Note: This is part of a series on finding cheaper cell phone plans.
The offer sounds too good to be true, and you know what they say about that.
MetroPCS Wireless, a newish prepaid cell-phone company that began service in Orange County 15 months ago, charges $45/month for unlimited calls, texts and picture messages. And we’re not talking unlimited nights only, but unlimited anytime of day or night. There’s also no contract, so you can leave the company anytime you want. The cheapest plan is $30/month, but you only get unlimited local calls.
I had to find out more. So I spoke to Rob Wondoloski, vice president and general manager of MetroPCS Los Angeles.
“When we enter markets, a lot of consumers ask, ‘What’s the catch?’ There is no catch,” he said. “We built this company from the ground up to be an unlimited carrier.”
Some ways they save money: Instead of a paper bill, customers get a text message each month reminding them to pay up. Also, because everything is unlimited (unlimited plans are $3/month), the company doesn’t have to come up with elaborate formulas to calculate every little charge. Don’t have a text plan? You won’t be charged for any texts you receive, but you can’t send any either.
“Coming into a crowded market, you want to stand out. From day 1, we wanted to give consumers a choice that is simple, flexible and affordable,” he said. “Our standard rate plans only vary between $30 to $50.”
With no contracts, the company can’t rely on monthly fees to subsidize the phones, which aren’t too expensive, ranging from $79 to $249. So, if MetroPCS isn’t doing a good job and customers leave, it loses money.
“We take a risk. We assume that, well, we know that we have a very good service and people will stay with us,” he said.
The major downside is its coverage area, or lack therof. The network doesn’t come close to covering the nation, as you can see from the map on the right (blue is good). The company is young and expanding — it’s moving into New York and Boston in the first half of 2009.
In November, MetroPCS teamed up with Leap Wireless to share wireless networks so each company’s customers can roam for free. That added 300 cities for its customers. This is included in plans over $45, and cost another $5/month for lower-priced plans.
But beyond those cities, roaming charges are 49 to 79 cents per minute (that’s the dark orange area). Text messaging is free in those areas. That leaves a lot of open areas in the U.S.
Another drawback is the phones — none is very spectacular. And there are no touchscreen phones. Next year should be more exciting, Wondoloski said. He hinted at touchscreens and a BlackBerry product.
Also, MetroPCS launched its MetroFlash program earlier this year. For $40, customers bring their own phones to the MetroPCS network, which uses the same CDMA technology as Sprint and Verizon.
And as with any new service and company, there are apparently still kinks. Users slammed MetroPCS over at MouthShut.com for bad service , giving the company just 2 out of 5 stars.
Intriguing offer? Yes. Ready for prime time? Maybe not. But at this price — and with no early termination fees — MetroPCS is definitely worth trying, even if it’s only for a month.
MetroPCS has three stores in Orange County: Santa Ana, Fullerton and Stanton. Store locator is HERE.
For earlier stories on finding cheaper cell phone plans, click HERE.
From around the web:
- MetroPCS reviewed (CNET)
- User reviews of MetroPCS (Mouthshut.com)
- 119 user reviews (PrePaidReviews.com)
And don’t forget to check out my new guide to cell phone services in Orange County, available at gadgetress.freedomblogging.com/cellphones
For more cell phone news affecting Orange County residents and beyond, visit the Gadgetress cell phone archive.
