It's been a rough year for Verizon so far. After losing the battle for subscribers for most of 2016, Verizon ultimately had to offer an affordable unlimited data plan for a change. The plan was good for Verizon's numbers, but bad for download speeds.
Although Verizon still comes in right at the top of most studies of network coverage and speed, T-Mobile is closing in, and at a lower price. So it's not all that surprising that a new report on the best cell plans puts T-Mobile and AT&T at the top. Not surprising, but still a real blow to Big Red.
Time Money used survey data, expert testimony and an examination of contracts to award winners in a number of categories. Rather than looking at just the "big four" networks -- Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint -- it also includes a number of much smaller network operators. But as you'd expect, the best unlimited plan and best everyday plan awards both went to big networks.
AT&T received the award for best everyday plan for its $45-per-month 6GB GoPhone plan. 6GB of data for that price is cheaper than pretty much everywhere else, and AT&T has some of the best network coverage across the nation as any provider. That said, you also face slightly slower download speeds as subscribers on unlimited or postpaid plans, so it's not a great deal for people who stream video extensively.
T-Mobile's One plan took the award for best Unlimited and best Family Plan. The reasons are obvious: T-Mobile has similar network speeds as Verizon, both plans have a similar amount of data before deprioritization, but T-Mobile's plan is cheaper. Verizon's network will still work better indoors or in rural areas, but for most urban users, T-Mobile wins.
The pricing of the One Plan, which gets much cheaper for each additional line added, also makes T-Mobile's plan more attractive to families. Sprint still beats out T-Mobile on ultimate pricing, but T-Mobile offers much better network coverage and speed for very little extra.
Most cellphone plan deals normally come with all kinds of strings attached. Get a free iPhone! -- provided you buy two other iPhones, port three lines from another carrier, add insurance, and accept payment in the form of a Diners Club International gift card.
So when Sprint quietly announced that it'll give you a year of free unlimited service, I assumed that it would only apply to people who buy a new Essential phone, or perhaps require a pledge of personal fealty to Marcelo Claure. But actually, it's a lot simpler than that.
With Sprint's new deal, all you need to do is bring your number and eligible phone (basically any recent iPhone or Android) over from one of the other big mobile networks, and Sprint will give you service for free, for one year. You get unlimited talk, text and data, plus 10GB of hotspot data and even mobile roaming. All you have to pay per line is taxes, which is a couple bucks a month.
Even better is that there's no limit on the number of lines you can bring over. If you've got a family on Verizon or T-Mobile, you could be saving well over $1,000 a year, even if you're not all on unlimited plans.
Of course, the big catch here is Sprint's network. Studies consistently put it in last place of the big four networks, with coverage and speed that just doesn't rival T-Mobile or Verizon. If you're committing to making the jump for a year, I'd recommend picking up a SIM and testing it in your phone for a week or two first to make sure you can still get coverage at home and at work.
The bigger question here is what Sprint's really hoping to achieve. You don't have to be a genius to work out that giving away cell service doesn't make money, and there's a good chance that people will switch back to a different provider (or take advantage of one of the other carrier's switching offers) at the end of the year, and Sprint will have given you a year of service for nothing.
The most cynical answer is that Sprint is trying to artificially fluff subscriber numbers before a potential merger or sale of the company, which Sprint's Japanese owner is said to be actively looking to do. Suddenly adding a bunch of postpaid customers -- even customers that aren't actually paying any money -- looks good for any potential buyer, providing they forget to check the deals section of Sprint's website first.
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