Inorder to get a $40 a month unlimited line from any of the major cell phone carriers, you’ll need to sign up for a family plan with at least four lines, which isn’t a bad idea even if you’re single assuming you have friends that you treat like family,
But now there’s a new company on the block offering a $40 unlimited service and that includes all fees and taxes. It’s called Visible and it’s funded, ironically, by Verizon. My guess is that they’re going after a younger (and singler) crowd and trying to compete with T-Mobile and Sprint which have some pretty attractive plans right now.
There are some limitations with Visible. Right now it only works with iPhones and you need to request an invitation. One journalist said that he got his invitation pretty quickly after signing up.
It doesn’t allow for tethering a PC to your phone, there is no international roaming and you’re limited to 5 Mbps, which is probably fast enough but not as fast as what Verizon or AT&T deliver under peak conditions. Streaming is only 480p, which is fine for watching on a phone.
The good news is that it uses the Verizon network, which means good coverage in most parts of the US. Other companies with lower-c0st plans typically use either Sprint or T-Mobile whose coverage — while getting better — is spotty in some places.
If you want to see how Visible’s plans compare with the big guys, check out CNET’s comparison guide but be aware that there are other smaller companies out there with good deals such as Mint Mobile, which offers plans starting at $15 a month with unlimited talk and text and various data plans.