Amp'd finally launches in US

It's been a solid nine months since Amp'd announced its intentions to take over the totally extreme youth-oriented EV-DO MVNO market, and since then we've run many a story about their phones, music plans, and network deals. We heard they were hemorrhaging cash fast, and that they even might not make it out the door. Well, way to prove your early naysayers wrong, Amp'd — you launched today in every major EV-DO-enabled market Verizon's got.

Starting phone lineup includes the Hollywood (aka a Moto E815) with a microSD slot, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and EV-DO, of course, due early 2006; the Angel, a GPS-enabled device with a 176 x 220 screen and EV-D0 due "late" 2005; and, of course, the $129 Jet, another microSD, GPS, and EV-DO enabled slider (shown in reverse order above). So as of now you can pick up that Jet with a rate plan between $29.99 to $199.99 on two year contracts, Push-To-Talk for $20 per month or $0.99 per day, but no indication so far as we can tell as to what their data plans are actually going to cost.

[Via MobileBurn]

[Louis @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

It does say that there's unlimited data for $20/month.

[edmund @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

why bother?

[Alan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

unlimited data is 19.99 and unlimited PTT is 19.99

[Deluxe @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Antennae? Please.

[Louie @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Poser Mobile, biatch.

[Earle @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Despite being an adult, I use Virgin Mobile. I prefer the pay-as-u-go style of cell phone access. I live in a very pots environment between work and home and don't need to use a cell a lot despite having a full blown family and career, not to mention I live close to where I work so the need to conduct life via a cell from my car is not necessary. Plus, I find it hard to justify the high costs and long term contracts of a regular carrier. I am thinking that my money can be better spent or saved elsewhere. You do save, right? Anyways... I may consider amp'd if it's available in the 12345 but it will be a longshot. I find Virgin to be great. I get nice, informative emails from them. Low yearly costs. They just easily handled a credit card expiration without issue, unlike other organziations. Plenty of coverage from urban, to suburban, ro rural locations. Afterall, it is the Sprint network. No roaming fees. No contract. It's easy. No monthly paper bill. It's pretty hassle free, which is what I want from my service. Sure the phones are pretty much basic but if I need data I prefer the big 17" screen instead of the 2" screen anyways, call me old skool, I can take it... :-)

[Sascha @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I done reviewed it. Link above.

[myk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

#5 Louie, you took the words ryt out of my mouth. All style and no substance. Nice try tho.

[Brandon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

btw, thats a miss quote, ptt is only 15/month

[ALIJAH @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

WITH THE 199.99 PLAN YOU GET UNLIMITED ACCESS TO EVERYTHING PTT, DATA

[Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

What a completely useless company. The last thing this country needs is more ways to use CDMA.

[Jon A. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Don't bang it until you actually try the service (and I would suggest trying it until it's out of it's beta phase). From the sounds of PC Mags preview, thanks Sascha, from all of the content providers lined up, from the good service deals ($15.00 for PTT, not $30.00 Ryan), and the great Verizon network this company has some potential.

[Ryan Block @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Not sure where the confusion is. It clearly says on their site "Push-to-Talk $0.99 per day" on all plans but the $199.99 per month unlimited -- where in PTT is unlimited.

http://get.ampd.com/rate_plans/index.php

Best, Ryan

[Jon Gales @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I think it says $.99 per day for PTT because it's billed like Boost Mobile--only when you use it. If you use it once, it was a dollar for the month.

And yes, unlimited data is $20/mo after the three month free trial.

[MB @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Ryan, you have this a bit wrong. PTT is $14.99 unlimited -- otherwise you can use it day by day for 99 cents per day but you are not charged that if you don't use it.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

But you've missed the best part: Mobile to Mobile take your Anytime minutes till they're gone.... THEN YOU HAVE UNLIMITED Mobile to Mobile.

P.S. Has to be the smallest Mobile to Mobile community on earth at the moment. Happy Holidays, bend over. Amp'd.

[weirdlookinguy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

*COUGH*Poser Mobile*COUGH*

This company sorta reminds me of t-mo's *COUGH*Poser Mobile*COUGH* commercials. I have a T-Mobile phone and it's great. I would never switch to Amp'd because it's just like *COUGH*Poser Mobile*COUGH*. Who's network do they use? You can easily tell if a company is a *COUGH*Poser Mobile*COUGH* if they use someone else's network for calls & data. It doesn't convince me when a cell company doesn't have their own network.

[CoCoRoCo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

So what the hell happend to it's prepaid plan??? Is it not launching it because they are still in betta phase???

I'm very disappointed already with ampd.

[Sean DL @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Prepaid is coming after the Motorola Hollywood. They first need commitments to prove to there content providers that they are worth making deals with. That explains the 2 year contracts.

Because Amp'd is a entertainment company first, phone service second.

[tetfsu @ Dec 31st 2005 10:28AM]

Yeah, but they can sponsor the supercross series without even having launched their product... what's wrong with the world when vapor ware companies can shell out a ton of their VC just to be "the cool kid" on the block and not really have anything to back it up with yet? Can you remember the dot bombs... I can. I hope they aren't going down that path.

[Suidolem @ Jan 13th 2006 12:59PM]

I agree with Sean DL and tetsu sounds like false advertising to me. Right now I also use Virgin Mobile and Earle hit the nail on the head for me. With all that busy life going on add in being a student with a tight budget.