Wireless carriers gear up with aggressive plans
U.S. Cellular has stepped up its aggressive marketing and promotions just before the start of the holiday shopping season.
The Chicago-based wireless provider this week launched a new $69.99 package called Primary Plus with 5 gigabytes of data, unlimited text, picture and video messaging and free GPS navigation. The plan also has 450 voice minutes with free incoming calls from any phone, free nights and weekends, and free mobile-to-mobile calls.
The small, but mighty, provider said this package was targeted for customers selecting their first smartphone.
Just last month, U.S. Cellular also started its Belief Project, where customers didn't need another contract once they were already established with the company.
While U.S. Cellular brags that this “offers the best value in wireless,” so do all the other service providers.
The only problem is, everyone has their own packages and it's difficult to make a fair comparison. That just adds to the confusion as consumers sift through an untold number of promotions in coming weeks on what to buy for themselves or as gifts.
I contacted other major carriers in the Chicago suburban market and few were able to provide succinct details of comparable packages.
Verizon Wireless, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, was a straight-shooter, admitting it could offer something that would cost more, but then saying their larger network and technology make up the difference.
Verizon offers a voice plan of 450 minutes with free nights and weekends for $39.99, unlimited texting for $20, and unlimited data for $29.99. Altogether, it's $89.98. If you just go for the 150 megabytes of data package for $15, then the tab drops to $74.99.
T-Mobile offers tiered pricing based on your bandwidth usage, which is the latest development of the wireless carriers trying to “cash in on exploding demand for mobile data,” said iSupply, a research firm based in El Segundo, Calif.
T-Mobile this week introduced a promotional offer, with a two-year contract, priced at $10 per month for 200 megabytes of data. The next tier is $15 per month, without a contract. It continues to move up to $30 per month for unlimited data. T-Mobile also introduced new Android phones for under $100 for those plans.
Sprint said it's Everything Data plan for $69.99 offers 450 minutes with any mobile, anytime, unlimited text, Web and calling.
“That's all for the same price AT&T and Verizon charge for unlimited talk only,” said Sprint spokeswoman Candace Johnson.
Sprint also offers a free 30-day guarantee. So customers could return the device to get reimbursed for the purchase and activation fee, get the early termination and restocking fees waived, and get a full refund for the monthly service plan.
When I asked AT&T to provide a plan comparable to U.S. Cellular, a spokeswoman said it offers a lower barrier to entry “for people who want smartphones on a 200 megabyte plan for just $15.”
“We're also offering 10 times that amount of data for $25.” said Brooke Vane. She declined to offer anything further.
“This is not an apples to apples comparison,” Vane said. “AT&T is a nationwide carrier.”
And U.S. Cellular is just regional. Right here. Where the Chicago and suburban customers are.
Who would you pick?
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