A new MVNO out of Conneticut is touting unlimited 3G data and voice access over its own data network without contracts and a lineup of Windows Mobile devices.
Zer01 Mobile is currently ramping up for a debut at CTIA next April, and has launched a website that promotes their forthcoming service and closed beta invitation. The company claims that its client also uses custom algorithms to maintain Quality-of-Service over EDGE data access in case a customer is not in a 3G area.
The service works by preloading a custom developed VOIP client that ties into the dialer, modem, and speaker/microphone hardware to tunnel all calls from the AT&T network to its own backbone via an interconnect agreement, effectively bypassing AT&T’s data network caps and allowing for unlimited domestic and international calling for a flat rate per month of $69.99 or $79.99 per month to call an additional 40 countries which includes messaging.
The company will offer selected devices from HTC and other Windows Mobile device makers, and is even allowing people to bring their own devices to the carrier, with plans to offer software clients for Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Java and even on jailbroken iPhones in the near future.
I gotta say … I’m somewhat interested.
lmao this wont work.. like at&t will let jailbroken iphones work… sounds good but at&t has bad enough voice and data as it is.. trying to squeeze voice out of edge is ridiculous.. this might work in 3 to 5 years
Unlimited voice, data, and messaging for $70 per month on the AT&T network, using whatever GSM phone you want? This is going to be a very popular item!
ReadyLink and other SIP calling platforms work fine over EDGE. However, I think the point is that this solution will cater to consumers who are generally in 3G-covered areas to begin with.
sounds good in theory and honestly I’d be interested in trying it out.
The only concern of mine is the reliability aspect. ATT does offer a large coverage area with roaming included but they aren’t exactly known for being very reliable.
I mean, my data connection gets dropped or defaulted back to EDGE all the time for no apparent reason on a weekly basis.
Can VOIP work okay over EDGE or GPRS connections?
[…] to the Zer01 virtual operator service now redirects to Google, a fitting end to a saga filled with smoke, mirrors and deflections. Zer01 Mobile launched with great fanfare last year prior to CES and CTIA […]