MetroPCS crushes international calling; unlimited to over 100 countries, $5
Seriously… Crushed. MetroPCS is among a handful of smaller carriers here in the US that continues to make waves and this morning the tiny scrapper knocked one clear out of the park. If you live in a MetroPCS-covered area of the US and make any international calls whatsoever, you should be very interested to learn of the carrier’s new $5 unlimited international calling plan. $5 — unlimited to over 100 different countries. Untouchable. The new unlimited international add-on requires an unlimited national calling plan of $40, $45 or $50 per month, which is hardly unreasonable. MetroPCS CEO Roger D. Linquist had this to say:
Unlimited international calling at such an affordable rate can dramatically reduce monthly long distance costs and is yet another example of MetroPCS’ commitment to providing industry-leading value to consumers in today’s tough economic climate. MetroPCS is eliminating the worry of high international calling fees, counting minutes and dialing a connecting number, typical of traditional calling cards. With MetroPCS’ international calling, consumers are truly unlimited now more than ever.
Rock on.
Anyone knows what MetroPCS’ coverage is like in Northern Florida?
Hold your horses here. I love what MetroPCS has done, and it holds promise for even further improvement. I am delighted. However, keep in mind two limitations:
1. Calls to international cell phones are NOT included. Every international cell phone number I checked came back as $0.25/minute; not as part of the $5/month unlimited. Just to confirm with one further step, I went to my closest MetroPCS store and asked, and they did indeed confirm that this new plan doesn’t include calls to international cell phones.
2. Keep in mind that MetroPCS deploys two different technologies in two different cities. First, they have a CDMA network at 1900 MHz, such as in San Francisco. Second, they have a GSM/HSPA 1700/2100 MHz network in cities such as New York and Chicago. If you buy the Blackberry 8330 in San Francisco, and you fly to New York, it won’t work. And that’s just one out of several examples. I went to the MetroPCS web site and tried to discern from the coverage maps exactly which city is deployed with which technology, and I find what’s on the MetroPCS site extremely confusing at best. Perhaps I didn’t look at everything or in the right place, but if someone can point me to where this dual-network situation is made clear city-by-city on a nationwide coverage map, please let me know.
Holy…SHHH! Now that’s solid. If I wasn’t getting a better deal through Skype and AT&T, I’d possibly get this.
Where there is a problem, there are usually solutions – though they may require a bit more work.
For Canada, check out some of the dial around long distance services for cell phones:
CellLongDistance.com has a $10/month unlimited LD to Canada and US. Yak and Startec don’t have unlimited plans but they do have low per minute rates for occasional callers.
The $5 for unlimited would be useful for some, I suppose, but I am not even slightly tempted. I use a Tracfone that has international calls at the same price as local to over a hundred countries. And the $5 add-on from MetroPCS is only available on higher priced plans.
Other benefits to using Tracfone include the fact that I do not pay roaming fees, their latest plan (Straight Talk) is the best priced prepaid available and the Tracfone coverage is probably the best. MetroPCS can’t beat that.
Lets face it living in Miami, you can’t get better than Metro, we all drop calls with any carrier, it’s reality, unlimted everything for 70 bucks with my blackberry, intl texts, calls, etc, its unbeatable, GO METRO!
guys……this is so weird. i feel like i am racking up someone else phone bill. my wife is on the other side of the globe and im talking to her for FREE!! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING READING THIS BLOG…..GO UNLIMIT YOURSELVES. You want to pay double to quadruple(depending on other plans rates and over usage)the 50 dollars metropcs only charges, just so you can make calls from the middle of the ocean??? then i cant help you..but for all us other city dwellers. its true and its here..satellites don’t charge more to send signals over-the-seas. Only other phone companies. thank you metropcs
this plan just cheated me. i made the calls in india for a few days. but now i can make the calls only sometimes. i regret on paying the money. i m going to cancel the plan.
It is really sad to know that MetroPCS gave chance to call in inidan cell phone but they stop to facilities to call in indian cell phone and only available in land line why?
how can i check which country i can call.
Metro…add the philippines to your international calling plan and I’ll have my other 100 relatives to switch to your network. Take note of that…ADD PHILIPPINES NOW!!!!!!!!
what are the countries that are included in the international unlimited calling
u guyz are good but u got no unlimited calls to Uganda
if u’d like to have another plan and all the contracts with other companies you can keep it mate, no one is telling you to take Metro PCS but metro PCS is very reasonable for everyone and you can keep your conversation going plus internet on it use it as mach as u can still you’ll pay the same price
can u pliz add uganda to the unlimited international rate plan.
I like how Philippines is in the list but would also love if UAE is on the list too..Please add UAE to your unlimited calling and texting plan..And I’ll be forever a metro PCS subcriber till I grow old and forget how to use cellphones.
@ Anton Wahlman: MetroPCS does not have any GSM/UMTS/HSPA network. As you rightly point out, they are using a different band in certain cities (AWS 1700 vs. PCS 1900) – but all networks are operating on the CDMA standard. So you need a dual band phone to travel between those cities.
@Steve: But my main point was that the Blackberry 8330 is neither 1700 nor 2100 MHz, so it won’t work in some of their cities, such as (I believe) New York, Chicago, Philly and Boston. And I don’t see any literature from MetroPCS that clearly points this out.
this international call services is a piece of shid!! the worse services ever, do not waste your money, you will never have a decente conversation . Very frustrating and poor comunication, believed me!! is a horrible services
CORRECT! THOUSANDS OF FILIPINOS WILL GONNA SWITCH TO METRO PCS. IN THIS WAY, YOU WILL BEAT THOSE BIG CELLPHONES COMPANY.
Metro…add the Nicaragua to your international calling plan i work at the airport meet n see lots of people traveling to nicaragua I’ll have people to switch to your network. Take note of that…so please add Nicaragua!!!!!!!!
Moe, remember that I good product doesnt need publicity stunts they sell thru great quality thru there users…
Crunsh, just wait till AT&T offer ends and your bill start piling up in the thousand dollar range..
THIS DEAL IS GREAT!! NOT THOSE CALLING CARDS THAT HARDLY EVER WORK
hey..just bought the phone from Metro PCS…like it..except one thing-this 5 $ unlimited calls!!!! was trying to call to my country– Kazakhstan…but it doesnt work…so upset…..(((then tried to call to Russia..again the same story…whats that????its 2 really big countries…and in the US u have a population of Russian people….
i dont know…i’m upset((
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