2008 marked the end for many a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), most going under in a
flood of bankruptcies or getting
consumed but their parent networks. It sure seems like no company in its right mind would want to wade back into that graveyard, but Zer01 is thinking differently, pledging to launch a new network within a network next month at
CTIA 2009. Its services will be provided by AT&T, but it'll undercut the competition with a combination of a $69.95 monthly unlimited voice and data plan and a complete lack of contracts, as well as unlimited international calling (to 40 countries) for just an extra $10. What's the catch? The company will rely on a VOIP application for routing of
all calls, and right now that app only works on Windows Mobile. That'll be a roadblock for many, and given AT&T's somewhat limited (and generally
flaky) 3G data coverage we're a little concerned about call quality, but just the same can't wait to see how this one turns out.
[Via
Unwired View and
PC Magazine]
posted March 13th 2009 7:59AM
Maybe this will make AT&T upgrade their 3G network so it won't drop calls constantly for this MVNO.
While I used to have the "dead zone" problem with AT&T, I am willing to give it a go if the no contract term is true. I use WinMo now, so it's nothing for me to try this. Though I do like the slickness of you-know-what and bought a used one to play with/jailbreak, but I don't use it as a phone.
What I'm wondering about is battery life. How much more juice will this use to always keep the data connection on and going? That could be the deal breaker.
As for the international calling/roaming plan for $10 more...I'd go for that too. Unfortunately, Japan isn't on that list.
Ultimately the connection will float between EDGE and 3G and that is enough for me and my phone. When I really need to get work done, ethernet, or WiFi are used along with liberal amounts of coffee.
Ok everyone just to let you know the interviewer got it wrong, Zer01 is not an MNVO to anyone but is their own company/organization. They have no affiliation with AT&T or any major phone company. Please check the zer01 site if you have any further questions.
http://www.zer01mobile.com/
The information out there is all wrong. Zer01 is not an MVNO of anyone. Several writers have stated this relationship between AT&T and Zer01. Zer01 has never come out and said themselves that they are an MVNO. The PC mag writer stated that zer01 was using AT&T's network and evreyone took it from that comment that they had a direct relationship with AT&T and were an MVNO. Do not believe everything the pres puts out.
how about just unlimited data for $40? we can manage to install our own VOIP, thank you very much.
i 2nd that!
your absolutely right... but this is revolutionary! Don't you guys see, its the next step before we get more competition from service providers bringing in VoIP service plans. I can't wait to see how this turns out, I think in about 5 years we will have a good amount of people who use only VoIP to communicate.
Maybe 5 years is pushing it
Baby steps, how about contract-less 3g on a nationwide network?
Come on!!! What are you going to install? Fring, Truphone, Skype or some other useless piece of crap software that runs on top of the device and not along with the operating system on the phone. all of the above and others have crapy voice quality.
MVNO four capital letters...
Printed in gold
'Cause details make the girls sweat even more
while they're shaking their belt
No need to ask my name
to figure out how cool I am
MVNO
------------------
cant we just use fring with skypeout ?
skype to skype calls would be free (hell, skypeout will even show your phone cID as the caller)
unltd data or limited (lets say half a gig)
and you can chat with your aim gtalk and msn contacts.....
it would seem that would work and all the tools are in place.
so why pay 70 bucks a month ? for what ?
Zer01? I think I played him on Xbox Live.
Consumed but? their parent networks? In any case, maybe this is first gen, second gen could that wimax hybrid solution we were hearing about
"...that will bring VOIP to the mobile masses"
Not to be too contrary, but Hutchison/3 did that well over a year ago in the UK, Europe and Australia. Its been really great for me as an expat.
Excuse me, but would someone informed tell me what that thing is? And by "that thing" i mean that device two from the left? The one with the iPhone Keypad screen even though it is so obviously not an iPhone? I'm curious.
Looks like a TouchHD but not 100% sure...
It is either a HTC Diamond2 or HTC Pro2.
It is definely the Touch Pro2.... nothing sexier than that
yep, that's a touch pro 2, no doubt about it
The soon to be king of all phones, the Touch Pro 2
If they could get blackberries I'd be down for this. And if it included unlimited mms/sms. There's no reason they aren't free anyway except it's another way to fist your customer.
A very interesting idea....... Definitely will get a second look from me..... Unlike the mounds of AT&T ads that I get sent which just get tossed.....
I don't have a cell phone... is $69.95/mo a good deal?? That seems expensive to me for voip. I use voip for my home system and I pay $1.50/mo + 1c/min. The competition may be what it takes to whip the cell companies into shape but I'm not sure wireless + voip is a viable idea. I have a wifi voip phone I have been useing for a couple years and it is flakey at best. calls break up 10' from the ap.
interesting,. Winmo devices. Defnitely shows balls on behalf of att. Guaranteed will fail. If they would really be interested in making a success wouldve debuted on iPhone . Easiness reliability of software wouldve taken country by storm.
VOIP on AT&T's truly inferior data coverage? What a TERRIBLE idea!
On Verizon or Sprint, who's 3G data coverage is four times the size of AT&T's, this would make sense. Why in the world would they start this on AT&T?
Where did you get your information saying that Sprint/Verizon have 4X the 3g as AT&T?
America needs contract less operators. Unlock phones, and sell them like they are in the rest of the world. Contracts are sick and boring.
Ugh, why are these never using Verizon? They have, arguably, the best network but not always the best service, pricing, or phones. I would be all over this if it were using Verizon.
pfft, thats only $5 less than what I pay for unlimited voice and data and 400 text messages with tmo, and without having to rely on VOIP access
tmobile ftw =]
Second to left; Rather Familiar Keypad.
I'm very excited about this, think about it, you can have one Broadband connection running on your mobile, when at home you tether via bluetooth to your computer to watch Hulu or stream movies from Netflix! Voice is treated as an app running on your mobile, and since it's 3g you should be able to receive calls while running data. I think this is the future of telecom and would like to hear more about it, wireless data without caps!
This is an interesting concept. The carrier is basically getting only DATA from carriers in the US and the 40 countries they listed and they will do all their Voice over IP. The unlimited international roaming bit is VERY tempting, no one else would have that. But like others have said getting an unlimited international data service with no voice would be the same thing, and you can then use your own VoIP client.
The good thing is that there is no contract, the bad thing is that it will only work on Windows Mobile and possibly Symbian, but since there is no VoIP client for Blackberry it will never work with them. If I could use an E71 for a service like this it would be perfect (or maybe another Symbian phone with a better radio).
The reliability of the service though might not be very good. VoIP over EDGE will be pretty bad and forget about GSM only coverage. Most of the carriers in the world should be able to do EDGE at least.
Buzzirk Mobile has signed an exclusivity deal with Zer01 to start marketing phone service starting in July 2009. We are looking for people who are interesting either signning up for the service or cell phone distributors. Please visit our site and fill out the form for more information about getting setup. http://www.buzzirkmobilezer01.com
Unlimited voice and data mobile phone service. Thats so great! Ive tried services that have stated unlimited, but the “terms of service” ended up being VERY LIMITED. Thanks Zer01 Mobile in advance for helping all of us.