All articles tagged with #wireless carriers
FCC waives Verizon's separate 60-day unlock rule, aligning its policy with CTIA rules and rivals: postpaid phones unlock after payoff; prepaid devices must unlock within up to a year (AT&T and T-Mobile apply different prepaid timelines). The move targets handset fraud tied to Verizon's TracFone deal; consumers can also buy unlocked devices directly from manufacturers to avoid carrier restrictions.
AT&T and Verizon customers experienced call disruptions across multiple states on June 4, affecting thousands of subscribers. The issue, which began around 11AM ET and peaked at 5PM ET, was resolved by 7PM ET after both companies collaborated to find a solution. The Federal Communications Commission is investigating the root cause, which remains unknown. Despite the disruptions, 911 calls were not affected.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to have attractive Black Friday deals, with wireless carriers offering the best discounts through trade-ins. T-Mobile's offer stands out as it covers the cost of the phone and only requires a 24-month commitment. Other carriers and discount carriers are also providing deals, such as Visible offering a monthly service credit and Mint Mobile giving 50% off a 12-month plan. However, it's important to consider ongoing costs and choose a carrier that suits your needs. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is highly praised for its features and design changes.
As Black Friday deals flood the internet, retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart are offering significant discounts on tech gifts for Android fans. Some of the top deals include a free Samsung Galaxy S23 FE with a new line at Verizon, $600 off the Google Pixel 7 Pro with six months of free wireless service at Mint Mobile, Beats Studio Pro headphones for $169.95 at Best Buy, Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for $159.99 with a $10 gift card at Amazon, and the Samsung Galaxy A54 for $324.99 at Amazon. Other notable deals include discounts on the Google Pixel Tablet, Samsung The Frame TVs, Google Pixel Watch, OnePlus 11, Echo Show 8, Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, TCL 65" Class 4 Series 4K UHD Roku TV, Acer Chromebook Spin 714, and Fossil Gen 6.
Wireless carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are now requiring customers to switch to a debit card or bank account withdrawal in order to receive the autopay discount on their plans, cutting back on credit card processing costs. AT&T and T-Mobile's new rule goes into effect in October, while Verizon's autopay discount can only be obtained with a Verizon Visa card. The change applies to all postpaid accounts, impacting both new and existing customers. While understandable due to high credit card processing fees, carriers continue to advertise plan pricing with the autopay discount, requiring customers to read the fine print.
Verizon is introducing a new top-tier unlimited plan called Unlimited Ultimate, priced at $90 per month for a single line. The plan includes access to Verizon's fastest 5G network, 60GB of hotspot data, and 10GB of international high-speed data in over 200 countries. Subscribers will have full high-speed data domestically, and the plan also offers device trade-in options and discounts on connected devices. The new plan is a step up from Verizon's Unlimited Plus option and can be mixed and matched on family plans. T-Mobile also recently introduced a pricier unlimited plan, signaling a trend in the wireless industry.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns of potential flight delays and cancellations as the deadline for wireless carriers to launch new 5G services nears. The aviation industry has raised concerns that the new 5G services could interfere with critical aircraft instruments, leading to safety risks. Wireless carriers have agreed to delay the launch of some 5G services near airports, but the aviation industry is calling for a larger buffer zone to ensure safety.
CNBC's Jim Cramer suggests that major wireless carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T could offer discounts on plans in exchange for cheaper phones to capitalize on Apple's new virtual reality headset, the Vision Pro, which has a price tag of $3,500. Cramer believes that these kinds of deals could drive business and competition among the carriers, and it wouldn't affect Apple's bottom line.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created an interactive map comparing coverage from cell providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Verizon and AT&T have the most coverage, with 55.05% and 55.11% of the country covered, respectively, while T-Mobile covers 35.3% of the country. When it comes to the fastest 5G coverage, T-Mobile has the broadest geographic coverage of the three largest providers. The FCC map was updated using data collected up to Dec. 31, 2022.
Amazon is reportedly in talks with US carriers to offer mobile connectivity to its Prime subscribers either as part of their existing subscription or for a nominal $10 a month fee. The plans could take months to launch and may be scrapped entirely. Amazon's past foray into the phone market was one of the company's most high-profile failures. The move comes as Prime subscriber growth is believed to have slowed following last year's price rise, and Amazon is facing increased competition from the likes of Walmart Plus.
Verizon is simplifying its wireless offerings by introducing two unlimited plans, Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus, which come with unlimited talk, text, and data. The Unlimited Plus plan includes 30GB of high-speed hotspot data per line and access to Verizon's fastest 5G networks. The carrier is also switching to a discount model for perks, allowing users to add from an array of perks at $10 per month per perk. Verizon's new plans could be cheaper for some but pricier for others, depending on their needs.
T-Mobile has launched a new rate plan, Go5G Plus, which offers two-year device payment plans and guarantees existing customers the same new phone promotions as new customers. The plan costs $90 per month with autopay for a single line and includes unlimited premium data, Netflix, and Apple TV Plus, along with an extra 10GB of premium mobile hotspot data and 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico. Customers with eligible phones to trade in can take advantage of promotions without having to switch to a qualifying plan or add a new line. The plan also guarantees 24-month payment plans rather than the 36-month plans offered by Verizon and AT&T.