Ahead of the official iPhone launch on its network later this year, the nation’s fourth-largest carrier T-Mobile USA on Tuesday said a new GoSmart prepaid service is now available via some 3,000 reseller stores nationwide. According to Reuters, users can purchase a SIM kit and simply bring their own GSM device to the service. Unlimited voice and messaging costs $30 a month.
For an additional five bucks, you get to browse the web. A $45 plan with five gigabytes of 3G data is also available. These are all month-to-month plans, meaning you can cancel the service anytime without getting penalized…
Reuters mentions that T-Mobile USA, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, has been testing the service for some time:
The company said it has been testing its new prepaid service in nine markets since early December and has already signed up “tens of thousands” of customers in just over two months.
“It’s beat our projections pretty handily,” said Doug Chartier, senior vice president of marketing for GoSmart.
Note that the $35 plan appears to be 2G (EDGE) only.
And per notice on the GoSmart Mobile web site, there will be “no charges for long-distance or roaming within the U.S.”, possibly meaning that data roaming is not included with these new GoSmart plans.
GoSmart Mobile is available at more than 3,000 wireless reseller stores around the country starting today, February 19.
T-Mobile is hoping this new offering will attract the folks who are still more interested in using their phone for voice calls than for web surfing.