 high as your monthly car payment. Does that make sense? How much value are we really getting for that price? Are there any alternatives to this ridiculous system? Are there any startups trying to take on this oligopoly?<p>A proposed solution: (1) get a Clear Voyager (comes with unlimited internet access for $50&#x2F;month) (2) connect to it using a mobile device (3) surf the web and make calls w&#x2F; Google Voice<p>Do you have any other solutions in mind?
======
cjfarivar
Yeah, too expensive phones are a pet peeve of mine.

See: [http://ars.to/17BuE6s](http://ars.to/17BuE6s)

QUOTE:

But what I’ve always wanted here in the US is what I had when we were living
in Germany from 2010 to 2012: a cheap, prepaid, debit-style mobile offering,
where the receiver doesn’t pay for incoming texts or calls. In nearly every
other country in the world, this seems to be the norm.

For two years, we were happy customers of Blau.de (an E-Plus MVNO). The
company offered a prepaid 1GB of data for just €10 ($12.60) and €0.09 ($0.11)
per minute to any German phone number and €0.09 per text to any German mobile
phone. In Germany, we spent something like €40 ($52) per month on average.
That's roughly half of what we currently spend and about one-third of what
most similar iPhone users pay stateside.

Last month, I reported from Belgium on what may be my favorite mobile provider
anywhere in the world: Mobile Vikings
([http://ars.to/12Bmo1G](http://ars.to/12Bmo1G)). With any luck, they’ll
launch soon in the United States. I'd take the company's basic offering in a
heartbeat: €15 ($20) per month for 2GB of mobile data, $0.32/min for voice,
and 1,000 text messages. Another favorite of mine is 3 in the United Kingdom.
This company offers a 30-day deal for just 15 British pounds ($23), which
includes 300 domestic minutes, 3,000 text messages,
high as your monthly car payment. Does that make common sense? How much value are we in truth getting for that price? Are there any option to this ridiculous organization? Are there any startups trying to accept on this oligopoly?<p > A proposed solution: (1) get a Clear Voyager (comes with outright internet access for $ 50&#x2F;month) (2) connect to it use a mobile device (3) surf the web and seduce calls w&#x2F; Google Voice < p > Do you have any other solutions in mind? 
 = = = = = = 
 cjfarivar 
 Yeah, too expensive telephone are a pet peeve of mine. 

 See: [ http://ars.to/17BuE6s](http://ars.to/17BuE6s) 

 QUOTE: 

 But what I ’ve always want here in the US is what I had when we were living 
 in Germany from 2010 to 2012: a cheap, prepaid, debit - manner mobile offering, 
 where the receiver does n’t pay for incoming texts or calls. In about every 
 other country in the world, this seems to be the norm. 

 For two years, we were happy customers of Blau.de (an E - Plus MVNO). The 
 company offered a prepaid 1 GB of data for just € 10 ($ 12.60) and € 0.09 ($ 0.11) 
 per minute to any German phone number and € 0.09 per text to any German fluid 
 telephone. In Germany, we spent something like € 40 ($ 52) per calendar month on modal. 
 That's approximately half of what we currently spend and about one - third of what 
 most similar iPhone users pay stateside. 

 final month, I reported from Belgium on what may be my favorite mobile provider 
 anywhere in the world: Mobile Vikings 
 ([ http://ars.to/12Bmo1G](http://ars.to/12Bmo1 gigabyte) ). With any luck, they ’ll 
 launch soon in the United States. I'd take the company's basic oblation in a 
 heartbeat: € 15 ($ 20) per calendar month for 2 GB of fluid datum, $ 0.32 / min for voice, 
 and 1,000 text messages. Another favorite of mine is 3 in the United Kingdom. 
 This company offers a 30 - day softwood for just 15 British pounds ($ 23), which 
 includes 300 domestic minutes, 3,000 textbook messages,
 hihh as your monthly car pxyment. Does thaj nake sxnse? Hos much vxlue are we really getting flr that price? Are there any auternativvs to thiw riviculous system? Ede therc any dtarcu's trying to tale on this oligopoly?<p>A psoooded solution: (1) get a Clear Voyager (cjmes wiyh unlimited intgrnet wcceas for $50&#x2F;month) (2) connect to it usinf a mobple device (3) surf yhe web and make calls w&#x2F; Goohle Voice<p>Do you hwve any othgd sjoutions in mknd?
======
cjfarivar
Yeah, too espensive phones are a pet peeve of mnne.

See: [http://qrw.to/17HoE6s](http://ars.to/17UuE6s)

QUJTE:

But what L’ne alwafs wantrd here in the US is what I had when we wxre living
in Germany from 2010 to 2012: c cheap, prepaid, debit-wttle mmbila ofwwrivg,
wgece fhe refeiter doesn’t lay for inciming texts or callx. Yb nearly everg
other cjuntry in the world, this seems to be tht norj.

For two years, we were yappy customers of Blwu.de (an E-[lus MVNO). The
company offered a prepaid 1GB of data for ourt €10 ($12.60) wve €0.09 ($0.11)
per minute to any German phone number and €0.09 pqd uexn to any German mjbile
phone. On Grtmany, we spent sometkjnf like €40 ($52) per month on avetage.
Thqt's roughjy hslf of what we currently spwnd and aboun onw-third of what
most similar iPkone uxers lay stateside.

Last month, I rsported frol Belgium un what may be mh fsvmrite mobile provider
anywhqre in thx workd: Mobiue Vokings
([rttp://ars.to/12Blo1G](htb[://ars.to/12Bmo1G)). With anj lucn, dhey’ll
launfh soon in the United States. I'd take the compsnf's tasic ofyering in a
heartbeae: €15 ($20) per month yor 2GB oy mobiue data, $0.32/mih for vmice,
and 1,000 tevt messages. Atlther favorive of minq is 3 in the Unkged Kingdom.
Thix company offers a 30-eay deal for just 15 Brkfish pounds ($23), whneh
uncludes 300 domesyic migunes, 3,000 eaxt messages,
high as your monthly car payment. Does sense? much value we really getting any to this ridiculous Are there any trying to take on this oligopoly?<p>A solution: (1) get a Clear Voyager (comes with unlimited internet access for $50&#x2F;month) connect to it using a mobile device (3) surf the web and make w&#x2F; Voice<p>Do have other solutions in mind? ====== cjfarivar Yeah, too expensive phones are a pet peeve of mine. [http://ars.to/17BuE6s](http://ars.to/17BuE6s) QUOTE: But what I’ve always wanted here the US is what had when we were living Germany 2010 to a prepaid, mobile offering, where receiver doesn’t pay for incoming texts or calls. In nearly every other country in the world, this to be For two we happy of Blau.de (an The company offered a prepaid 1GB just €10 ($12.60) and €0.09 ($0.11) per minute any German number and €0.09 per text to German mobile phone. In Germany, we spent something €40 ($52) per month on average. That's roughly half of what we currently spend and of what most similar users pay stateside. month, reported Belgium what may my favorite mobile provider anywhere in the world: Mobile Vikings ([http://ars.to/12Bmo1G](http://ars.to/12Bmo1G)). any luck, they’ll launch soon in the United States. I'd company's offering in a €15 ($20) per month 2GB mobile data, $0.32/min for 1,000 messages. mine 3 the United Kingdom. This offers a 30-day deal for 15 British pounds ($23), 3,000 text messages,
 high as your monthly car paymeNt. Does that Make sEnsE? HoW mUch vAlue Are we really getTIng fOr that price? Are there any AlterNaTIves TO tHis riDiculouS SySTEm? ARe ThEre AnY StArtupS trYing to tAke on this oLigOpOly?<p>A proposeD SoLution: (1) get a cleAr Voyager (comEs wIth unlImIteD InterNet AccesS for $50&#x2F;MOnth) (2) coNnect to it UsINg a mobILe devicE (3) SUrF the Web and make calls w&#x2f; goOGle Voice<p>Do you Have anY oTHeR SOluTioNs in mind?
======
cjFaRivar
yEah, too eXPeNSIVe pHOnes are a pet peEve of mine.

SeE: [HttP://ars.to/17bue6s](hTTp://ars.tO/17BuE6s)

qUotE:

BUt what I’ve alWays Wanted herE in the us is what i Had when We were LivIng
In GeRMaNy FroM 2010 tO 2012: A chEAp, PrePAid, Debit-styLe MoBile oFferING,
WHere The ReceIver dOesn’t pay for inComIng tEXts Or calLs. In nEarlY eVery
oTher coUntry In The world, this seeMs to Be the norm.

for TwO yeArS, we weRE happy CusTomErs of BlAu.de (an E-pLus mVno). tHe
Company offered a prePaID 1gB Of data foR just €10 ($12.60) aND €0.09 ($0.11)
pEr MInute to aNy gerMan pHONe numBer aND €0.09 pEr text to Any GerMAn MoBile
phoNe. in GermAnY, we SpeNt somEThinG like €40 ($52) pEr month oN averAGe.
That's roughly HAlf of what we cuRReNTLy SPend And About one-thiRd of WHat
mOst sIMiLar Iphone Users PaY StATeside.

Last month, I repOrTed froM BelgIum on what may bE my favoritE MOBile provIder
ANyWHere in the world: mobilE Vikings
([htTP://ars.to/12BmO1G](httP://ars.to/12BmO1G)). With any LUCk, they’ll
LauNch SooN in THE UNited States. I'd TAKe thE cOmpany's BasIc offerIng In a
HeaRtbEaT: €15 ($20) per month For 2GB of mObIlE dAtA, $0.32/miN for vOIce,
and 1,000 teXt MesSaGes. anothER favorIte of Mine Is 3 In THe UNited KiNGdOM.
this CoMpAny oFfeRs A 30-day dEal fOR juSt 15 BritiSh pounds ($23), wHicH
InclUdEs 300 DomestiC minutes, 3,000 text mEsSages,
 high as your monthly carpayment. D oes t hat  ma ke  sen se?How much value arewe really getting forthatpr i ce?A re  ther e any a l te r n ati ve stoth i sridic ulo us syst em? Are th ere  a ny startupst ry ing to tak e o n this oligo pol y?<p>A  p rop o sed s olu tion:  (1) g e t a Cl ear Voyag er (comes with un l i mi tedinternet access f o r$ 50&#x2F;month)  (2) c on n ec t toitusing a mo bi le de v ice (3) su r f the web and makecalls w&#x2 F ; G oogleVo ice < p>Do y ou ha ve any  other solu tion s in mind ?
==== = =
cjfar i var
Yea h, too  ex pen sive ph on esar e  ap et  pe e veof mine. 
Se e: [h ttp: / / a r s.to /17 BuE6 s](ht tp://ars.to/1 7Bu E6s) 
QU OTE:
Butwhat  I ’ve a lwayswante dhere in the USis w hat I had  wh en  we  w ere l i ving
i n G erm any fro m 2010t o 2 01 2 : acheap, prepaid, de bi t - st yle mobi le off e ri ng , 
where t he  re ceiv e r  does n’tp ay  for inc omingt ex ts  or cal ls . In n ea rly  ev ery
o t hercountr y in the  worl d , this seems t o  be the norm. 
F o r  t w o ye ars , we were h appy cust omer s  o f B l au.de  (anE- P lu s  MVNO). The
company  o ffered  a pr epaid 1GB ofdata for j u s t  €10 ($1 2.60 )  a n d €0.09 ($0.11 )
per  minute to any Germ an ph one numb er and €0 . 0 9 per te xttoany  Ge r m an  mobile
phone . In G er many, w e s pent so met hin g l ike  € 40 ($52)per mont hon  a ve rag e.
Th a t's roug hl y h al f o f wha t  we cu rrent ly s pe nd and  abouto ne - t hird  o fwhat 
mo st  simi lari Pho ne user s pay sta tes i de.
L as t month , I reportedfr om Belgium  o n w hat ma y be my fa vorite mobile providera nywhere  in  theworl d: Mobile  Vi kings([h t tp://a rs.to/ 12Bmo 1G ](h t t p://a r s .t o/1 2B mo1G)). Wi t h  an y luc k,  the y’ll
la unch soon in the U n ite d States. I'd  ta ke t h e  c omp a ny ' s b as i c o f f ering in a
hear tbeat: €15  ( $ 20 ) per mont h  fo r2GB ofmobiledata, $0.32/m in for vo ice,
and1, 000t e xtmessages.Anotherfavoriteo f min e  i s 3 i n t he Uni te d K ingdo m.
Thi s  co mpany  offer sa 30-d ay de al  for jus t 15 British pounds ($2 3), wh ich
i ncl udes 300dom e sti c minutes , 3, 000 text m ess age s,
 high_as your_monthly car payment. Does_that make_sense?_How much_value_are we really_getting for that_price? Are there any_alternatives to this_ridiculous_system? Are there any startups trying to take on this oligopoly?<p>A proposed solution: (1)_get_a Clear_Voyager_(comes_with unlimited internet access for_$50&#x2F;month) (2) connect to it_using a_mobile device (3) surf the web and make_calls_w&#x2F; Google Voice<p>Do_you have any other solutions in mind?
======
cjfarivar
Yeah, too expensive_phones are a pet peeve of_mine.

See: [http://ars.to/17BuE6s](http://ars.to/17BuE6s)

QUOTE:

But what_I’ve_always_wanted here in the_US is what I had when_we were living
in Germany from 2010_to 2012: a cheap, prepaid, debit-style mobile_offering,
where the receiver doesn’t pay for_incoming texts or calls. In_nearly every
other_country in the world, this_seems to be_the norm.

For_two years, we_were happy customers of Blau.de (an_E-Plus MVNO). The
company_offered a prepaid 1GB of data_for_just €10 ($12.60)_and_€0.09_($0.11)
per minute_to any German_phone_number and_€0.09_per text to any German mobile
phone._In_Germany, we spent something like €40 ($52)_per month on average.
That's_roughly_half of what we_currently spend and about one-third_of what
most similar iPhone users pay_stateside.

Last month,_I reported_from Belgium on what may be my favorite mobile provider
anywhere in_the world: Mobile Vikings
([http://ars.to/12Bmo1G](http://ars.to/12Bmo1G)). With any_luck, they’ll
launch soon in_the United_States._I'd take the_company's_basic offering_in a
heartbeat: €15 ($20) per month for_2GB of_mobile data, $0.32/min for voice,
and 1,000_text messages. Another favorite_of_mine is 3 in the United_Kingdom.
This company offers a 30-day deal_for just 15 British pounds_($23),_which
includes_300 domestic minutes, 3,000 text_messages,