Zer01 unlimited voice and data service demo @ Fall CTIA 2009
By Will Park on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 4:33 PM PST In CTIA WITE 2009, HTC, Reviews, T-Mobile, Videos, Windows Mobile
It’s been a long time coming, and they’ve had to trudge through a veritable gauntlet of bad press related to Global Verge and Buzzirk Mobile, but Zer01 Mobile is finally ready to show that they’re not just full of hot air. Zer01 CEO Ben Piilani was on hand at the Fall CTIA WITE 2009 conference to prove to the media that Zer01 service is indeed real and does work.
For those of you not aware, Zer01 hit the scene earlier this year with a revolutionary new wireless calling service that used some sort of patented VoIP technology to provide unlimited voice and data service for just $70 per month, sans contract. It’s an intriguing offer, to be sure.
Piilani explains the Zer01 service as a “VoIP carrier” of sorts that treats all network traffic as data. Zer01 says that their service piggybacks on partner GSM networks in the US, but stops short of mentioning just who those partner carriers are. Getting started with Zer01 service is as easy as popping in a Zer01 SIM card into a Windows Mobile smartphone. The handset will automatically download a Zer01 VoIP dialer that is required to place voice calls. Once that’s all setup, you can talk and surf without limits.
The Zer01 service was demonstrated on a T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) HTC Touch Pro2, and the service works on the 1700Mhz 3G frequency. Even our feeble minds can make the logical connection that T-Mobile may very well be Zer01’s partner GSM carrier. But, we could be wrong.
As for retail availability, Zer01 says they will have their retail channel setup through established retailers in about a month. For their sake, we hope this launch window holds.
We’re expecting our own Zer01 SIM in about a week, so keep an eye out for a more in-depth look at Zer01 Mobile’s service.
[Update]
Now with video!
Zer01 Mobile wireless service demo from IntoMobile on Vimeo.
Zer01 had its chance and blew it. The window is closed. With Tmobile Project Black on the postpaid side and Straight Talk on the prepaid side, unlimited everything from established name brands like Tracfone/Verizon/Walmart have squeezed that window shut.
At $80, Zer01 is too expensive to compete anymore against a name brand carrier like Tmobile or a cut rate carrier like Straight Talk.
Piilani and company received accolades they did not earn and unsurprisingly, had rescinded.
Zer01 and its earstwhile partner , Buzzirk Mobile had their chance.
What was hot a few months ago is cold now in the fast pacing ever changing world of unlimited prepaid wireless.
They should have gotten it right the first time.
That ship has sailed.
Try another scam Ben.