What about text messaging and data? Once you add in unlimited texting and data, the new unlimited AT&T and Verizon Wireless plans jump up to $119.98 and $119.99 respectively.
Image © Cellular South
Cellular South announced last fall this nationwide Smartphone Unlimited Plan for individuals and families with smartphones. You can even add a second line for only $39.99 more.
Combined, that means you could get two fully unlimited lines with Cellular South for the same price as one line with AT&T or Verizon Wireless.
But what's the catch? There's a big one. While its primary talk plans require a two-year contract just like the main plans at AT&T and Verizon Wireless do, Cellular South is only a regional carrier. The carrier's major issue is its very limited coverage.
Customers participating in Cellular South plans must reside in select southern U.S. cities. If you don't (i.e. if you live in Chicago, San Diego or New York City), you can't use the service.
Specifically, Cellular South customers must live in Mississippi; generally in and surrounding Memphis; Arkansas; west Tennessee; Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama; or Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton counties in Florida.
If you're in one of these areas, you can then call nationwide. The carrier has a 50/50 rule that says at least half of your calls must originate from one of these areas. If you travel outside of such an area, your roaming is covered so long as it's for less than half of your usage.
Along with a few others, Cellular South does offer one of the industry's heavy-hitting smartphones: Google's Android-powered HTC Hero.
Other companies (and especially prepaid wireless carriers) offer lower-priced alternatives to the unlimited plans at AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile with better nationwide coverage. Learn more about Cellular South's unlimited pricing in this full-size cost matrix.
Comments
Its great that the mobile giants can give us some freedom with price cuts. Although I found a great deal from Straight Talk Prepaid of Unlimited at $45 monthly. Plus that is Unlimited everything.. not just voice, It includes Unlimited data, minutes and messages. That is just so worth it.