By The folks at Tucows, who were once known for their applications (free, shareware or otherwise) repository for desktop operating systems are looking to introduce a new venture that’s interesting, to say the least. With the help of Sprint they have launched Ting, a pay-as-you-go service that gives users extremely good value compared to other PAYG carriers.
One of the great things about Ting is how flexible it is. You don’t have to have text, data, or voice if you won’t want it. Some might just want data and text messaging, while others might just want voice and nothing else. Ting lets you do any combination of the three main services that you wish. That is reason enough to switch for a ton of people.
Ting has ridiculously low prices when it comes to voice and text. For $3 you could get 100 minutes of talk time if you don’t use voice much. $9 would get you $500, saving you $3 if you extrapolate from the cheapest plan. Similarly with text messages, you can get 100 of those for $3, 1000 for $5 and so on and so forth.
Data is a bit different, though. You can get anywhere from 100MB of data ($3) to 3GB ($60). Naturally it’s more expensive than text and voice but Tucows allows you to step onto Sprint’s 4G WiMax network with any capable 4G phone of theirs.
Without the extra $10 data charge and without needing to pay separately to use your device as a mobile broadband plan it does still come out to be a decent value. Take a look at their rate plans above.
The most interesting thing is their overage feature. If you go over any of your allotted minutes, texts or data you’ll simply be stepped up to the next tier on whichever feature you go over on. If you don’t use all of the allotted features for that tier you’ll be reimbursed for those unused featured. If you happen to be stepped up to XXL and go over, you’ll be charged normal overage rates as seen above.
Here’s a list of the Android devices you’ll be able to get (all prices are without contract as this is a PAYG carrier):
- Kyocera Zio ($105)
- LG Optimus S ($155)
- Samsung Transform ($245)
- Samsung Conquer 4G ($295)
- HTC Detail (AKA EVO Shift 4G, $395)
- Motorola Photon 4G ($545)
If any of this sounds interesting to you and you want to try out a new carrier, head to Ting’s site. It’s not clear whether or not your existing Sprint devices will be able to be activated for Ting but we imagine you won’t be able to without some hackery on your part. Wherever Sprint’s network extends is wherever Ting extends so you won’t have to worry about a lack of coverage (for 3G and voice, anyway). [Engadget]
This whole post comes off as an advertisement. I’m thinking less and less of this site with every post.
Why would I be “advertising” for them when I credited another site for the find?
That means nothing. I watch a commercial on channel 9. Does that mean they aren’t advertising since their website doesn’t have the link?
Are you saying Phandroid shouldn’t report on the launch of a new MVNO? That doesn’t make sense.
Say a new first-tier nationwide wireless provider launched today… would you still call it advertising?
I didn’t say they shouldn’t report it. I’m talking about the specific word usage. It looks like a press release mixed with some “consumer/regular people” language. I can’t be the only one who thinks this.
Well, you are on a blog… on the internet.
No, advertisements load down the right frame or in the banner at the top of the page…
Q didn’t endorse them, or even pander to them… He simply covered the release of a new carrier/reseller option for Pdroid readers. Give the guy a break. Not every post can be deep investigative journalism. If you wanna see some really bad journalism, go troll CNN.
The initial advertisement looked promising. I have my nephew on the old VM $25 plan with 300 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited web. I wanted to price out a similar plan on Ting based on 300 minutes, 1000 test and 500mb a month. I got an expected price of $33 not including taxes.
Ugh. This is why Sprint is so slow.
Typo in the 3rd paragraph- “$9 would get you $500…” I think you meant “500 minutes”
Otherwise, that’d be GREAT if I could give them $9 and get $500 back! :P
Dang… so somebody will finally be offering no voice plan? How did it take this long.
Sprint should just offer this it will give us all the choice in the world my bill would drop to 44 from 80
I’d Be Better Off With Verizon To Be Honest… Not Saying That Verizon Is Great For All, But With What I Use, It’d Come Out To $119 I’m Only Paying For $90.. Soooo :
my buddy’s mother makes $80/hour on the computer. She has been without a job for 6 months but last month her check was $9089 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more on this web site… x.cö/gMzV
Wow! This is how all carrier rate plans should be set up!
If only they used a GSM network with SIM cards…