Rentobile gives junkies their fix, offers handset rental service
Every once in a while a startup comes along and offers a service that makes you sit back and think, “why didn’t I think of that?” Such is the case with Rentobile, a mobile phone rental company based in New Jersey. The premise is simple – people like new toys. Rather than sit around and wait for your 2-year contract to expire so you can purchase a new handset at an affordable price, Rentobile provides a wide variety of handsets on a per-month basis. Simply order up a new rental, pop in your SIM or activate it on your account and your done. Once you grow tired of the device, whether that be one month later or one year later, simply return it to Rentobile and rent a new one. Shipping totals $10 for each round trip and a fair insurance fee is applied to each handset in case your dog mistakes it for a chew toy. Rentobile membership costs between $5 and $10 per month and affords users a discount of up to $18 per month on handset rentals. Members are also notified as soon as new handsets hit Rentobile’s warehouse so they can be among the first to rent them. If you just want a taste however, there is also a member-ship free rental option.
Rentobile supplies handsets for each of the four major carriers – Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint – and even has a selection of a few unlocked handsets for you to choose from. Oh and don’t worry, you’re not limited to one device at a time. If there are five handsets you want to play with and you want them all right away, Rentobile is happy to accommodate you. The only thing we see missing for the time being is a rent-to-own option; there should be a purchase price set for each handset and if you keep it long enough to reach that point, the handset should be yours to keep. Of course, we doubt the type of person who would use this service will ever keep a phone for that long but it would be nice to know the option is there.
[Via Phone Scoop]
This is actually a pretty good idea. But they’re prices are crazy. $30 a month to rent a storm + the membership fees? $34 for an iphone 3G? They wont make money.
Prices need to be about $15 a month
I REALLY trust a company that has a typo is their step three. “Rent it was long as you WAT to use”
lol in* oh the irony
I was excited until I saw the prices. I would love to sign up and rent for around $15-$20/month. But $24+membership fees? Thats just a bit too much.
And I thought rent a rims was over the top. Is this the future? Are renting the clothes and sneakers next? Are people really this irresponsible with their credit and money? SMH ¡Ay Dios!
It really is a rip, I could buy half these phones in 5 months for these prices.
I agree the prices are a bit much, but the main problem is the carriers in the U.S. If it was as simple as popping in a SIM card, powering it on, and it works – I could see something like this catching on. But having the ATT and T-Mobile phones SIM-locked is a pain in the ass. For Verizon and Sprint, you have to get them freaking activated – and there’s no telling if the company will do it because they’re not forced to.
It’s a cool idea. People say the prices are crazy, but it’s better than being locked into a 2 year contract every time you want to play with a new gadget.
Blah, seems like most of their phones are out of stock.
I really like the idea, but the cost definitely needs to decrease.
I like the concept, but I am also surprised at the # of typos on the site – within the registration form (continue spelled wrong) – and WHY do they ask for my SS# as part of registration? Doesn’t seem nec. to me. I hope they remove that requirement.
This seems like a good idea. I’d love to try out a couple of phones for a month or so to see if I want to purchase them.
What about data plans? Remember to factor that in if you don’t already have one.
When I tried to sign up, it asked me for my social security number. I don’t feel safe giving it to this company… what if it turns out to be a scam???
Why on earth would they need my S.S. number?
This caught my interest, but after seeing their selection, no thanks. Their unlocked section is a joke with the prices they have.
Yeah, the Social Security thing is HUGE. Who owns these guys and are they signed up with Verisign or a comparable, reputable service that offers a gurantee?
Just read their site some more, this is a fucking scam. The English is HORRIBLE throughout and they have no office address listed. This is the problwm with Blogs instead of being REAL news outlets. A Journalist would actually use the service undercover, contact the owners and do actual fucking research, instead of just “UPDATE: Looks like we are wrong, our bad. Sorry you got fucked”.
Hey it’s like Rent-a-Center–a way for people to spend lots of money living outside of their means. Why not *gasp* get a good device and keep it for a couple of years before shelling out for another one? It may sound like heresy but if you can’t afford to buy a new phone every year you probably don’t need to be renting them either.
I just went and created an account using 8888888888888888 for my cc and 888888888 for my ss and it created without telling me they we’re valid numbers…. hmmmmm
Also notice that the pages for your SSN and CC# are NOT https. I sent a message to them last night (Mobility Today had this up earlier http://mobilitytoday.com/news/mobile_phone_rental_service.html ) No response yet.
The concept is great. This is for people who early adapters wanting the newest tech, and not as price conscience. But I agree that something is amiss with this site and its lack of professionalism and security.
And OGbigMoneyMIKE, if you don’t like blogs, then don’t read them.
Well it’s like you’re required to give them your REAL SS#… I’m sure they have no way of knowing, what you type in, is actually a real number
I thought it was a decent idea.. But the mis spelled words got me! Also I don’t believe they really have unlocked iphone 3G’s just yet!Since its not until tonight!!!
Unlocked iPhones have been out for a while, even straight from the factory. Just not here in the U.S…
Big NoNo not having my SSN info secured. Read through their privacy policy etc…. Pretty sad.
Looked up who owns this little experiment – it’s easily found through WhoIs, phone number and all.
I registered with fake CC# but it got rejected when I was up to checkout.
so I entered real CC# and it went through.
just rented BB Bold for a month.