Simplexity, best known for providing the infrastructure necessary to enable virtual operators has announced that it has reached an agreement with Sprint to resell the entire line of services with the goal of serving as the back end for new virtual operators wishing to launch branded services using Sprint’s network. The multi-year agreement spans Sprint’s complete line of services and operates at the wholesale level, meaning that any future MVNOs would have to go through Simplexity to build the infrastructure necessary to launch a new virtual operator.

The announcement of the new agreement follows last week’s launch of Ting from the company behind the Tucows portal and the January announcement of a similar agreement with Clearwire in January. Simplexity also has such an agreement in place with beleaguered network LightSquared, but the likelihood of that agreement becoming viable is slipping by the day as it fights to gain FCC approval.

LightSquared is currently working to maintain agreements with Sprint in relation to its LTE network and fighting potential insolvency, as the parent company in Harbinger Capital Partners sustained a 47% loss stemming from the writedown of LightSquared assets for the fourth quarter of last year since the assets are not being actively used, pending final approval from federal regulators following the results of interference testing that have shown that LightSquared’s satellite based network causes problems with navigation systems.

With LightSquared coming up against its last deadline from Sprint before the termination of its LTE agreement, it remains to be seen whether the entire venture can be saved at this point, as LightSquared makes up the majority investment vehicle for Falcone and Harbinger Capital Partners with a 62% stake.

Shareware software portal operator Tucows has officially taken the wraps off of its latest venture in Ting, which is a new virtual operator powered by the Sprint network that brings two key features to cellular service in usage based billing and has done an end run around carriers such as AT&T and Verizon in implementing shared data plans.

Other key features of the service include support for up to 20 lines for an additional fee, included mobile hotspot and tethering access. Continue reading for a breakdown of the new service.

As Ting does not feature standard service agreements, phones must be purchased at full price and consist of the following in the Kyocera Zio ($105) LG Optimus S ($155) Samsung Transform ($245) Conquer 4G ($295) HTC Detail ($395) and Motorola Photon 4G ($545). Two feature phones are also available the Samsung Reclaim ($45) and the M360 ($65). Each of the 4G-capable handsets may use Sprint’s WiMAX network as well as EVDO for data access and tethering and is reflected in the pricing for monthly data access which starts at $3 for 100MB and goes all the way up to $42 for 3GB per month.

Monthly pricing for messaging is broken down in a similar manner for 100 messages at $3 all the way up to 6000 messages for $14. Plans can be selected individually based on initial needs, but this is where Ting’s approach to usage-based billing is different from other attempts. When plans are initially selected for the first month of service, if usage falls far below the limits for each particular plan, whether it be voice, messaging or data use, the remainder of each plan is carried over to the next month and the difference is credited to the monthly cost.

Conversely, if usage tends to be above the limits for each plan up to XXL, the account is automatically moved to each successive plan and usage is charged based on the rates in each plan up to XXL levels. If usage happens to surpass the XXL  plans for voice, messaging and data, the additional  charges then move to individual overage rates of $0.02 for voice, $0.0025 per message and $0.0225 per MB.

While the service may not be conducive to single line use based on the regressive rates of the standard service plans, the capability to add up to 20 lines of service and shared data access plans means that Ting undercuts family plans from AT&T and Verizon when factoring in the additional $6 fee for four lines, making it a better deal for families. Individual plans can exclude voice service and can be activated with data and messaging only, though per minute rates without a voice plan end up being more expensive in comparison.

With Ting, Tucows may have stumbled on the perfect hybrid of plan options while adding additional flexibility not seen since the days of Sprint’s Fair and Flexible plan and expanded to include both messaging and data access without the need for service agreements. Time will tell whether Ting will make an impact, but the initial plan seems to work in its favor, as AT&T and Verizon have yet to roll out their own shared data plans and the Ting implementation may be the best example of the idea.

Ting Official Site 

Straight Talk has confirmed on its Facebook page that it will offer a SIM-only option for the first time along with its sister brand in Net10 within the next few days. The dedicated page for the offering is now live and features options for regular full-size SIMs as well as the increasingly popular microSIMs used in newer smartphones, including the iPhone. Read more for all the key details and the full breakdown of the service.

The offering also marks a shift for Tracfone as the service provider typically bundles service with its SIM capable phones while binding them together with questionable legalese and locks that would prevent usage on unlocked phones. The new offering may in fact be a response to the increasing popularity of purchasing Straight Talk Nokia smartphones with unlocked SIM cards that would work on unlocked or AT&T branded phones. The new service is also similar to the SIM-only option offered by competitor Simple Mobile which works exclusively on T-Mobile’s network and  has the advantage of also being compatible with both networks, unlike the aforementioned Simple Mobile.

The terms also indicate that Tracfone is taking advantage of the new UMTS roaming agreement signed between AT&T and T-Mobile in the wake of the blocked AT&T/T-Mobile purchase and merger to offer the new service option. Minor caveats to this option begin with the exclusion of Tracfone-branded hardware, BlackBerry and branded SafeLink, NET10 or Straight Talk phones. The BlackBerry exclusion makes sense as Tracfone does not hold a license for BlackBerry services and would need to either negotiate directly with RIM or sublicense via carrier partners for access to BlackBerry service.

With the forthcoming launch of SIM-only service on Tracfone, the provider may at last be taking steps to end its legally nebulous practice of locking SIM cards to hardware with equally questionable legalese while offering a solid alternative to contracts with the potential bonus of 3G roaming.

As the service requires the purchase of the $45 unlimited service plan and a credit/debit card, Straight Talk and Net10 are clearly targeting enthusiasts and current SIM swap users that are looking to keep using unlocked smartphones without the repercussions normally associated with such usage, which include account termination for using the SIM in an unauthorized device.

Now that Tracfone is offering SIM only service, this will undoubtedly force carriers to compete with their own prepaid services, though it remains to be seen whether they will respond in kind. A request for comment on the extent of AT&T and T-Mobile compatibility has also been sent to Tracfone’s PR company and the post will be updated with any additional confirmation received. The service will launch next Tuesday for both Straight Talk and Net10 at the prices listed in the above linked images while the support pages list manual data/MMS settings for each network.

Straight Talk SIM Page

Kajeet might be an unfamiliar name to most, but the company has been around for the past five years, providing wireless service as a virtual operator in its own niche as a child-friendly alternative to  other, more expensive services.

The provider has recently rearranged its lineup to include smartphones, but with the new additions comes added features to protect kids and teenagers from unsavory and potentially unsafe content as well as new features for child tracking and safety. Read more for the complete review.

I was sent a standard LG Optimus S as an example of the smartphones Kajeet is now carrying earlier this month, which include the HTC Shift, Samsung Conquer and Replenish. The smartphones themselves are typical of Sprint’s current lineup and are identical in terms of hardware. Where the phones differ is in the services supported, as Kajeet has taken extra steps to make the phones safe for children and teenagers.

Starting with its most recent feature addition, the provider offers a free content filtering service included in the monthly rate which lets parents control what children can browse and do on the phones and gradually decrease filtering until deemed unnecessary. Not only does Kajeet allow content filtering, but it also allows near complete usage control for voice and messaging by scheduling appropriate time blocks to deter phone use at inappropriate times, such as at night and during school hours.

Another feature which Kajeet is heavily promoting for all of its lineup is its GPS Phone Locator service which can be used on a pay per use basis at 0.99/per use or as part of a monthly add-on for $7.99 that includes access to a web portal that tracks a child’s phone in real-time as well as allowing the addition of landmarks, a monthly overview of a child’s activity and automatic triggering of emails to track a phone if its either lost or if the child is lost.

Having used the LG Optimus for two weeks, the hardware itself is solid and testing the content filter worked as advertised along with the usage control features. Battery life was surprisingly solid despite the phone only running Froyo and not having an update to Gingerbread available.

As far as monthly plans are concerned, all Kajeet plans are monthly plans with no agreement and start at $4.99 a month going all the way up to $50 a month for unlimited voice/text/GPS Locator access, though smartphones are excluded from unlimited picture multimedia messages and rely on an additional monthly data plan for use, while featurephones are allowed to send unlimited picture messages. Data plans start at $4.99 for 50MB of access and go all the way up to $24.99 for 1GB of access which can be combined with the feature manager to block or enable select sites and services.

Using the phone for two weeks and testing out all of the features, I was pleasantly surprised to see that none of the features got in the way of normal phone usage. I did like being able to track the phone and looking back at the history of where the phone went while I did my usual errands as the location service was accurate to within ~20 feet. The content filter did its job, blocking out access to sites depending on filtering level and worked well enough for the purposes of this review.

After all is said and done, Kajeet is a viable alternative for parents looking to get their kids a smartphone without having to worry about what they can do with them that could potentially lead to inappropriate activity or content, with the bonus of being cost-effective and a good way to keep watch over them with the inclusion of pay-per-use GPS location service. Even though I personally don’t have kids, I would highly recommend Kajeet over taking out another line on a postpaid plan or another prepaid service for any parent that does.

Kajeet – Official Site

Virtual operator Page Plus Cellular, a frequent subject of coverage in the past will be running its best deal with its “The 55″ monthly plan next week when it will offer 1GB of data per month instead of the standard 500MB bucket when new and existing customers sign up/renew starting on January 18th until the end of next month.

While Page Plus will be offering the 1GB data deal until then, the actual bucket will only last until the end of the 1st year of service and it also requires renewal every month, otherwise the 1GB data will not be made available if the account is allowed to lapse. With this latest offer, Page Plus is ensuring that current customers are rewarded for their loyalty while giving new customers an incentive to use more data compared to the standard 55 plan.

This is not the first time the virtual operator has made such offers to draw in new customers and retain more customers, but this marks the first time that such an offer will last an entire year, provided service is maintained. Other virtual operators have attempted similar offers such as reduced cost monthly unlimited service  with Net10 with the requirement of auto-renew, although it did exclude smart devices from the offer while Page Plus relies on people bringing their own phones.

It is possible to take smartphones to Page Plus, provided they have data disabled and are activated as such, with older smartphones recommended, otherwise the 1GB bucket won’t be enough to last the month and the new $0.10/MB overage can add up quickly.

Upstart VOIP-based virtual operator Republic Wireless has managed to make its $19 monthly hybrid cellular and Wi-Fi based wireless service one of the most compelling offers in the industry and is set to truly change perceptions with its latest move to make the cellular half of its service truly unlimited.

Previously at the launch of the service, Republic Wireless had set cellular access limitations of 150 text messages and 300 cellular minutes per week dependent on an arcane usage threshold. Now, service is being treated as truly unlimited during the beta period, until Republic Wireless can become profitable or until the venture proves to be unsustainable.

Currently, the service is not taking on anymore new users until the beginning of the year but will begin accepting new customers at that time.

Page Plus Cellular today introduced one new plan, and cut the price of an existing plan.

The MVNO, one of the first, is popular with readers of PhoneNews.com for supporting the activation of any Verizon Wireless 3G phone, including smartphones, on pay-as-you-go prepaid service.

The first change is a cut in the price of their standard unlimited plan from $44.95 to $39.95. The “Unlimited Talk-n-Text” plan will see no other changes, and this price is a reversion to the plan’s original price-point. The plan was increased by $5 shortly after introduction, but is now back to $39.95. The plan however has met some controversy for not actually being unlimited.

More interesting, is the introduction of a new plan, unceremoniously called “The 12″. The plan is a new price-point for the industry, offering 250 minutes, 250 text messages, and 10MB of data for $12 per month. The plan can be re-added multiple times in one month, and is a good option for people who normally use pay-as-you-go service, but may periodically need additional minutes.

The 12 is an excellent offering for use as a backup phone. When combined with Google Voice, you can now switch over to a Page Plus phone that is parked on pay-as-you-go, and $12 later, have a working phone for the day/week while your phone is being repaired/located/replaced.

These changes do start to put Page Plus in competition for prepaid data. The 12 plan is cheaper than AT&T’s GoPhone Pay As You Go pricing for data, especially when factoring in minimal voice usage. However, on higher-end plans, Page Plus remains uncompetitive compared to rival MVNOs Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, which offer Android superphones with unlimited data starting from $35 to $55 per month.

The Unlimited Talk-n-Text price drop will take place on December 7. The 12 plan will be available starting December 20.

Page Plus Cellular

Tomorrow only, Page Plus Cellular reseller Kitty Wireless is offering 10% off on all PINs using coupon code OHYEAHBABY at checkout.

Note that this coupon is not valid until midnight, eastern time. It is not valid yet. Limit three PINs per customer using this deal, and auto-refills are not eligible, as Kitty notes that this is a loss-leading promotion for them.

Kitty Wireless is also offering a Thanksgiving Day sale that is valid now, unlike the above deal. Coupon code SMILE offers 50% off services (such as activation, ESN changes, etc), and GIVETHANKS for 25% off Page Plus-approved phones.

Page Plus is the main MVNO for most users to activate Verizon CDMA phones on pay as you go prepaid service.

Starting early this morning, Straight Talk (part of Tracfone), is offering a “Black Friday Plan” offering. The plan is their standard $45/month Talk, Text & Data plan, but discounted to $30/month. That rate is then locked in for one year, as part of the offering.

The plan is available in nearly all Straight Talk markets, with the exception of a few CDMA-only markets where Straight Talk does not have sufficient GSM network coverage.

However, the plan does have some stiff restrictions. It is only available on a few feature phones (which vary by market). The terms of this Black Friday Plan also require that you not change phones (except for warranty replacements). That bars the plan from being used on any smartphone, including Straight Talk’s Android and Symbian plans that operate on their MVNO Sprint and AT&T networks, respectively.

In addition, you are required to sign up for auto-pay, and any missed payments will automatically hike the rate to the standard $45/month tier. However, all the phones offered are at the $29.99 price-point, which includes the first month of service.

$30/month is the lowest cellular-only unlimited plan that we’ve seen to-date, vaporware aside.

Page Plus has continued its recent surge in activity by increasing the data allotment in it’s “The 55″ monthly service plan. The plan features unlimited voice and text messaging, but increases the total data from 300MB of data, to 500MB of data access for $55 a month. The plan does include automatic monthly renewal and MMS messages are deducted directly from the monthly data allowance, making this better suited for people who favor heavy text messaging and need unlimited voice.

This change makes Page Plus more competitive with competitors, who have been surging data as of late. Page Plus operates on Verizon’s CDMA/EVDO network, which charges significantly higher for wholesale 3G data rates than competitors Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile. As such, Page Plus has faced challenges in increasing its data allotments.

Page Plus’s key differentiator is that it takes advantage of Verizon Wireless’s Open Network and Open Device policies, by allowing all unsubsidized Verizon CDMA devices, though in an unsupported nature. This allows for a plethora of Android-powered smartphones that are typically relegated to postpay customers, combined with the cheapest unlimited voice and messaging access to Verizon’s pervasive coverage.

Verizon and Page Plus have recently come under fire for violating their own policies, and blocking iPhone from Page Plus, with no reason given. Such a blockage could breach Verizon’s testimony to the FCC, creating a legal quagmire for the pair of companies.