PC Mag's Sascha Segan has the scoop on what could be the best deal in cell phone service from the hottest carrier you've never heard of. If it pans out.
Zer01 Mobile is promising contract-free, unlimited voice and 3G data for just $69.95/month, "on a network as broad as the one owned by AT&T." As Segan explains, "That's because, in many ways, the network is AT&T's." Zer01 apparently has a sort of a roaming agreement worked out with AT&T to get data from your smartphone to AT&T's network to Zer01's own IP backbone. From there all voice calls are made via VOIP (think Skype), which allows the carrier to save money - and pass the savings along to consumers - by way of avoiding traditional GSM voice call protocols.
Zer01's website currently allows you to pre-register for more information, and lists "I Have a Phone" and "I Need a New Phone" as options, with the latter showing a few HTC Windows Mobile devices as coming soon. Segan writes that the carrier's dialing software is now compatible with Windows Mobile 6 phones "but Zer01 will be at CTIA in Las Vegas next month. So will I. I'll hunt 'em down and let you know what's what. In the meantime, read Sascha Segan's article and then check out the Zer01 Mobile website for more details.
will work in the future on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Java and even
on jailbroken iPhones, Zer01 chief executive Ben Piilani said." The monthly plan promises to work with smartphones and also offer unlimited international calling for an additional $10/mo.
