T-Mobile bringing smartphones to prepaid

While it’s not listed in the prepaid section of the website, T-Mobile FlexPay is prepaid in nature. It has the two most important aspects of prepaid service: no contract and no credit check. The draw of FlexPay is that customers can have a normal T-Mobile postpaid plan, but prepay for it. This allows the use of smartphones and other advanced services — in theory. In practice, that can get expensive. Most prepaid customers, therefore, will not use smartphones. That’s true, but only if things remain the same. A new T-Mobile program could change that notion.

Rumors have circulated over the past week regarding T-Mobile’s Project Dark (or Project Black, depending on who says it). It’s supposed to be T-Mobile’s big splash, their charge to move out of the No. 4 spot in America. The plan is to:

• Offer the fastest possible service with 21Mbps 3G coverage.
• Offer the latest and best smartphones, including the new BlackBerry 9700 and a couple of Android devices (and, of course, more to come).
• Offer the cheapest service plan: $50 for unlimited everything.

This started as a rumor, but publications like Boy Genius Report have confirmed different aspects throughout the week. Over the weekend, they confirmed another aspect that could have a big impact on prepaid customers.

FlexPay is included in Project Dark. The problem is how FlexPay customers will afford these high-end handsets, which can cost $500 or more. T-Mobile’s plan: to offer financing for FlexPay customers. That way, FlexPay customers can get a brand new, top of the line phone, an affordable $50 service plan, and superb coverage without signing a contract. It’s the high-end of prepaid.

Chances are T-Mobile will make an announcement this week, and we’ll have all the details. This certainly could open up a whole new world for prepaid customers — especially those on other $50 unlimited plans.

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One Response

1. Peter Kent Says
   

   This is way bigger news then just smartphones on prepaid if the rumblings are to be believed. Entitled Project Black, this is supposed to revitalize Tmobile in an all out war against both prepaid and postpaid competitors.
   Stay tuned for such things as a $60 unlimited talk/text/web plan on Flexpay monthly if all the rumors are to be believed.

   
   Posted on October 20th, 2009 at 4:54 am

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