Big Changes Slated for March

[SkAiN]

Been away for awhile, with reality getting in the way of my internets and all that.

Anyway, on with the thread:

Cricket has some huge fundamental changes right around the corner, most likely beginning March 9th.

1) Rate plan pricing will be greatly simplified. There will be only 3 plans to choose from: $30, $40, and $50. The $50 plan will feature unlimited nationwide roaming as standard.

2) Taxes will be included in plan price. $50 plan=$50 monthly bill. True flat-rate pricing finally comes to Cricket!

3) The wildly unpopular $10 late payment fee? Gone.

4) The bad news? No more first month free with new activations. The good news? Lower prices on phones, which is always a good thing. The best part? This will, in effect, remove the "loyalty penalty" for current customers looking to upgrade their handset.

Now for the disclaimer: this may or may not be the case in all markets. But it's definitely happening in Chicago.

[Sawawa]

Who is their partner for the unlimited nationwide roaming?

[firestrom223]

Let's hope it's verizon.

Their coverage is bangin'.

[miketwan]

That is some great news, i think its gonna be in all markets. $10 late fee has been gone for a while in Cincinnati market. For the bad news it really is not much of a difference. Cheaper phone no first month free. or first month free and higher priced phones. From a customers view it will be much cheaper to buy a cricket phone than to have theirs flashed that is the only thing i can think of that could be bad news for flashers. Thanks for the info

[itownplayer]

If they come out with a new nationwide roaming agreement, won't that hurt people flashing phones as well? Flashed phones will probably only work in the home area right? Can someone clarify this for me?

[Isriam]

nationwide roaming does that include data or just voice/text? that is a HUGE difference because of turn by turn gps like garmin and google maps require data connections.

[Sawawa]

nationwide roaming does that include data or just voice/text? that is a HUGE difference because of turn by turn gps like garmin and google maps require data connections.

For this to truly matter (i.e. to more than just flashed Windows Mobile users) Cricket would actually need some advanced phones.

[rasec7]

sounds good i knew cricket had sumthing up there sleeves

[avenue]

Thanks for posting!

I'm hoping the roaming is counted as "Premium Extended Coverage" or something. Also, I heard it is going to be Sprint, and if so, I'm hoping there is still some ability to roam on Verizon. I mean, I added roaming so I could roam on Verizon, and although this new plan will offer unlimited, if it's Sprint, it might not be worth it to me. So, does anyone know if it's Sprint for sure, and if there will be any roaming on Verizon? What about those who travel across the country and NEED roaming on Verizon?

Also, does anyone know which features will be included on which plan?

-Avenue

[insanecain]

Who is their partner for the unlimited nationwide roaming?

sprint..... so im told by my lil birdie

[miketwan]

If they come out with a new nationwide roaming agreement, won't that hurt people flashing phones as well? Flashed phones will probably only work in the home area right? Can someone clarify this for me?

Flashed phones should work in roaming as long as you have the plan and the right prl. Now as far as non AWS handsets they are more likely to roam in AWS markets which would be a good thing because now flashing phones would work in those markets. And if data is included it would be better but i really doubt that.

[yhike]

I am hearing the date is going to be March 23rd not the 9th.

[miketwan]

I am hearing the date is going to be March 23rd not the 9th.

Possibly different dates for different markets.

[Isriam]

I'd be curious as to how its going to work for those Cricket users with bad sprint ESN's or if it will affect them at all.

[to0]

I hear they are going iDEN and Apple is making an iDEN iPhone with analog TV tuners built in I hope we can flash Nextel phones