MVNO Consumer Cellular signs content deal
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Just because we don’t cover a certain MVNO on Prepaid Reviews doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Consumer Cellular, an MVNO of the AT&T network, has upped their multimedia offering. Previously, they were like many basic MVNOs, only offering basic services like calling and texting. However, they have struck a deal with ClearSky Mobile Media to provide their subscribers with premium content. This includes ringtones, games, wallpapers, and video clips.
These basic services are becoming a necessity for the remaining MVNOs. They need to pick up business, and it’s tough to do so with only voice and texting. While those services are the most important, adding a multimedia suite, even a basic one, can attract customers who otherwise wouldn’t be interested.
“Consumer Cellular has been eager to implement comprehensive mobile data services in an effort to provide our customers with the best possible mobile experience,” said John Marick, Consumer Cellular CEO. “However, as an MVNO, we must consider the technical complexity required to achieve full integration between our underlying carrier, our content services partner (ClearSky), and ourselves. For this reason, it was imperative for Consumer Cellular to select a service provider that not only had a compelling content catalog, but also the experience and technical expertise required to effectively integrate their products and services with a top tier, national carrier.”
Do any Consumer Cellular customers out there have a comment on this? Their service is available in a large number of areas nationwide, so should we add a review for them? Let us know.
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I’ve been a Consumer Cellular customer for over 3 years. I think their main customer base is senior citizens who just want a basic phone, but I’m a few years away from AARP membership
I just want a phone and the ability to send a few text messages. Maybe if they give me some multi-media I’ll use it, maybe not.
Their plans are very simple, and while not prepaid, are no contract. You can cancel at any time with no obligation. Their plans offer fixed levels of up to 1600 anytime minutes ($60, no free nights/weekends) and no roaming charges in the USA. Additional minutes are $0.25, except on the 1600 minute plan, where they are $0.10. Text messages are $0.10 each, or you can add blocks of text messages to the base plan. There is a $35 activation fee charged upfront, but no change fees when changing plans. In fact, you can change plans during a billing period retroactive to the beginning of the period.
They charge $10/month per phone for a Family Access plan (additional phones), but I’m not sure how the airtime charges work for that plan. It may be the case that if 2 “Family Access” phones talk to each other, each gets charged from the pool of minutes (e.g. 10 minutes of conversation draws 20 minutes from the shared pool). But, I don’t use that plan, so that aspect should be confirmed with then.
Their selection of phones is small, although the most basic phone (Nokia 1600) is included with every plan for no additional charge. Rumor has it that you can get a compatible phone and swap the SIM, although they won’t tell you this themselves. However, given the lack of features they offer, I don’t see the point.
I use them because I don’t like the idea of long-term contracts, I don’t use that much airtime, I’m not interested in using my phone for web access, and I didn’t want to mess with prepaying for airtime.
Posted on July 21st, 2008 at 12:20 am