Amp'd gets mobile content and mucho cash from MTV
By Paul Miller 
posted Dec 15th 2005 5:00AM
posted Dec 15th 2005 5:00AM
It's a big day for Amp'd and all, what with this being their planned launch day, but they've got some even better news: a $50 million investment by MTV, meaning they might be around for day two. MTV is also going to be offering up some content for the fledgling MVNO's network, alongside their Viacom counterparts CBS and UPN. With all this Viacom coziness it seems there might be even more partnerships to come, such as VH1, BET, Comedy Central, or the official cable channel of the Engadget HQ: CMT. This would be in addition to their current Fox and ESPN offerings, which once rolled up into a nice little ball with their other items for the young-ish crowd, such as 99 cent music downloads, makes the Amp'd offering one to check fo sho.
i just wish they'd go ahead and spill the beans on the pricing, i've been checkin that damn site for months. maybe later today.....ugh almost 6 time for bed
CMT has already been peppered with ads for Amp'd, but I haven't seen 'em anywhere else. The only other Viacom channels I watch these days are Nickelodeon, which probably isn't on Amp'ds marketing radar, and MTV Hits, which doesn't air many commericals. For that matter, I don't see their ads on CBS or UPN either. What's up with that?
you didn't hear this from me:
All plans include:
Antime Mins
Unlim Night/weekend
mobile to mobile
caller id
call forewarding
call waiting
basic voice mail
three way calling
free long distance
free roaming
internet access* (you get charged per MB)
Free Content samples
Access to amp'd live* (you get charged per MB + whatever you download)
(for 3 months all customers get unlimited MB usage for free)
250 mins = 29.99
500 mins = 44.99
1,000 mins = 59.99
2,000 mins = 99.99
Unlimited Voice/Data/PTT = 199.99
--------------------------------------
add-ons:
unlim PTT = 14.99
Insurance = 4.99
--------------------------------
Launch Promo:
128 MB SD Micro card (transflash)
Stereo Headset
Free data usage
USB Data cable
standard charger
extended battery
-------------------------------------
Unlim Text=9.99
Unlim MB = 19.99
Unlim Text/Pic/video messaging = 14.99
They better get their web site fixed if they want anyone to sign up! I just went through the whole set up page by freakin' slow page and when it gets to Checkout is just doubles back to Services. Even when I click on Checkout it doesn't allow me too!
Also, all their Flash ads go to a broken URL. (I'm using Firefox so I don't know if it's a browser problem but as they use Flash for everything I doubt it). Looks like they missed a slash.
I also had to get into the sign up before I found out that the "unlimited" data plan is $19.99 a month to allow me to download and stream as much as I want. That should just be part of the deal. Isn't that what AMPD is all about?
Also, they've only got the Kyocera Jet for sale right now. A black Moto E815 is promised (renamed Hollywood) and another slider obviously targeted at the girls. Tough to make a decision on the Jet sight unseen.
They offer some free preloaded content to sweeten the deal but it wasn't clear if it was 1 each of a wallpaper, a song, a ringtone and a video, or only one from all of those. One of each would be cool but if it's just one out of all of them then I'm not impressed. Also the Wheezer ringtone was a midi.