Everything in the world seems to swing back and forth. Politics certainly does, but then again this isn’t that sort of blog. So, let’s talk about cell phone plans. The earliest cell phone plans had you pay by the minute. When text and data entered the equation, you paid for your usage as well. Then, unlimited plans came. I think cell carriers were caught a little unprepared there. I’m guessing there were people who used A LOT of data. Slowly, limits began to creep in. Eventually even unlimited plans got some sort of limitations on them. People switched back to metered plans because they made more sense.
And now, unlimited plans are all the rage again. AT&T’s Unlimited plans give you a lot of flexibility, especially if you want to tether your computer to your phone. It’s about as close to an all-you-can-consume plan as you can get.
But, with a lot of folks talking about the economy and inflation lately, I’m wondering if you’ll see a lot more talk about metered plans.
Metered plans never really went away
While it’s hard to find plans from major cell providers that charge you by the minute or by the gigabyte, they’re out there. These days they’re mostly the province of MVNOs. MVNOs, or mobile virtual network operators, are companies that lease capacity from companies like AT&T. They don’t maintain the lines themselves and they usually focus on a specific group so they can tailor their plans a little better.
A lot of these MVNOs offer prepaid plans, which are perfect for those folks who don’t use the phone a lot or who want to keep a lid on the budget. AT&T also offers prepaid plans as well. Yes, a lot of people associated prepaid plans with “burner” phones and unsavory groups, that’s not incredibly fair. There are a lot of reasons you could want a prepaid phone and the companies that offer them are on the up and up.
MVNOs with postpaid plans (postpaid is just the opposite of prepaid, you pay the bill based on what you get) often focus on groups who don’t use their phones as much like seniors. These folks look for bargains, and MVNOs are happy to provide them.
Do I see a rise in metered plans?
This is hard to say. Cell phone plans aren’t cheap, but for most folks they offer a lot of value. I’m not sure I see a lot of people wanting to cut back on their cell phone plans. Most of us would probably rather skip a meal now and again and keep our unlimited plans. After all, our phones let us work, play, communicate, and shop. They’re our portals to the world.
That said, I do think options are a good idea. I could see companies offering more metered plans, especially if companies like AT&T want to compete in the same spaces as MVNOs.
For now, you have options. Wondering what they are? Call Signal Connect at 888-233-7563. We’re AT&T dealers and we can discuss a lot of ways to help you save money. We can help you bundle cellular with home internet, for example, to save you money on both. It’s a lot better than giving up your unlimited plan. Don’t believe me? The number, as I said, is 888-233-7563 and we’re here during East Coast business hours. As that meme says, Prove Me Wrong.
