Editor Rating
Overview
Founded in 2001, PlatinumTel is an MVNO operating on the Sprint network. They offer a number of plans to cater to many types of consumers.
Pros: They offer a few full-QWERTY phones, which work well with their data services.
Cons: Text messaging can be expensive with their hybrid plan. They also charge 5 dollars monthly for data, and then a charge per-KB on top of that.
Detailed Provider Information
Plans: PlatinumTel offers three tiers of service. The Unlimited Talk & Text plan offers unlimited voice minutes and text messaging for 50 dollars per month. Customers also have the option of getting unlimited for 15 days for 30 dollars, and 5 days for 10 dollars. The Dot 10 plans offer five levels of refills. The 10 dollar card provides 100 minutes, the 20 dollar card provides 225 minutes, the 35 dollar card provides 450 minutes, the 50 dollar card provides 700 minutes, and the 100 dollar card provides 1,500 minutes. The Hybrid plans all come with unlimited nights and weekends. The 20 dollar card comes with 100 anytime minutes, the 25 dollar card comes with 150, the 35 dollar card comes with 275, the 50 dollar card comes with 500, and the 100 dollar card comes with 1,000.
Customer Service: Customer service can be reached via a toll-free number or by their web form.
Credit Check: None
Contract: None
Payment Options: Credit card payments are available on the website, and cash is accepted at retail outlets.
Text and Picture Messaging: Text messaging with the Unlimited Talk & Text plan is free. With the Dot 10 plan text messages are 5 cents each, both incoming and outgoing. With the Hybrid plan text messages cost 1 anytime minute for both incoming and outgoing. Customers can also add SMS bundles to Dot 10 and Hybrid plans. They are 5 dollars for 150, 10 dollars for 500, 15 dollars for 1,000, and 25 for 2,200. All text messaging bundles expire in 30 days. Picture messaging is charged as data (see below).
Data Plans: With the Unlimited Talk & Text plan, 100MB of data is includes, and additional data is $0.0005 per KB. With the Dot 10 and Hybrid plans, data costs a flat 5 dollar monthly rate, and then $0.0025 per KB. Picture messaging is charged at the per-KB data rate.
Downloadables: PlatinumTel offers games, wallpapers, and ringtones for varying fees.
International Calling: Customers can call a number of international destinations for varying rates. See website for more information.
Roaming Charges: There is no charge to roam on Sprint's nationwide network.
Calling Features: Caller ID, 3-way calling, call waiting, and voicemail are available.
Activation Fee: There is no fee to activate your PlatinumTel phone.
Nationwide Long Distance: Long distance calls are included in normal airtime.
411 Calls: With the Unlimited Talk & Text plan, directory assistance is $1.49 per call, and no airtime is used. For the Dot 10 and Hybrid plans directory assistance is 2 dollars plus normal airtime rates.
Earliest Minute Expiration: Unlimited Talk & Text plans expire in 30, 15, or 5 days, depending on the refill amount. The 10 and 20 dollar Dot 10 plans expire in 60 days, the 35 and 50 dollar plans expire in 120 days, and the 100 dollar plan expires in 365 days. The 20 and 25 dollar Hybrid plans expire in 15 days, and the rest expire in 30 days.
911 Calls: Yes.
Phones: PlatinumTel offers a number of phones, including a few models more advanced than most prepaid carriers. A couple have full QWERTY keyboards, which go well with their data plans. the phones are also all under 100 dollars.
Some Available Cell Models:
Motorola Q9c (shown)
Sanyo Katana II
LG LX-150
LG AX-145
LG LX-160
Coverage Map: View the PlatinumTel coverage map.
Shop for deals on PlatinumTel phones and plans
Shop for PlatinumTel prepaid refill cards
Visit the official PlatinumTel website
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Shop for deals on PlatinumTel phones and plans
Shop for PlatinumTel prepaid refill cards
Write a review
