“Unlimited” Now Equals 300 Megabytes
A small wireless company called Republic Wireless has started a new “unlimited” wireless voice/text/data service for $19 per month. It was bad enough when companies were calling 5 gigabytes unlimited, but Republic Wireless has stretched the meaning to a whole new level. “Unlimited” for Republic Wireless means 550 minutes of voice, 150 texts, and 300 megabytes of data. At that point the customer will receive a warning that he or she is about to get kicked off the network.
So while the price for the limited service may be reasonable, the marketing of the service clearly isn’t. All the major carriers like AT&T and Verizon are moving away from using the word “unlimited” in marketing their wireless services. Sprint had been using a “soft cap” where users using too much data on their “unlimited” service would be throttled but even that is being phased out in favor of a tiered service.
The device options from Republic Wireless will be limited to the LG Optimus smartphone with somewhat weak hardware. The Optimus will only support HVGA resolution (320×480) when typical smartphones offer 800×480 and newer Android 4.0 smartphones support 1280×720. However, the Android experience is enough of an improvement over the feature phones that most wireless customers are using that the LG Optimus is a credible upgrade for many wireless customers with moderate requirements. That makes Republic Wireless a legitimate wireless competitor for budget conscious wireless customers.
your title is very misleading…if you go to their website (and READ the posts they make on their facebook account), you can clearly see that it defines Hybrid calling…and what IS unlimited versus what is not. Unlimited WIFI-non wifi usage uses Sprints 3G with a suggested Max….because if you are rarely around wifi, then this is not the service for you….It is simply a better option for users who spend 60%++ of their time with access to wifi…If most of your talk text and data usage is while driving around town and never near a wifi connection, then you wouldn’t choose their service…their website blatantly makes this point, too.
You’re calling me misleading? You’re trying to say that bring-your-own-WiFi counts towards the unlimited service? It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
Its not “bring your own wifi” if you already have it anyway…i use clear at home and have wifi access at work….which is where I am during 80% of my monthly cell phone usage…so why not pay $20 per month rather than $78 per month?
If you “have it anyways”, it’s your own Wi-Fi or some other service you’re paying for one way or another.
So they sell me a regular VoIP service that should cost $8/month for $20 with a little cellular? That’s not too bad, but it’s not “unlimited.” It’s cheap because it’s limited.
Yes that was my point. The limited service is reasonable for the price, but calling it unlimited was unreasonable.
….If you “have it anyways”, it’s your own Wi-Fi or some other service you’re paying for one way or another…..what point are you trying to make?? With or without RW, I have to pay for Clear service for other internet needs, so why not pay for Clear plus $19, rather than pay for Clear plus $78? RW isnt making anyone buy wifi in order to use their service. If you have it anyway and you use your cell most frequently when around wifi, then this is a way to lower your monthly cell phone cost…its not trading one cost savings for another cost spend. My wifi cost will not go up, as my cell phone cost goes down. It is savings on cellphone expense, period….with no hike in another expense.
It’s an interesting service package if you start with the price of a standard VoIP service and add a little cellular. I imagine it would appeal to lots of people if the phone were somewhat more decent.