T-Mobile has launched its new GoSmart prepaid across the United States after testing it in trial markets in December.
According to Doug Chartier, SVP of marketing for GoSmart, sales "beat our projections, pretty, handily."
The prepaid market is growing at a rate of 7-8% annually with about 80 million Americans opting for prepaid.
GoSmart plans start at $30 a month for unlimited talk and text. The service is bought from a separate website. $35 for unlimited talk, text and web at lower web speeds. It costs $45 a month for unlimited, talk, text and high-speed web. (5GB at 3G speeds, then 2G speeds for the rest of the cycle). Plans include voicemail, call waiting, caller ID, 3-way calling and call forwarding to voicemail only.
To get the service, you have to buy a SIM and SIM kit for GSM phones.
GoSmart offers two phones for sale the Alcatel OT 838 ($49 after rebate) and Android ZTE V768 for $99.
"We’re an aggressive, prepaid mobile concept supported by a nationwide network.†† The first no BS prepaid plan for your wireless customers."
Other comparable prepaid services are Straight Talk Wireless($45 per month – Unlimited Data, Talk & Text), MetroPCS(starting at $40) Virgin Mobile (start at $20 a month) and Boost Mobile.
Boost Mobile rates for unlimited talk and text can go down to $30 a month after 18 months of on-time payments.