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What you need to know before going with a smaller wireless carrier
Let's face it: picking a carrier worth pledging your smartphone allegiance to can be a hassle, and plans offered by massive companies aren't right for everyone. These days, you can get cheap, reliable and surprisingly feature-rich wireless service without worrying about a bill from Verizon or AT&T every 30 days. You'll just have to start looking more closely at MVNOs, short for mobile virtual network operators.
Republic Wireless gets serious about its phone selection
Republic Wireless' promise of extra-affordable cellular service has usually come with a big catch: the phone selection. Outside of the occasional gem, you've had to settle for browsing a tiny collection of so-so budget devices. That won't be a problem after this summer, though. Republic has announced that it's adding seven more phones to its roster this July, and most of them are reasonably up to date, high-end models you'd likely be happy to have. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge are in the mix, as is Google's current Nexus line and the Moto X Pure Edition -- you can even get last year's Galaxy S6 if you're striking a balance between cost and cutting-edge. The prices are generally on par with what you find elsewhere, such as $699 for the Galaxy S7.
Republic Wireless drops unlimited data in favor of Google-like refunds
Another unlimited mobile data option just bit the dust... although it's not quite as bad as it sounds. Republic Wireless has switched from offering unlimited cellular data on its higher-priced phone tiers to a Refund Plan that shares more than a little in common with Google's Project Fi. You start with a base $10 plan, and add data depending on how much you expect to use -- you get money back, and pay $15 per extra gigabyte if you run over. The add-ons start at a modest $7.50 for 500MB and peak at $45 for 3GB, so you won't pay much at all unless you regularly underestimate your needs.
Republic Wireless to offer Moto X for $299 off-contract, plans starting at $5
Republic Wireless' low-cost, WiFi-driven phone service has proven tempting. The rapidly aging smartphones attached to that service, however? Not so much. The carrier will soon improve that device selection, as it has just revealed plans to sell the Moto X for $299 off-contract -- roughly half of what it costs at other providers. Service is also expanding beyond the original $19 plan (now limited to the Defy XT), with steep discounts if you don't depend on cellular service. Rely solely on WiFi, and you'll pay just $5 per month for unlimited access; a $10 plan will be available if you need cellular voice and text messaging. There will also be more traditional plans with unlimited 3G and 4G data that respectively cost $25 and $40 per month. Republic Wireless hasn't said when its extra-cheap Moto X will be available, but the new rates should take effect in November.
Refresh Roundup: week of January 28th, 2013
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 10th, 2012
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, a company that you're no doubt familiar with announced its departure from the smartphone business, a UK-based carrier put the Nexus 4 up for sale and Republic Wireless made good on a promise. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of December 10th, 2012.
Republic Wireless mobile phone service exits private beta, now available to all
It's been just over a year since Republic Wireless promised us unlimited phone, data and SMS services for under 20 bucks a month. Then, this past summer, a select few were invited to use the fledgling hybrid mobile service in a closed beta, and now Republic's opening up its doors to everyone. Interested parties can jump on the bandwagon by pre-ordering a service-compatible Motorola DEFY XT for $249 on the company website, plus there's a $10 start-up fee and applicable taxes to get started. In case you forgot, it's a pay-as-you-go plan, and should you not be satisfied with what your $19 a month gets you, there's a 30-day money back guarantee. Want to know more? There's post from company GM Jim Mulcahy with all the details at the source below. [Thanks, Michael]
Republic Wireless announces dual-band Motorola Defy XT, offers incentives to quell coverage woes
Republic Wireless is pretty candid that it's still learning the ropes of the mobile world, but with its monthly service cost of $19 per month, we know more than a few people who'd like to help test the water. Most recently, the company admitted an error with its deployment of a single-band Motorola Defy XT, which is compatible only with Sprint's 1,900MHz network. While this is fine for many -- especially given that subscribers are primarily expected to use WiFi -- it's presented a more tangible challenge for those who live within or travel to areas that rely on 800MHz service. Don't be alarmed, however, because the company is going to make it right. From today, Republic Wireless subscribers in waves B through E will have 30 days to evaluate their service, and if it's unacceptable, may seek a full refund from the provider. Those who are willing to wait it out, however, will receive a free dual-band Defy XT when it becomes available. Similarly, the company is incentivizing the upgrade for those in wave A with a $100 discount. Meanwhile, it will continue to offer the single-band Defy XT to those in waves F and beyond, but alternatively, it'll also keep the door open for its invitees to come aboard once the dual-band version is available -- it certainly seems wise to hold out for the dual-band version if you're able. You'll find the complete details at the source link. [Thanks, Connor]
Republic Wireless reopens its unlimited $19 per month beta, starts offering Motorola Defy XT
Republic Wireless is finally ready for more customers on its low price cellphone service, announcing today that it's reopening signups for its beta and offering customers a new phone. The new hardware is the Motorola Defy XT, an Android 2.3 device with a 3.7-inch display, 1GHz CPU, 1650 mAh battery, 5MP camera / VGA front camera, 1GB of ROM and microSD slot. It can be your for $249, which may seem pricey for a Gingerbread phone in 2012, however Republic Wireless' truly unlimited $19 / month plan hopes to make up for it on the back end. Those who signed up for the service and are slotted in Wave B are welcome, while Wave A customers rocking the launch LG Optimus are being offered $100 off the price of an upgrade to the new phone. Check out a few more details after the break in the press release.
Republic Wireless now issuing invites for summer beta program: is your name on the list?
Republic Wireless is now issuing the cellphone equivalent of Willy Wonka's golden tickets: an invite to its forthcoming beta. When you've been assigned a wave, you'll then be placed on a wait list, only told a week before you have to place cash on the barrel for a handset. Our tipsters have told us that the company is pitching (via a survey, of course) to hit three price points for customers, each fee buying a smartphone and the first month's service. All they could supply were the specs, so we've suggested some handsets that could fit the bill: Entry Level: $199 gets a phone from an "unknown" manufacturer with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 600MHz CPU, 0.5GB of storage and a 5-megapixel camera -- which puts us in mind of the ZTE Libra or the iNQ Cloud Touch. Mid-range: $299 will buy a handset from a "well known" manufacturer, 3.7-inch touchscreen, 1GHz CPU, 1GB storage, 5-megapixel camera and a VGA front-facer, similar to the Galaxy U, HTC One V or Huawei Vision. Top Line: $499 gets you a 4.3-inch touchscreen phone with a 1.2Ghz dual-core CPU, 8GB storage and, weirdly, a 7-megapixel camera. We hope that last stat is a typo, since it rules out the vast majority of handsets at that level. If it was 8-megapixels, for example, we'd be thinking about phones like the Galaxy S II. We reached out to the company for more details, and were told that it's simply in a discovery phase of sorts -- it's still trying to get a better grasp on exactly what phones would be desired. Unfortunately, that means that there aren't any concrete handset decisions to be shared just yet, but we'll be sure to pass those along as soon as we find out ourselves. [Thanks, Matt]
Republic Wireless opening up reservation system next week in advance of summer beta program
We've already known that Republic Wireless was planning to reopen the beta program for its hybrid WiFi / cellular service this summer, and the company has now finally detailed exactly how that beta will take place. For starters, it'll only be open to those who have already signed up to the company's email list or tried to place an order when that option was available last November, but that's still not a guarantee to get in. Starting next week, those folks will receive an email with details on how to take part in the company's online reservation system, after which you'll then have a week to claim a spot in one of the beta waves that will be rolling out over the course of the summer. Still no word on that new handset that was also promised for April, but you can find all the details on the beta program at the link below.[Thanks, Andy]
Republic Wireless to open next beta of hybrid VOIP service this summer
The $19 all-you-can-eat smartphone service that seemed great, then not-so-great, then great again is about to re-open public beta testing. We're told that the first phase of the beta is "going very well", to the point where Republic Wireless feels it can "skip the baby steps" and offer its hybrid VOIP/cellular goodies to another batch of experimental folks starting in June. The provider also promises a new handset as early as April, a smoother transition between WiFi and cellular calling (on Sprint's frequencies) in May, and a full-on public launch at some point in the undeclared or undecided future. Not ready to abandon your Big Cell provider just yet? Then Republic Wireless makes one more promise: a way for customers with other carriers to save money on their bills even before they make the leap. Consider us intrigued![Thanks, Ryan]
Republic Wireless changes stance: unlimited will be truly unlimited, 'no thresholds' or asterisks
Credit where it's due: Republic Wireless has just made an about-face on the only major downfall we saw in its new wireless proposition. While most of the big boys have had an asterisk by "unlimited" for years on end, these guys were called out as being "deceptive" due to its convoluted "fair use policy." Instead of revising it, the upstart carrier is just throwing it out. Completely. "From today, Republic Wireless is all-in." That's according to a refreshing blog post tossed up on its site hours ago, where we're told that it's eager to accept feedback and adapt as necessary. Looking for more proof? How's about this: "Rather than revising our fair use policy, we've decided not to have one at all. There will simply be no thresholds, and no risk of losing service. We're doing away with all of that to keep all of the focus instead on where it really belongs: Creating a new wireless future together. A future that is simple to understand, unfettered to use, and an amazing value for all. That's what we started down this path to do. That's where the power of this vibrant community, dynamic WiFi ecosystem and revolutionary technology should be invested." In a world filled with GoDaddys, PayPals, SOPAs and CarrierIQs, it's downright incredible to see a 180 in this direction. And yes, as part of that legal amendment, everyone who has purchased or purchases a phone during beta will be guaranteed the opportunity to enjoy unlimited service, without fear of cancellation, until the end of beta. The only snippet you should know about is the "unacceptable use" clauses, which state that you can't resell Republic's service or leave the phone "always on" as a conduit for other uses obviously beyond what would be normal for a personal smartphone; wildly enough, the outfit has promised to "reevaluate those provisions, too." Three cheers for listening skills, eh?
Republic Wireless is only kinda, sorta unlimited, may ask you to take your business elsewhere (updated)
Republic Wireless certainly garnered itself a lot of attention with the promise of unlimited everything for only $19 a month and no contract. The company keeps the price so low by using what it calls "hybrid calling" -- a fancy way of saying it relies almost entirely on WiFi and VoIP, only falling back on Sprint frequencies when you wander away from an 802.11 connection. The service may be billed as all-you-can-eat, the reality is a little more complex. While you're free to plow through as much data and as many minutes as you want over WiFi, there are "fair usage" limitations on your cellular footprint. Specifically, if you cross a threshold of 550 minutes, 150 text messages or 300MB of data you may be asked to take your business elsewhere -- not exactly "unlimited" now is it. Update: Republic Wireless issued a clarification on its Facebook page, explaining that you can in fact go over the 550 minute "example" above. "People of the republic, we'd just like to clarify that 550 minutes, 150 texts, and 300 MB of data over 3G is just an example, not a limit. The more you offload to Wi-Fi, the more you can use. It's truly unlimited. We do have fair use guidelines and we encourage you to use Wi-Fi whenever possible."
Republic Wireless goes live, brings unlimited data, text and calls to LG Optimus users
Well, that didn't take too long. As promised, Republic Wireless flipped the switch on its new unlimited everything plan today, offering a smorgasbord of wireless talk, text and data for the flat fee of $19 per month. The trick, of course, is Republic's dependence upon the UMA wireless technology, also employed by T-Mobile. You won't have to open a dedicated app to use the service (currently in beta), though you will need a home connection speed of 80kbps both ways in order to actually hold a call. You'll also need a "Hybrid Calling"-enabled LG Optimus handset (bundled under the company's $199 startup fee), though the provider plans to add more devices in the near future. For more details, hit up the source link below.
Republic Wireless to offer unlimited calls, SMS and data for $19 per month
Prepaid world, you're getting called out. Offering what appears to be the lowest unlimited everything plan we've seen thus far, Republic Wireless -- a division of Bandwidth.com -- is ready to roll out its game-changing service next Tuesday. The carrier will be doling out all-you-can-eat talk, text and data for $19 per month. We're still slim on the nitty gritty details, but we know the new network is so inexpensive because it plans to utilize hybrid Android devices that rely mainly on UMA (the same WiFi-calling tech employed by T-Mobile) and will drop back to cellular roaming on Sprint when you're not in range of a hotspot. The company's main site offers nothing more than a teaser for now, but promises that we'll know all of its secrets no later than November 8th. If you're pulling your hair out wanting to find out more, we guess the teaser was a success.
