Red Pocket Black Friday 2023 Deals

[Jim1348]

I know that Red Pocket had a deal last year for 1 years worth if service for $75 instead of $99.00 It had 1GB of data per month.

Now I no longer see that for Black Friday, but I do see a plan with less data for $60. That would be enough for me for a second line, I think. I got the line of service a year ago in case I was in an area with NO AT&T service. Over the course of the year, when I was in an area of no AT&T service, it was also an area of no Verizon service.

By this time next year there may be more options of cell phone to satellite service, thus eliminating my desire to have a second line for terrestrial service.

[sillyette]

.....
By this time next year there may be more options of cell phone to satellite service, thus eliminating my desire to have a second line for terrestrial service.

Isn't satellite phone service very, very expensive? (Or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote).

[zapjb]

Isn't satellite phone service very, very expensive? (Or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote).

Yeah that's what I thought.

[ShawnMagm]

I know that Red Pocket had a deal last year for 1 years worth if service for $75 instead of $99.00 It had 1GB of data per month.

Now I no longer see that for Black Friday, but I do see a plan with less data for $60. That would be enough for me for a second line, I think. I got the line of service a year ago in case I was in an area with NO AT&T service. Over the course of the year, when I was in an area of no AT&T service, it was also an area of no Verizon service.

By this time next year there may be more options of cell phone to satellite service, thus eliminating my desire to have a second line for terrestrial service.

I've kept track of the eBay 360 day RP 1 GB plan for the last 3 years during Black Friday week and a bit after:

2022, $94 11/24-12/7
2021, $84 11/25-12/5
2020, $94 for the week of Thanksgiving, then went back to usual price, then back to $94 for ~ 10 days

It's possible to save more with various cashback sites and an additional 5% with Paypal if you have a Chase Freedom Card linked your Paypal account with activated offer.

I think the best deal I got was $70 ($85 BF price + $15 off eBay coupon) years ago, but those days are long gone.

[Jim1348]

Thank you for that.

I don't know why I thought it was $75.00.

[Jim1348]

Isn't satellite phone service very, very expensive? (Or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote).

The article linked below may explain it a bit better. The plan is to allow people with terrestrial cell phones to access satellites when there is no coverage from terrestrial towers. So, to answer your question, current traditional satellite telephone service is more expensive than regular cell phone service. Hopefully, by having "cell sites in the sky" it will lower the cost of getting signals in more places.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/...l_service_2024

https://direct.starlink.com/#:~:text...TE%20standards.

With all of the blurbs about cell phone to satellite connectivity lately, I created a list to help me make sense out of it. Please feel free to proofread this for me and respond with any changes/corrections:


Cellular Mobile Telephones & Satellite Partners:


Apple: Globalstar

Android: Iridium Communications Inc


AT&T: AST Space Mobile

T-Mobile: SpaceX Starlink

Verizon: Amazon Project Kuiper


As I understand things currently, if you have an Apple iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro with iOS 16.1 or later, Emergency SOS is available, if you are in a place with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, you may be able to communicate through Globalstar satellite network.

Android phones will need Android OS 14 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset to work on Iridium for future service.

At the carrier level, AT&T is partnering with AST Space Mobile.

T-Mobile is partnering with SpaceX Starlink.

Verizon is partnering with Amazon Project Kuiper.

I have specifically NOT included any devices that require a second device to work, like the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, ACR Bivy Stick and Zoleo satellite communicators. The Garmin InReach, SPOT Gens and Somewear Global Hotspot may be other choices, too.

I also have not included any traditional, stand alone satellite phones that have been around for awhile.

[Boz1]

Isn't satellite phone service very, very expensive? (Or maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote).

Yeah that's what I thought.

This may at least partially be what's being referenced:

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-car...nd-with-spacex
UN-CARRIERCATEGORY
PRESS RELEASE
T-Mobile Takes Coverage Above and Beyond With SpaceX
August 25, 2022
Companies share their vision to provide truly universal coverage, pairing SpaceX’s breakthrough satellite constellation with T-Mobile’s industry-leading wireless network
New service aims to connect vast majority of smartphones already on T-Mobile’s network to Starlink satellites

[ShredFred]

Just FYI for price comparison for Black Friday Shopping, I got the 8/10 gb 360 plan for $190 plus tax($206 total) back in mid September via eBay. That's about the lowest price in recent memory.

Let me know if anything better appears as I have 2 plans up for renewal in December and February.

If you have a Chase freedom Visa card, PayPal is the 5% category for this quarter.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using HoFo mobile app

[AnciusD]

I'm anticipating only limited or moderate deals this season on eBay or their website. Just my gut feeling.