Why Not Dial Down Your Mobile Bill A Notch
I've been thinking about it for a while and here is what I found.
With Microsoft pulling the proverbial plug on Skype come May 5th, 2025, millions of users are scratching their heads when it comes to a replacement that’s worth its salt.
Microsoft has a plan (more like half a dozen), but it could cost you dearly if you press the wrong button or take too long to hung up.
So, I was thinking: what else is out there that could take Skype’s place?
(Almost) SMS-only plans
They are rare, but they do exist. For someone looking for a glorified SMS authenticator, they can be worth a try. If you are hooked up to WiFi anyway, why would you need a data plan?
For starters, most KYC-authentication apps will not work without a data plan from your mobile carrier. These apps won’t bother to use WiFi. Why, is anyone’s guess. (As a developer, you might want to do this if you wanted to capture some data from the mobile carrier without giving your end user the ability to refuse consent, but I digress.)
What if it’s going to be your second phone? If you don’t need the data plan, why would you have to pay for it? No reason.
For mobile slimdown extremists, some carriers offer SIM-only plans, for example:
T-Mobile: Their Unlimited Talk & Text Only plan costs $20/month and includes unlimited texting in over 215 countries. The catch: International data necessitates a switch to Magenta for eligibility (we highly recommend the higher-priced Magenta plan); data roaming fees come on top of that; they are capped at a certain number of days. Switching between the plans back and forth requires a phone call to their support hotline, can’t be done any other way.
H2O Wireless: Offers a talk and text plan for $5/month if you prepay for a year. This plan includes unlimited talk and text within the U.S.
Tello Mobile: Provides a flexible plan where you can customize your needs (Build Your Own Plan!). You can get a plan with unlimited talk and text for as low as $5/month. Plus: Your get free calls to 60+ Countries with every calling plan, according to the available minute balance.
Have you found a better deal? Drop us a note below!