No Mobile Phone Carrier? Say, what!

It’s now been two years and running since I’ve had a mobile phone carrier. Yep, that’s right — no Verizon, AT&T or Sprint for call, web or text coverage.

Let me shed some light on my rationale for giving mobile carriers the boot. For starters, it’s damn expensive. When I ended my contract with AT&T in February of 2015, I was paying north of $195 and some change for unlimited coverage. That in my mind is a lot of money.

Secondly, my service was still spotty depending on what part of Denver I was living in at the time. One study in fact found Denver to be among the worst in the nation for mobile coverage. 1–2 bars on a good day, rendering my phone impotent for sending and receiving phone calls and texts from even my own home? Unacceptable!

So here’s the scoop: As inexpensive (or even free) broadband coverage becomes more widespread, many consumers are beginning to question the need for traditional mobile coverage. The big game changer? Mobile apps like Google Voice, TalkU, FreeTone and others that provide you with the same functionality at fraction of the cost. Here’s how it works:

  1. Download an app like TalkU (premium package of $3.99/month for unlimited calls and texts)on your mobile phone or even iPad
  2. Select a phone number
  3. Purchase a mobile hotspot for wi-fi coverage. The one I use through T-Mobile costs me about $40.00 a month (just carry it in your purse or pocket)

Presto! You’re now looking at $44.00/month versus a bill of a hundred dollars or more.

By the way if you didn’t already know, WeChat andWhat’sApp are viable options for low or no cost international calls.

So let me offer a prediction: As more and more consumers’ discover that these options exist, they are going to drop their coverage and data plans like there’s no tomorrow.

Sure, call me a disruptor or even a foolish gambler (now that I reside in Las Vegas) But I believe that the mass adoption of broadband Wi-Fi will become the new normal for mobile phone connectivity. So come join me and save some money and aggravation.

)

Diamond-Michael Scott

Written by

Blockchain + Digital Economy Journalist| Advancing Freedom Through Technology

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade