile Convergence (VMC) Technology from the Unified Technologies Group that allows each smart phone user to make voice calls or transmit data efficiently by bypassing carrier circuit-switched channels by sending voice communications through a VoIP system and onto a virtual private network that accesses the Internet,” explained Ben Piilani, CEO, Zer01 Mobile. “Zer01 Mobile is not a new mobile virtual network operator (MNVO). We are a new communications carrier. For many years now, we’ve been developing our VMC Technology and I’m looking forward to premiering our new Zer01 Mobile service at the upcoming CTIA Wireless event.”
What we think?
Yikes apart from the one price of USD 69.95 there are no other details. This makes me even more nervous as I have realized that in the US (where I am now on holiday) adding tax and gratuity automatically seems to be the norm. Also isn’t the Boost Mobile offer USD 10 cheaper than this???
Hey, I am from Boost Mobile and we are actually $19.95 cheaper, our unlimited plan is $50 a month(and our price is a flat rate with no added taxes or hidden fees). Check out our plan: http://plans.boostmobile.com/monthlyunlimited.aspx
Boost has a great plan in the U.S. TMobile is now offering unlimited Voice for $50. Text and Data, tack on $20. Not sure how a start-up plans to battle already proven companies offering same service for same price or much less.
The major appeal of Zer01 Mobile is truly unlimited data beyond the several GB download caps of the major providers which is why the phones listed on their website are all smartphones.
Having unlimited data will also allow for tethering of your phone to your laptop so you can surf the internet wirelessly which would be similar to a laptop broadband card. $69.95 is the total price which includes taxes. A big question with Zer01 Mobile is the quality of their voice calls since all voice calls will be sent over the data network as VOIP traffic.
Yes Boost Mobile is cheaper but they don’t even allow you to make conference calls. I bought a Boost Mobile phone and was going to activate it but then I saw that conference calling was prohibited so I returned the phone. The conference calling restriction along with several others are listed directly on the Boost Mobile’s website at http://www.boostmobile.com/activation/
And their wireless web speed is about the same as a dial-up internet connection so their target audience is person to person calls along with unlimited texting once their texting delays are resolved.