This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Seriously, that’s the best shot I could find of a phone apparently new to Net10. It’s the Motorola W408g, and we know that for sure. Everything else, though, remains a mystery. Howard Forums maven The Sweeper found it in the activation section of Net10′s website, but it isn’t available to buy. It’s not even listed on Motorola’s website. I’m sure it’s nothing special, but is rather just another clamshell option for Net10. I suppose you could look out for it at retailers where Net10 is sold.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Just like Boost Mobile, Net10′s unlimited plan includes unlimited voice, text, and Web for $50 per month. Like Straight Talk, it includes unlimited 411 calls. In addition to the basic $50 package, customers can buy additional minute packages. Not for standard minutes, of course, but for international calls and data purchases.

While Straight Talk is a CDMA service running on the Verizon network, Net10 unlimited is a GSM service. It probably runs on the AT&T network. This helps Tracfone cover most major markets. In markets that don’t offer Straight Talk, customers can now get similar service from Net10. It’s not quite as cheap — apparently Verizon had the better network leasing deal — but it’s comparable in service.

It looks like Net10 is currently limiting the offer to the Web, and allowing only three handsets: the LG 600G, the Samsung R401G, and the Motorola EM326g. They do picture these with fancy packaging, so perhaps a retail release is in the offing. As with their old plan, it doesn’t appear Net10 is publicizing this much. The only place I saw anything pointing to the website was on Howard Forums.

You can get more information at http://www.net10unlimited.com/en/.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

A Howard Forums user alerted me to the development, though it came as no surprise. I’m not sure when the deal ended, even. Net10 made no announcement. They simply removed it from their site, and it took someone actively looking for it to determine that it is no longer available. So we officially bid it farewell. Many services, including Straight Talk, now offer similar features for much cheaper, so Net10′s unlimited plan was already out of date, anyway.

Still, it was an unlimited plan for the Net10 GSM markets. I wonder if the Straight Talk deal with Verizon precluded the Net10 unlimited plan, which ran on AT&T’s network.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Above is the latest promotion from Net10. I’m not sure if these are running on TV stations, but it would be massively cool if they aired stripped-down versions. Featured is Bas Rutten, the most comical self-defense instructor on the Internet. Watch as he breaks the binds of a cell phone contract (and then repeatedly punches it in the face).

From Consumerist.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

It’s been in retail stores for a while now, but the Motorola EM326g has finally hit the Net10 website. The slider looks prettier than pretty much any other Net10 handset. It features Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel camera, MP3 player with expandable SD slot, and an FM radio. It’ll cost $59.99, but it does come with 300 free minutes, so the net cost is really $29.99. Not bad for what’s probably the best phone Net10 offers.

Via Howard Forums.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

Looks like Net10 will be adding a new phone to its lineup sometime soon. The Motorola EM326g has seen the light of day, and the guys from Phone News show us the first snapshots (above). It’s got a media player, expandable memory, a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capabilities, and Bluetooth. So while it will be one of the most full-feature phones in the Net10 lineup, it will also be the prettiest. No pricing or availability is available yet for the slider, but we’ll be on top of this one for sure.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

The first is a one-year card, which provides 2,000 minutes for $200. For many, this will not make a difference. It is the same rate as Net10 normally charges, 10 cents per minute. Further, it might burden some customers, as many don’t want to pay the full yearly price up front. But it does help those who can’t be bothered to re-up every 60 days.

The other plan makes a bit more sense. It’s $400 for two years of service. However, you get 5,000 minutes here, so it knocks calls down to 8 cents per minute, and texts down to 4 cents. So not only are you getting a great per-minute rate, but you’re also getting a beyond stellar price for two years of cell phone service.

Yes, this seems like a step towards contract service. In some ways, it can be considered worse. Instead of agreeing to pay monthly and then paying an early termination fee to get out of your contract, with Net10 you’re paying it all up front. No way to get out of that.

In the end, it depends on your needs. Net10 is just providing the options.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

View Net10 Unlimited Plans here.

It starts with the price

AT&T offers unlimited voice for $99 per month. Considering some of the rate plans it had been carrying prior to February 2008, this seems like a good deal. Yeah, you have to pay to upgrade to unlimited text messaging, and a bit more if you want mobile Web on top of that. But all things considered — AT&T’s handset lineup and especially their coverage area — you could do a lot worse if you use the phone for business purposes. Or else are a chatty teenager, whom we will not begrudge on this site.

T-Mobile one-ups the deal, adding unlimited text messaging for the same price. So you’re saving $10, $20 per month because you don’t have to pay for a text messaging plan on top of the voice. Sprint takes that even further, offering all its basic services (SMS, MMS, mobile Web, plus navigator and TV).

Virgin Mobile undercuts that a bit, offering unlimited voice for $79.99, plus unlimited messaging for $10 on top of that. Not bad, especially considering this is a prepaid deal. So that really gives Virgin a leg up in this, even over Sprint. You don’t have to commit to anything, leaving you free and clear to leave if you so choose. Considering they’re on the same network, it would appear that the wise choice would be Virgin.

Enter Net10. They’ve got AT&T’s coverage map, which is larger than Sprint’s. They have reputedly great service, as long as you’re not putting the word “customer” in front of it. They offer the two basics, text and voice, for $20 less than just voice with AT&T. Plus, you don’t have to sign a two-year contract. Clearly, if you’re on a budget but still like to talk a lot, Net10 is the way to go. Not only do you get unlimited cellular, but you can essentially drop the landline. That is, if you still have one.

Huge savings for big talkers

Yes, this is another section where we’ll discuss the excellent cost of Net10 unlimited service. The carrier has always prided itself on a no-nonesense pricing scale. Ten cents a minute, five cents a text, all day, every day. No exceptions. That works real well for some people, especially those who use like 50 minutes a month. It also helps for those who are confused with the bevy of options offered by other prepaid carriers — we don’t blame you. We sit here during the day trying to figure out which deals are the best. This is not easy.

Using pure minutes, you’d get 800 minutes per month for your $80. Ah, but there’s always text messaging, which will gradually chip away at your minutes. Use 100 text messages a month? You’d get 750 minutes. Use 200 text messages a month? 700 minutes. And so on and so forth.

Someone like, say, an entrepreneur could benefit greatly by this. The volatility faced every day by an entrepreneur means he or she probably isn’t too keen to making commitments two years into the future. Yet, that’s really the only way to get cellular services, or at least with sufficient minutes for all that communication. A businessperson who uses, say, 1,000 minutes a month, plus sends and receives 500 text messages, would see charges of $125 per month with Net10. You might find another decent prepaid service, though most of them offer quality deals because of unlimited nights and weekends. As a businessperson, you can’t relegate your communications until after the sun goes down, and otherwise when other people aren’t at work.

Have we mentioned the network?

That Net10 coverage map looks pretty impressive. Once again, we’re only working with the GSM section of it, which draws from the AT&T, and in some places the T-Mobile, network. Still, that’s a large chunk of the country, larger than Sprint and Virgin.

The only catch I can think of right now is roaming. How will it work if you venture into a CDMA coverage area? My best guess is that they won’t mind, so long as you don’t activate in a GSM area and then permanently park it in a CDMA area. We’re still awaiting a return email from a Net10 rep, who hopefully can supply us with an answer.

Think about this, though. If you roam onto the CDMA network for 100 minutes a month, the price is still the same as Virgin Mobile’s unlimited voice and text messaging bundle. If you roam off-network for 200 minutes a month, it’s the same deal as T-Mobile. So even if you do revert to 10 cents a minute when within a CDMA coverage area, it isn’t all that bad.

As always, there’s no contract

Back in June, we touted Virgin’s unlimited calling plan, not because it was $20 cheaper than the major carriers, but because of the prepaid nature. Not everyone can commit to $99 per month for two years. Yet, many of those who can’t still would like unlimited calling. Virgin brought it to them. Now Net10 does, only better.

Yes, we understand that Net10 doesn’t have the best handset selection. And we understand their customer service shortcomings. But you know what? There aren’t many cell phone companies that provide quality customer service. They might say that they do, but our user reviews mostly say otherwise.And when it comes to phones, well, I suppose phone selection really only matters if having a cool phone is important to you. If it is, Net10 does have the Motorola W376.

Still, having no contract should trump all. I’m not sure about everyone else out there, but I’d surely sacrifice handset quality — or, should I say, handset flashiness — in order to rid myself of a burdensome contract. While plenty of people disagree with me, I’m fairly certain there are plenty who are on board with that. It is you for whom this unlimited plan was designed.

Caveat emptor

Every day, we check in on the user comments. At least twice a week, someone says something negative about Tracfone’s and Net10′s customer service. Clearly, they have strides to make here, and it doesn’t appear that they’re willing to make them. It’s not like you can predict whether you’ll need customer service or not. Everyone hopes they won’t, but many will. If you do, you might not be in for the most pleasant experience.

Specifically, we’ve heard of plenty of problems regarding SIM cards, which you’ll need with this plan, since it works in the GSM coverage area. We hope that if you decide to sign up for this plan, you don’t befall the fate of so many of our commenters.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

View Net10 Unlimited Plans here.

This comes completely out of nowhere. All you have to do is buy a Net10 phone and activate it. You can then go to their unlimited page, and enter your IMEI/Serial Number for enrollment.

However, this might only cover Net10′s GSM areas. From the Go 4 Prepaid forums, which quotes a letter directly from Net10:

NET10 Unlimited is a new plan (scheduled to released later this month)
which will be available for NET10 customers located in GSM AT&T markets
only. This plan allows the customer to use the following features with
unlimited use for one flat monthly fee of $79.98 plus tax (including
any
E-911 tax):

* Unlimited local and long distance calling
* Unlimited text messages
* Unlimited data browsing (Data Phones Only)
* 411 calls

Emphasis mine. Clearly, this is something we’re going to look into, as it would greatly affect our feeling for this plan. It appears, though, that Net10 prefers the GSM coverage areas, as they get a better rate than with their CDMA coverage. That would go a long way in explaining the GSM-exclusivity for the unlimited plan.

Of all the companies which have introduced unlimited plans in the past year, this is the cheapest yet, and it covers the most features (other than Sprint, which costs $20 more). Just don’t tell MetroPCS or Cricket that it’s the cheapest overall.

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!

This post originated at PrepaidReviews.com - The number one resource for Tracfone Prepaid information on the web!