A new carrier is set to launch in the US on November 8th. Called Republic Wireless, it will offer unlimited voice, text and data plans for just US$19 per month. It will manage this by primarily using Wi-Fi calling and falling back on a mobile network only when you’re outside of Wi-Fi range. Text messages will also be sent over Wi-Fi or a cellular network. The plan also includes unlimited 3G data with no bandwidth caps.
Dear Cell Phone World,
You are overdue for serious evolution.
You are OS-SIS–Set in Stone. You’re 21st Century technology married to a 20th Century business model. But we’ve moved on. We don’t just want wireless. We want stringless. As a matter of fact, we want it DIY. We’re responsible adults. We drive cars. We vote. We can definitely join together to make a new kind of wireless network. One for us. One, in fact, that is us. In other words, we have our own Operating System. It’s called Freedom, and it works.
Sorry for the short notice. November 8 is practically tomorrow. But the future happens fast around here.
This hybrid VoIP and cellular service will require that customers use a special handset (powered by Android). It remains to be seen what devices will be available at launch.
As for the cellular coverage, Republic Wireless will buy wholesale minutes from third-party carriers such as Sprint. It will then resell them to customers as needed.
Republic Wireless is a division of VoIP and bandwidth provider Bandwidth.com.
Source: GigaOM