Cricket Wireless adds a new unlimited tier for $70 a month; switch from T-Mobile and get $100 bill credit

posted by Alan F. / Apr 17, 2016, 1:50 AM

Cricket Wireless adds a new unlimited tier for $70 a month; switch from T-Mobile and get $100 bill credit

AT&T's pre-paid Cricket Wireless subsidiary is adding a new unlimited wireless tier. For $70 a month ($65 if auto pay is used), subscribers receive unlimited talk, text and 4G LTE service. And that price includes all taxes and applicable fees. The new plan is available starting today. The pre-paid carrier says that it has a larger 4G LTE pipeline than T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Sprint or Boost.

While there will be no throttling of data with the new plan, AT&T did say that it might apply "reasonable network management practices" to the unlimited tier at some point in the future. The $70 plan has a data speed that currently tops out at 8Mbps.

Cricket is aiming at T-Mobile with this new plan. It calls T-Mobile's prices "Uncool," noting that those on the carrier's unlimited Simple Choice plan are paying $25 a month more that Cricket's unlimited customers. In addition, those coming over to Cricket from T-Mobile will also get a $100 bill credit.

Recently, Cricket entered into a deal with Aaron's which brings the number of locations in the U.S. to 12,000. That means that you should be able to find a Cricket store near you.

"We wake up every morning focused on giving our customers what they want – more network, a great customer experience, and better plans for less money. Cricket has over 275,000 more square miles of 4G LTE coverage than T-Mobile. And our unlimited plan for a single smartphone line is $25 less a month. More coverage for a lot less money – two great reasons to make the switch."- John Dwyer, president, Cricket Wireless

source: Cricket via Engadget

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18 Comments

1. Napalm_3nema

Posts: 2236; Member since: Jun 14, 2013

"The $70 plan has a data speed that currently tops out at 8Mbps" - Dafuq? Is it 2010 again? Leave it to the crooks at the Death Star to half-ass things.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 1:57 AM 2

4. Tre-Nitty

Posts: 470; Member since: Nov 16, 2010

I have had zero issues with their service and I'm definitely switching to the unlimited!

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 6:42 AM 2

10. Doakie

Posts: 2456; Member since: May 06, 2009

As an AT&T customer this sounds very appealing.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 10:32 AM 3

2. BATTERY_LIVES_MATTER

Posts: 106; Member since: Sep 01, 2015

I wonder if this is a way for AT&T to lure legacy unlimited users to its MVNO, where no 'promise' exists to grandfather unlimited. Hmmm.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 3:43 AM 2

3. Planterz

Posts: 2120; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

Could be, even though they're targeting T-Mobile customers. The only reason I haven't switched from T-Mo to MetroPCS's Unlimited and save a few bucks is that I don't know if things will change and I'll lose the plan I'm grandfathered in to.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 6:31 AM 2

5. JunitoNH

Posts: 1946; Member since: Feb 15, 2012

I have no issues with service, especially with coverage. If you like AT&T services, you will Cricket.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 7:26 AM 3

6. sebstin

Posts: 160; Member since: Dec 03, 2015

4G LTE with 8mbps speed?

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 7:40 AM 1

12. Planterz

Ya get what you pay for.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 12:20 PM 3

13. 2.5GHz

Posts: 270; Member since: Apr 03, 2016

8mb speed is more like 3G, not 4G!

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 12:48 PM 1

14. phonehome

Posts: 812; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Just pretend it is an upgrade from Sprint 3G which tops out at .8MBps.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 1:02 PM 0

7. Reticulum93

Posts: 8; Member since: Aug 29, 2015

I keep hearing people whining about 8mbp so I took my cricket GS4 out and ran a speedtest on it. 8.98mbps down just outside of DC

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 9:08 AM 3

8. Reticulum93

This has never not been enough for me.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 9:09 AM 0

9. Tre-Nitty

How? Just asking

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 10:04 AM 2

15. Tre-Nitty

I read your comment wrong but yeah me neither. It works great

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 5:33 PM 0

16. JunitoNH

I'm getting 9.56 Mbps down & 8.65Mbps up in CT, sometimes near 11

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 9:34 AM 0

11. syed_itsa

Posts: 46; Member since: Feb 05, 2015

Better than 2-3 G. / AT&T so for good and less Expensive. My all family and friends have Service by at&t . Most of them switched carrier. All are satisfied so for. Unlimited means some how all companies will down their speed. I have 130 $ --30GB Data Plan and pretty good deal. For my it is more than unlimited. I prefer coverage not data. Why do we need cellphone .? to keep in touch with friends family OR business. If don't have better coverage Data will be useless too. I will prefer and suggest all big 5 Companies to expand their coverage. When data switch from 4G to LTE calls are drops. Still in my place I am using Microcell .. Some are using CellSpot by T-Mobile.

posted on Apr 17, 2016, 11:50 AM 0

17. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 2012

I'm just curious to know what everyone needs more than 8mbps for? It can download most apps less than 50mb in much less than a minute and everything always streams just fine. The only thing I could see is if you download movies or large business files online. Maybe if you backup large 4k cloud videos. Idk.

posted on Apr 18, 2016, 10:01 AM 0

18. Elfmonster unregistered

I tried Cricket for one week this year. I wanted it to work. But that AT&T service sucks massive donkey balls in Las Vegas for me. Couldn't get calls or texts at home. Ridic.