FreedomPop to Offer Mobile Phone Service in US
Jun 5, 2013, 7:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
FreedomPop to Offer Mobile Phone Service in US
FreedomPop is getting into the ultra-low-cost mobile phone market.
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1276867/
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1276867/
The company best known for doling out 500MB of free mobile data per month to hotspots, iPods and home routers will step up its game later this summer with a free phone service for Android users... with a few caveats, that is. To get by on the cheap, you'll need to make do with a relatively scant 200 voice minutes and 500MB of mobile data in order to avoid overage fees, but to FreedomPop's credit, it'll include unlimited texting as part of the mix. What's more, if you happen to go over your minute allotment, you'll be charged a rather reasonable $9.99, which brings unlimited voice to the table. As you might've suspected, data overages are the biggest caveat to FreedomPop's service, which can cost between $10 and $20 per gigabyte.
Jun 5, 2013, 8:32 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
Good question! A smart strategy might be (if possible) to turn off 3G/4G in the Settings menu before making a phone call, in order to push it onto the (expensive) Sprint cellphone frequencies.
UPDATE: An article in Forbes says that voice calls will not count against your data allotment.
UPDATE: An article in Forbes says that voice calls will not count against your data allotment.
Last edited by Middle_Seat; Jun 6, 2013 at 6:45 am
Jun 6, 2013, 8:05 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,485
When I entered my email address (to be notified when the service becomes available), I don't recall seeing any other pages.
I use a Republic Wireless phone, which also uses Sprint frequencies and costs only $22/month a/i for unlimited everything. Switching to FreedomPop's "free" service is a step that I'm unlikely to take, unless they permit tethering.
Jul 15, 2014, 12:47 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: JRF
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 1,784
FreedomPop should really be called a data-only service, since VoIP isn't real phone service after all (and dosen't perform to that standard, however low it might be in America).
It's far better to think of it as free Sprint data, and depending on your device it's up to LTE or "4G" Wi-MAX speeds (the latter of which will shut down in 2015 since no one bought into Wi-MAX). I use one of each, in a phone and with a hotspot, and Sprint in Hawaii is actually worse then T-Mobile in most places.
It's far better to think of it as free Sprint data, and depending on your device it's up to LTE or "4G" Wi-MAX speeds (the latter of which will shut down in 2015 since no one bought into Wi-MAX). I use one of each, in a phone and with a hotspot, and Sprint in Hawaii is actually worse then T-Mobile in most places.
Jul 22, 2014, 11:29 pm
#9
Moderator, Hertz; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRK
Programs: UA 1MM, BA GGL, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond and others
Posts: 12,689
I had the phone since Dec 2013 and it really got better the past few months.
Before I would constantly get dropped calls, but recently I can call fine on just 3G.
Before I would constantly get dropped calls, but recently I can call fine on just 3G.
Sep 24, 2014, 12:00 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,469
There is a groupon for this:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-free...samsung-galaxy
Anyone have more experiences? Thinking of getting one just for the phone.
http://www.groupon.com/deals/gg-free...samsung-galaxy
Anyone have more experiences? Thinking of getting one just for the phone.
Last edited by UA Fan; Sep 24, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Sep 24, 2014, 12:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
If you're thinking about this for use as a primary phone, I think I'd strongly consider Republic instead. FP is VoIP only while Republic uses cellular for voice when not on WiFi. I'd also be much more interested in an Moto E or Moto G at the same price points as the Groupon for the Galaxy S2 or S3 (Moto X vs Galaxy S4 is a wash to me a purely personal preference).
I think the only way I'd really consider FP is if I already had a Sprint LTE device on their BYOD list, and even then I don't think I'd be using it as my primary line of service. There are so many other Prepaid operators in the $25-$50/month price range to risk using something as flaky as FP for free.
The few scenarios I can see as possible exceptions would be an EXTREMELY low user who also lives in a metro area with established acceptable Sprint coverage that rarely, if ever, travels outside of that metro area... I'm thinking elderly, teen/tween (with the unlimited texting option), or metro-bound traveler from abroad (who might be able to make due with a full month's data/voice allowance consumed over a week's stay).
I think the only way I'd really consider FP is if I already had a Sprint LTE device on their BYOD list, and even then I don't think I'd be using it as my primary line of service. There are so many other Prepaid operators in the $25-$50/month price range to risk using something as flaky as FP for free.
The few scenarios I can see as possible exceptions would be an EXTREMELY low user who also lives in a metro area with established acceptable Sprint coverage that rarely, if ever, travels outside of that metro area... I'm thinking elderly, teen/tween (with the unlimited texting option), or metro-bound traveler from abroad (who might be able to make due with a full month's data/voice allowance consumed over a week's stay).
Sep 24, 2014, 3:26 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: San Jose CA
Posts: 1,100
I think the only way I'd really consider FP is if I already had a Sprint LTE device on their BYOD list, and even then I don't think I'd be using it as my primary line of service. There are so many other Prepaid operators in the $25-$50/month price range to risk using something as flaky as FP for free.
Buying service from Freedom Pop is like flying Ryan Air. It works just fine if you figure out how to avoid all of the optional charges they shovel your way. Upgrade to this better plan today! You're about to lose some data! You're using too much data and need a new plan! etc. etc.
Sep 24, 2014, 4:50 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: DL Silver, AS MVP, UA Silver, HHonors Diamond, Marriott Plat, SPG Plat, National Exec Elite
Posts: 3,883
I was mainly referring to the VoIP app on the FP voice service being flaky... hot-spot functionality kinda is what it is as long as the coverage works for you, but I haven't personally needed a stand-alone hot spot in several years thanks to Android hot-spot.
