MVNO Simple Mobile Launches; No Contract Unlimited Plans Starting at $40
By Simon Sage on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 2:36 PM PST In Alcatel, BlackBerry, MVNO, Motorola, Nokia, Simple Mobile
A new mobile virtual network operator named Simple Mobile has launched today, making some tall claims about how they’re going to change the U.S. wireless market. Here’s the pitch; you can judge for yourself:
Today the chaotic wireless industry just got … Simple. Executive leaders from some of the nation’s largest wireless mega giants have come together to revolutionize the unlimited prepaid wireless market by launching the new MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), Simple Mobile™.
How will Simple Mobile change the market? Simple, by offering the nation an unheard of SIM card program that instantly delivers affordable, unlimited access with everything wireless has to offer. Unlike other programs with corporate agendas, Simple Mobile customers are encouraged to B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Phone). Service is obtained by placing a Simple Mobile SIM card into over 180 approved cool GSM phones. Customers will immediately get access to a national network that offers Unlimited Nationwide Talk, Unlimited Global SMS, and Wireless Internet Access (IM, MMS, Email & social networks). OMG! This is a game changer.Simple Mobile (http://www.mysimplemobile.com) promises an affordable way of bringing the nation a much better wireless experience. Their promise of no compromising includes no minimum term lengths in contracts, no credit checks, no hidden fees, and unlimited plans starting at $40 a month.
It’s a simple approach based on their strong belief that wireless can be made less complicated. Simple Mobile plans to cut through the noise and offer a flexible handset solution on a high quality network with a full suite of web capabilities, at a crazy low price. Finally, today’s wireless customers will get what they have always wanted: EVERYTHING – NO MORE COMPROMISING!
While you’ll be able to bring your own GSM phone, Simple Mobile will be offering the BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Pearl Flip, the Motorola (NYSE: MOT) razr V3, Nokia (NYSE: NOK) 6030, and three Alcatel phones: the OT-800, OT-363, and OT-303.
Now, the idea of cheap unlimited access sounds suspiciously familiar to Zer01, only Simple Mobile is much more concerned with voice. Their $50 plan only includes 20 MB, with the option to double it to 40 MB for $5. Still, no contracts is sweet, and an ideal situation if you’ve already got your hands on hardware you like. As for coverage, it’s hard to tell if these guys are partnering with AT&T (NYSE: T), T-Mobile (NYSE: DT), or some combination thereof, but you can compare their coverage maps with Simple Mobile’s (I’m inclined to think it’s AT&T based on similar CA coverage in the north), and draw your own conclusions. It’s a tempting proposition, and I think there will be many customers out there interested in unlimited plans with no contracts. If you’re one of them, check out Simple Mobile’s home page for more info. I really hope wind brings something similar to Canada soon…
[via BusinessWire]
Sure looks like T-Mo, minus roaming coverage. Look at CA, Oregon, West VA, Minn.
It is T-mobile coverage. As it has no roaming, it will not undercut T-mobile and their new Even More Plus plans even though on paper their prices do (just like the new At&t Gophone unlimited talk/text for $60 does not equal the coverage of their $99 unlimited talk only postpaid plan in that way).
This company has had a difficult birthing and is supposed to be run by an executive who has Verizon/Sprint and failed Verizon mvno Ampd experience.
With established mvnos Air Voice and Locus H2O both offering gsm unlimited plans already (albeit no data/mms) and At&t and their plan (though higher priced), it will be an uphill battle for Simple to establish themselves. If they had been three months earlier when there were NO gsm unlimited prepaid carriers, they may have had an easier environment to launch in. Right now, they are headed straight into one of the most competitive atmospheres in prepaid unlimited ever.
The price war launched by Boost mobile back in January is still raging full tilt.
I wish them good luck.