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New US cellular carrier Zer01 Mobile promises unlimited voice and data for $70/month

Zer01 will use VOIP over AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM networks and will offer plans without a contract.

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Mobile | by Barb Dybwad | Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:25AM | 5 comments

A new mobile phone carrier is poised to launch here in the US with a unique model, planning to offer unlimited out-of-contract plans for unlimited data and voice calling on smartphones for $69.95 per month; another $10 monthly nets customers unlimited international calling to 40 countries. Like other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) Zer01 Mobile won't own its own cellular spectrum, instead making use of both AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM networks via interconnect or roaming agreements. All connections are made through the company's proprietary VOIP application, in which each device on the network receives its own dedicated IP address and tunnels through a VPN to reach Zer01's servers for routing.

Currently only smartphones running the Windows Mobile 6 operating system are supported, although CEO Ben Piilani reports that Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Java and jailbroken iPhones will be able to use the service in the future. Although designed primarily to be used with unlocked phones brought in by customers, Zer01 plans to initially sell three phones from HTC: the Tilt, Touch Diamond and Touch 3G, with the Pharos GPS-enabled WinMo smartphones a possible other addition to the lineup. The company plans a closed beta for April, with a commercial launch date announcement coming on April 1 at CTIA.


To date, operators in the MVNO space have struggled. The playing field is littered with failures including Amp'd Mobile which closed its doors in July 2007, Helio who went belly-up in June of last year, Mobile ESPN snuffed out in December 2006 and Disney Mobile who went under in December 2007. With support for only a subset of US smartphones Zer01 may face some challenges reaching a wide enough customer base; on the other hand, smartphone users in this country currently do suffer from expensive data plans that leave many customers feeling gouged by the major carriers. If Zer01 can deliver on its as astonishing promise to provide good quality VOIP-based calling and data over the slower GPRS and EDGE networks as well as over 3G, the cheap pricepoint for all-you-can-eat voice and data might prove extremely compelling, especially for folks who don't appreciate being tied down to lengthy carrier contracts.

Update: We were contacted by Zer01 who would like it made more clear that they are not an MVNO, which implies wholesale reselling of another carrier's airtime. Since some network's signal must carry data between your phone and its servers, and only GSM phones are supported, logic leads one to conslude that either AT&T or T-Mobile's networks must certainly be involved here in the U.S., making the distinction somewhat semantic. However, the underlying technology and business model are different from a traditional MVNO.

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Related company news:
Zer01 Mobile
Related glossary terms:
3G, Android OS, Smartphone, EDGE, GSM, VoIP, MVNO, VPN, GPRS, roaming
Related brand news:
RIM BlackBerry, Microsoft Windows Mobile, Symbian
Related devices and services:
Apple iPhone 3G, HTC Touch Diamond, HTC Touch 3G, AT&T Tilt 8925, Pharos GPS Phone 600
Related event news:
CTIA 2009

Comments (5)

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Reply
Cassie (2:38 PM on Mon May 4, 2009)

I think this service sounds amazing! unlimited voice and data for 69.95 a month, it can not be beat. They were awarded "Best Overall Product" at the CTIA Wireless 2009 show in Las Vegas recently. Zer01 mobile is what I have been waiting for.

Reply
Scott with Buzzirk Mobile Zer01 external link (3:21 AM on Sun May 10, 2009)

Buzzirk Mobile has signed an exclusivity deal with Zer01 to start marketing phone service starting in July 2009. We are looking for people who are interesting either signning up for the service or cell phone distributors. Please visit our site and fill out the form for more information about getting setup.

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Stan external link (5:14 PM on Thu Jul 2, 2009)

www.new3gplus.com Actually, the service costs $79.97 per month and includes Unlimited HD Voice, Messaging and Broadband Internet (4x faster than 3G). There are no additional fees or taxes. You'll be able to use your existing phone. It will need to be one of the new, more advanced phones that support 3G and other high-speed technologies. I believe Zer01 and Buzzirk Mobile are about to revolutionize wireless communications in the US. More information is available at www.new3gplus.com

Reply
Mike external link (9:52 AM on Tue Jul 7, 2009)

Interesting,

I first saw this developing technology when I was researching Internet Over PowerLine companies, and Unified technologies Group was leading developer at the time, and now I see they are behing this new microwave wireless mobile and internet service. Amazingly, with their Zero1 division merging with Buzzirk carrier, the marriage is perfect for solving the obsolete cellular carrier issues of peak bandwidth.

We saw the first cracks in industry with the introduction of the iPhone 3GS which AT&T had trouble supporting due to the new applications on phone. This is an issue which will only get worse, and we have already seen the quality of cell service drop dramatically over the past couple years as the current bandwidth is near maxed out given the texting explosion which cell carriers didn't plan for. Calls are dropping like never before, as well as the all circuits are busy message we all get now, regardless of which carrier we use.

Buzzirk is rolling out there new technology which will solve these peak bandwidth issues given they use a new 2100 giga hertz bandwidth which is in microwave range, and exclusive to Buzzirk carrier. What does this mean to the mobile industry, plenty, this is a game changer, totally obsoleting the traditional cellular carriers we are all familiar with. Buzzirk is offering unlimited wireless mobile and internet with every whistle and bells application known to the industry, and a few more which no one else will be able to offer.

I have been in the industry for years, and I have never seen a better package than what Buzzirk is rolling out. I was so impressed at the CTIA show that I registered as an associate for $19.95 just so I could get access to a phone before public release next month. Why, simple, this is the only revoltionary breakthrough I have seen in the past two decades of mobile communications industry. To think I can access wireless mobile and wireless internet, unlimited voice, text and data all for under what I am paying for cell service alone, this is a recession proof business which will explode when the public hears about it. I will be saving over $140.00 a month by switching, and I am not alone, everyone I referred to Buzzirk is saving this or more when you add in GPS MMS mapping, TV and dozens of other applications included. Imagine no more DSL, cable broadband, and all for one flat rate of $79.95 a month, with no taxes and fees like all the other carriers charge. Look at your billing statements to see how much more your service is when you add in all these rip off taxes and fees.

Simply put, I think everyone will register as an associate since you can earn at minimum a $10.00 monthly residual commission for each friend and family member you refer. Everyone know eight or more people who want to save money in this recession, so everyone can easily cover their own wireless service for a win win situation all for only $14.95 a month to remain an associate. This is an incredible offer folks, so check it out.

Best of all, do you value your security and privacy? I know I do, my cell phone was hacked and tapped a several months ago by a friend who was demonstrating his hacking ability, and that is when I started researching a new cell phone and carrier to see if anyone had a hack proof service. Well, no one does, even the latest iPhone is easily hacked and tapped, even if you are not on phone, people can hear everything you say. Don't believe it, watch this investigative news report on national TV which my hacker buddy was on. Mind blowing, no wonder the cell industry is trying to keep this quiet. lol Watch video to see what I mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCyKcoDaofg

You will never speak freely again after you learn how easy it is to hack your cell phone and you won't even know it. Texting and Bluetooth are open doors for hackers, so prepare to be shocked, this learn why Buzzirk is only hack proof carrier on the market given microwave wireless using three bands is impossible to hack for voice, and given data is encripted according to my hacker buddy, even the cops or CIA cannot tap into your conversations, and probably why Home Land Security and CIA use high frequency bands too. lol

This is an industry changer on all aspects, but who would have figured we could have all these features for less than we are now paying for obsolete cellular service alone. Was it worth registering as a GlobalVerge e-associate for $14.95 a month, you bet, this is a deal of a lifetime and everyone I have introduced it to cannot wait to get service, and that my friends is a true recession proof business opportunity. No selling, just telling, I love it, and so will you.

Success to all,
www.Low-Cost-Wireless.com

Reply
Anonymous (10:50 AM on Thu Jul 16, 2009)

So what happens when the big carriers see a threat? They just lower their prices.

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