Cablevision
entered the wireless service fray on Monday with Freewheel, a
Wi-Fi-based phone service that will cost as low as $9.95 a month.
That
price is for current Cablevision subscribers; those who sign up for
Freewheel as a standalone service will pay $29.95 a month (those prices
don't include the $99 for a Moto G, which is required access the
service). The phone won't work out of Wi-Fi range, but Cablevision will
give Freewheel customers automatic access to the Optimimum Wi-Fi network
of 1.1 million hotspots.
Cablevision CEO James Dolan cited the "growing shift to Wi-Fi-driven consumer electronic devices and services.
"As
a company, we are focused on providing services for these consumers and
solidifying our position as the New York market’s premier connectivity
company," Dolan dded. "Freewheel is the next leap forward in the
advancement of the connected lifestyle, and our Optimum W-iFi network
and the prevalence of W-iFi nationwide serves as its foundation.”
Cablevision's entry comes after T-Mobile announced Wi-Fi-based calling and texting in September.
T-Mobile's
plan is designed to augment areas in which T-Mobile's wireless network
provides weak service. Sprint also offers Wi-Fi-based calling for
Android phones.
Smaller
players have also attempted to use Wi-Fi to pare down wireless costs.
Scratch Wireless charges $99 for a Motorola Photon Q and then has no
fees at all, unless you want to tap into Sprint's wireless network
(prices range from $1.99 for 24 hours to $24.99 a month for unlimited
data). Republic Wireless also offers Wi-Fi-based plans employing the
Moto G and Moto X that range from $5 a month (100% Wi-Fi) to $40 a month
("unlimited" 4G service up to 5 GB via Sprint's network.)
AT&T,
meanwhile, is expected to begin offering Wi-Fi-based calling sometime
this year. Verizon is expected to do the same in mid-2015.
Posted by : Gizmeon
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