Imagine buying something and paying exactly what the price tag says and not one cent more on shipping, handling, taxes or other add ons.
Irvine’s Boost Mobile plans to do just that with a new cell phone plan that offers unlimited voice, text, web and walkie-talkie service for $50 a month. No roaming fees, no overage charges, no activation fees and no “telecom taxes.”
Umm … come again? No taxes?
“Tax does vary, between 2 to 12 percent. We’re taking care of those,” no matter where the customer lives, said Neil Lindsay, Boost’s vice president of marketing.
“The real message from us is that there is a lot of nickel and diming going on in wireless, specifically people who market low prices and then add on a convenience fee and whatever else. For us, $50 means $50.”
However, Lindsay said, some additional fees could appear. If users buy ring tones, or subscribe to a GPS navigation or social networking service, they’ll be charged for those features. Plus, there is sales tax on the phone or service. “We have no control over that,” Lindsay said.
Also in the new plan, Boost doesn’t offer full Internet access. It offers limited Web access over the old Nextel iDen network, known for its walkie-talkie communication. The iDen service uses WAP Internet (short for wireless aging protocol, I mean, wireless application protocol). With WAP, users can still browse headlines, check the weather and access Boost’s selected web services.
Boost currently offers other unlimited plans, such as its unlimited talk and text plan for $60/month. These plans use Sprint’s CDMA network. Boost will continue to support these customers but will no longer market these unlimited options. Unfortunately, if these customers want to switch to the new $50 unlimited plan, they’ll need to buy a new phone since the technology is different.
New and existing customers can switch to Boost’s new $50 unlimited plan on Jan. 22.
Boost’s move into the budget market began last fall, when it launched the CDMA unlimited plans. Previously, it targeted the young, hip and credit challenged.
It must have seen low-priced competitors like MetroPCS and Cricket Wireless wow consumers with low prices, which resulted in MetroPCS reporting last week that it saw subscribers grow 74 percent last quarter.
But both MetroPCS and Cricket are regional phone carriers with limited coverage areas. Some of their plans require a user to stay within a “home calling area.” Boost’s new plan doesn’t.
MetroPCS and Cricket share cellular networks so service is available in 300 cities. Calls made outside those 300 cities charge a roaming fee. Boost says that its service is available in 15,800 cities and there is no roaming fees.
“This isn’t a ‘get it cheap and then we’ll nickel and dime you.’ This is a nationwide network with a nationwide plan,” Lindsay said.
Boost will also continue to offer its other pre-paid plans, including the 10-cents/minute program.
Related stories on Gadgetress:
Power up: Different takes on travel chargers January 13, 2009- Text a message to help feed America’s hungry January 13, 2009
- What happens when everything is on a cell phone January 12, 2009
- Pictures of the Prada 2 phone January 9, 2009
- Powermat: Charging up without cables — or electricity! January 7, 2009
- Meade’s no muss, no fuss automated telescope January 7, 2009
- Walmart to start selling iPhone on SundayDecember 26, 2008
- MetroPCS’ intriguing cheap wireless service offer December 26, 2008
- Are prepaid phone plans for you? December 25, 2008
- Finding the cheapest mobile phone plan for families December 24, 2008
Tamara 'the Gadgetress' Chuang
Here's a list of TV/mobile companies helping consumers one tweet at a time. 
My T mobile phone is only 35.00 a months and that is after taxes.
$50.00 seems expensive……….
The T-mobile plan referenced below is not an unlimitted plan. Boost’s plan is unlimited talk, text, web, and walkie-talkie for $50, that’s a heck of a deal!
Well the difference is T-Mobile sucks
Kudos to the Gadgetress for explaining that this flavor of unlimited will not work on Sprint’s CDMA network, only Nextel’s footprint which has less coverage (Sprint can spin this anyway they chosse, the fact is Nextel has less coverage than Sprint CDMA).
It’s sad that many writers who have covered the “new” Boost Mobile unlimited plans have failed to note that (as you have) that Boost already offered unlimited plans in a few markets within the United States.
Last year (during the summer if my memory serves me correct) Sprint raised the price on the various Boost Mobile unlimited plans.
Now for those who live in large population centers, Nextel has a reasonable coverage. If comparing to Cricket and Metro PCS and you travel to different areas, this may be a deciding factor.
If you don’t travel out of your local market and don’t text or use long distance, both Cricket and Metro PCS have unlimited plans for $30.00 per month.
My analysis, compared to Sprint’s CDMA coverage, the new Boost Mobile coverage is worse than those who currently have a Boost Mobile unlimited plan. If you don’t travel too often, Metro PCS and/or Cricket (depending on where you live) are a much less expensive option.
Now that Sprint (for now) is not selling Nextel, with the serious problems Sprint had digesting Nextel, many Nextel customers (who spent more per month on average) fled in droves. So, I have to assume, Sprint now has plenty of airtime available on the Nextel side of the house to handle these unlimited plans.
I do give Sprint credit for trying something to add back customers, even if not on CDMA. I guess you could look at it from the point of not cannonabolizing the Sprint $99 all you can eat plans, or $79.99 on Sprint’s half-owned, Virgin Mobile.
To the cheap guy with the $35 T-mobile plan. You have a 300 minute plan. You obviously don’t talk much so you don’t need a $50 unlimited plan. My T-mobile is $65 a month plus taxes and fees. I have 600 minutes and my faves. That is $50. Then i pay another $15 for unlimited messaging. I would be glad to pay a flat cheap $50 for unlimited everything! So for you it is “expensive”, but for me it is cheap. Bottom line is that it depends on how much you talk and how much you pay for for your current plan. Some will benefit and some won’t. You won’t.
Well considering I just swithced to Boostmobile from my old T-mobile account, I’m amazingly satisfied with the new Boostmobile. T-mobile is not a bad company at all but if another well regarded company offers you a plan that is basically unlimited for 50$ U.S. you would be stupid to not take it. I had the 600 anytime minute plan with T-mobile and due to being in college I was not able to pay all my bills on time. My new Boost mobile phone has a very good signal. I do live in the Tri-state area. Its just like getting much more for your money and still not being held down by a contract….. I’m sure that other phone companies will try to follow in Boostmobile footsteps but not all will because there is still a risk of users not paying for their service monthly….. Anyone care to look at Amp’d mobile… Any way, I’m sure boost is going to do well. They’re backed by sprint and nextel both will always have money because their both one company and provide government phone service. A V Rabinowitz you hit the nail on the head with your entry… My overall view is if you live in a area with good coverage and don’t want a contract go with boost mobile or metro pcs.
Does this new Boost Phone have nationwide roaming????
Nationwide roaming is free. Check Boost’s Unlimited page for details.
YOUR INFORMATION IS INACCURATE, BOOSTMOBILE DOES NOT HAVE A TAX FREE PLAN, THEY ADD THE TAX CHARGE TO WHAT THEY CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMERS CREDIT CARD BUT TO KEEP THE CUSTOMER IN THE DARK, THEY ONLY SHOW A $50.00 CHARGE ON THE BOOSTMOBILE ONLINE STATEMENT. YOU SEE THE EXTRA CHARGES ON YOUR CREDIT CARD STATEMENT.
umm.. in the store they don’t chrge tax, y buh it on the net why dont u just go to the store and get it? everything on the net has tax