Republic Wireless - Unlimited Everything for $20 a month... for real?

[JamesAColemanFan]

Couldn't you just cheat this service by ringing one of your friends and leaving the call going until your wifi percentage is over x%

[MyRedneckLife]

@JamesAColemanFan Sure, but it doesn't matter now as Republic Wireless have lifted the hard WiFi calling requirement. Seems like something a company in their death throes would do, lol.

[wondell7]

I get unlimited calls and text and data using my ipod touch and line 2 app, for 9.99 a month. I am always within wifi, and I carry a mifi with me.

[PaceyPimp]

those limits are gone its truly unlimited

[Tjackson31692]

If it get speeds more than 200kb I buy it

[techman19256]

Sprint has TRULY UNLIMITED DATA! I have 2 Sprint Phones, and use at least 15GB per month on the WiMax/4G Network.

[erichchan3]

Check out this website by Sprint to find out if your area is scheduled for increased data speeds by entering your zipcode or address by going to network.sprint.com

[erichchan3]

Its more stress on the Sprint slow 3G network for now. However Sprint is in the process of dramatically increase their backhaul to fiber and adding additional EVDO carriers to alleviate the congested 3G network so speeds will increase in 2012.

[TheKciii]

Well, it's not unlimited when you're not on wifi so I can't imagine sprint getting too overloaded

[MrWirelesscaller]

On tmo's prepaid as you go $100 gets you 1000 we min which lasts for up to a year, if you put more money on it before the year ends then it renews the remaining min for a year. I'm on my second year so my mobile service was $10 this year, magic jack $19.99 this year (it gets cut end of this year), and google talk is free. I'm going to renew tmo for $10 next year rely purely on google talk voip next year. $19/month is still too high to use mainly wifi and I don't need it for the road. part 2

[MrWirelesscaller]

Other than the phone's limit and Sprint's coverage footprint all you need is a consistent bandwidth of 80 KB/s up and down which even the lowest broadband service can provide without multitasking a high bandwidth task. I've cut the cord on monthly service and went pay as you go with tmo, I either carry a netbook/magicjack/google talk or ipod touch google talk/talkatone app with my cellphone. The prepaid phone is for caller id to know who to call back, part 1.

[MrWirelesscaller]

The problem isn't for the single user of the service, it's when a family shares the broadband service. If one person in your home uses a high bandwidth usage such as downloading a file, torrents, streaming video (youtube, hulu, so on), or uploading files like when your phone ups it to picture site this will impact the quality of your call. I can't see this working in a family with teen kids, they tend to do whatever they want online even when someone else needs the bandwidth. need 80kbs u/d

[iTzGavin96]

sprint has the slowest 3g out of any carrier

[MrTaner888]

@jycnnzn09 when did she say the phone would be released? Thanks

[tattooinker]

However, users' non-Wi-Fi usage cannot exceed what the company calls the "community's fair use threshold." If Republic customers exceed monthly cellular limits of 550 voice minutes, 150 texts and 300MB of data, the carrier reserves the right to oust them from the plan after fair warning concerning "reducing cellular footprint."

[MrWirelesscaller]

@tattooinker

They used this as an example if the person exceeds this every month or primary use sprint's network on a consistent basis then do to their fair use clause they have the option to terminate your service.

[Hyperborea2012]

Looks like they are are filled up until January.

[jycnnzn09]

My cousin works for Virgin Mobile USA and he told me that the LG Optimus Black will be on their (Virgin's) phone lineup soon. :)

[JPranker98]

i guess this phone is not for me. CDMA network its really suck in apt. I ll stay with at&t. BTW great review

[MrWirelesscaller]

@JPranker98

Dude if you're in your apartment or visiting a friend or relative connect to their wifi network when there to make a call. That's the point of the service, when you're in a location when wifi is available they expect you to use it while if you're driving, camping, shopping, or walking from building to building that's about the only time they expect you to be on sprint's network.

[Shnooka30]

1st time seeing your video, thanks for the review. I may get this phone to try it out.

[thegamefanaticshow]

More stress for Sprints network? Great! I got a whopping .4 Mb/s today on 3G, guess I can look forward to that getting even slower.

[MyRedneckLife]

@thegamefanaticshow Yeah I was really not enthused when I found out they were using Sprint's CDMA network. Not surprised though, it seems to be the trendy thing to do. Sprint must make tons of money selling the heck out of it's congested network....

[VillanoCoyote]

well i like this video,nice review, keep up the good work and i hope to see more information u could give me on this new company:)

[MyRedneckLife]

@VillanoCoyote Thank you for the positive comments, they are quite appreciated! :-)

[MrTaner888]

Do you or anyone else reading this comment have any information about the optimistic black or any other smartphones coming to VM? I'm ready for a change from the optimus and yes I know about the optimus slider, HTC, and triumph

[MyRedneckLife]

@MrTaner888 The Optimus Black will definitely be coming to Virgin Mobile USA at some point... the last thing I heard was mid-December but it could be later. There is no doubt that the phone is coming - the license has already been filed with the FCC. The model number will be VM855

[JM96PWNS]

Wait, your just getting ONE phone for 199$ what about the other people in my family, is that like another 400$?!? is it the same phone or can you use another?? -__-

[MyRedneckLife]

@JM96PWNS Yes, that's one phone for $199 (or $99 if you use coupon code welcome19 before the end of November). This is a prepaid provider and there are no 'family plans' - if you're looking for something like that then you may wish to check out the contract plans offered by the big boys (ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile). Although in most cases prepaid is STILL cheaper when you account for the fees and crap that the contract providers charge...

[ace198]

Except maybe the data this definitely be a good cell service for me.

[MyRedneckLife]

@ace198 Well as long as you use even a small amount of WiFi calling your data alottment will go up drastically. That 300mb limit is only if you never use any wifi calling at all... Their whole goal is to push you to use WiFi calling as much as possible and you get rewarded by having your cell minutes and data limit go up.

[BreezyInfernoNinja]

@MyRedneckLife How does using Wifi boost your allocation of off-Wifi data?

[MyRedneckLife]

@BreezyInfernoNinja The exact formula they are using hasn't been made public yet, but they do make it pretty clear that so long as you maintain even a mediocre usage of WiFi VOICE usage that your cellular voice, data, and sms allotment will increase quite a bit.

[orioncheung]

You can buy the no-contract phone for $99 through November 27 with the promo code "welcome19" before the price goes back up to a standard $199.

[MyRedneckLife]

@orioncheung Thanks, I added this information to the video. :-)

[nicolasrogervais]

They may only limit data over the cellular network, but limiting data (over wifi) all together wouldn't make sense. This deal will work out well for 9 to 5ers and students who spend the majority of their time in home and work/school wifi zones.

[MyRedneckLife]

@nicolasrogervais I never said they limited anything over WiFi, just like every other Android handset they have no ability to limit anything on WiFi except for, I suppose, VOIP calling. I think it would be good for those people who are consistently around a WiFi hotspot and who can strategically plan their voice calls around those times

[nicolasrogervais]

@MyRedneckLife I wasn't putting words in your mouth. I was just commenting on your mentioning at the end of the video that you think they may limit data to 5gb like most carriers (eventually). I realize that wifi use isn't included. Looking forward to your comparison of carriers.

[MyRedneckLife]

@nicolasrogervais Oh I know, no worries! When I said 5GB I definitely meant that on the 3G side, not the wifi side.

[shikhanshu]

nice video... unbiased :)

[spenseravery]

Thank You!! For doing the "Real Homework" on this!! I heard about this from LifeHacker (on their website), but it was an ADVERTISEMENT. Disguised as a news story. You have much more detailed information here.

Thanx, Again!!

[Fraznor]

I had read that altho they were to use Sprint towers it was to be thru ClearWire. Google "Clearwire problems"

[Powdermonkey99]

its 150 texts not 1500 - "550 minutes, send 150 texts, and download 300 megabytes"

[MyRedneckLife]

@Powdermonkey99 At the time I made the video the FAQ on the website said 1500 texts.

[XzXKhR1zXzX]

is optimus v having 2.3??

[MyRedneckLife]

@XzXKhR1zXzX No, the Optimus V (Virgin Mobile's version of the Optimus) ships with 2.2 and thus far they have announced no plans to make an OTA update available.