Editor’s Note: Wireless operators are a busy bunch, and as such RCR Wireless News will attempt to gather some of the important announcements that may slip through the cracks from the world’s largest carriers in a weekly wrap-up. Enjoy!
Just ahead of its planned release of second quarter financial results, T-Mobile US launched a new limited-time rate plan aimed directly at successful offerings from larger rivals AT&T Mobility, Verizon Wireless and Sprint.
T-Mobile US said that beginning July 30, which is the day before its Q2 results are set to be announced, customers can sign up for a new rate plan that offers unlimited voice calling, messaging and 10 gigabytes of data shared across four lines for $100 per month. One catch is that the offering is only good through the end of 2015, at which point the rate plan will revert to a regular rack plan.
T-Mobile US’s current family plan provides unlimited voice calling, messaging and 1 GB of data per line for $100 for four lines, or with 3 GB of data per line for $130 per month.
The new offering is not deemed worthy of T-Mobile US’ “un-carrier” announcements nor does it seem to wholly fit in with its customer-first mantra as a customer’s plan will be changed regardless of the customer’s wishes, with those terms written in small print at the bottom of a blog post from CEO John Legere.
The plan looks to tackle the rush of four-line plans offered up by rivals earlier this year. Sprint was the first out of the block in early January with its Framily plan that for $160 per month offered unlimited calling, messaging and 4 GB of shared data across four lines. That competition heated up in early February when AT&T Mobility began offering 10 GB of data to go along with the unlimited voice calling and messaging across four lines for $160 per month, which was then matched in April by Verizon Wireless.
Verizon Wireless and AT&T last week released second quarter results that showed strong postpaid customer growth, which could pressure T-Mobile US’ numbers that over the past year have been industry leading.
Other wireless carrier-related news
—Ultra Mobile, which offers prepaid wireless services targeting customers placing international calls from the U.S., launched a $19 plan that includes unlimited voice calling and text messaging throughout the U.S. and to 10 countries. Those lucky 10 include:
–Canada (to mobile and landline numbers)
–China (to mobile and landline numbers)
–France
–Israel
–Mexico
–Portugal
–Singapore (to mobile and landline numbers)
–Thailand (to mobile and landline numbers)
–The United Kingdom
–Venezuela
The $19 plan also includes 100 megabytes of data service running across T-Mobile US’ network, international direct dialing, three-way calling, 411 information services, voicemail, caller ID and global MMS services. The company offers access to its service using a SIM card, so customers need to bring their own, unlocked devices.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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