Unlimited, regional style: US Cellular intros $99 plan

We're still getting over the shock of three of the four nationals suddenly flipping the switch on sub-$100 unlimited plans within hours of each other, but oh, by the way, the onslaught isn't over just yet. Sprint aside, there are still plenty of regionals that don't offer unlimited plans -- along with some that do -- so we expect we're going to see a few more announcements in the coming weeks (or days, considering the pace at which these events have been unfolding thus far). Next to take the podium is US Cellular, revealing a (you guessed it) $99 all-you-can-eat calling plan that will be available to new and existing customers alike, albeit for a limited time. Data and messaging will still require add-on packages to the tune of $25 if you're craving both unlimited bytes and texts, but it still works out to be a decent deal in light of what its primary competitors are offering -- if you exclude Helio, anyway. No word on when exactly folks will be able to sign up for the plan, but US Cellular says details will be posted to its site "soon."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 10:48AM]

I'm almost certain my local regional carrier Cincinnati Bell had a unlimited national plan for a while now priced at $99.99. I don't see the significants of posting every time a carrier gets an unlimited plan. They were more common than you think.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 4:25PM]

Yeah, the significance among the regional carriers is "not much at all"; lots of them had it, and those that didn't just being johnny-come-lately's.

The recent emergence of unlimited voice plans is only significant among the big 4. And even then, it'll only turn out to be significant if they don't cancel it in a few months.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 12:00PM]

It is a big deal for US Cellular as it competes well with the big boys in the markets it serves. This is a great example and a no-brainer.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 1:28PM]

What about MetroPCS. They have a $50 plan that covers nearly everything. They also have unlimited local and long-distance for $35, unlimited texting for $40, and unlimited data for $45.

Is this all in response to Alltel's My Circle expanding to 20 people, or the $20 data for the iPhone?

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 4:21PM]

I was going to say "a regional carrier offering $99/mo for unlimited voice is NOT meaningful news". MetroPCS, Cricket, and Boost _ALL_ offer unlimited everything for 50%-60% of that price.

USCC is being silly by coming in at $99.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 1:54PM]

What I don't get is why this is all of a sudden news. There are quite a few regional providers that have been offering this for a while. Not to mention, Helio, who has it nationwide and has been doing it since last summer. It is nice to see the big guys finally starting to catch on to what a lot of people want.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 22nd 2008 2:46PM]

I'm not sure why people cannot get the concept of 99 down after all these years. A product sold for 99� fools so many people thinking that oh, it's only 90� and not a dollar. Similarly promoting something as "sub $100" when it's priced at $99.99 is just plain silly. Of course it's really $100+ since you're going to pay lots of tax on top of that as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 23rd 2008 5:35PM]

FWIW:

This launches today, February 23rd in the Midwest Market.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 23rd 2008 11:08PM]

It is interesting that people are waiting to see how Sprint responds to the other national moves on unlimited. I just found out that Sprint already has a regional unlimited plan that is half the cost of the $100 plans the other carriers have rolled out. It is called Boost Unlimited. As a Sprint customer, why would I pay more for less minutes when I could just call them and switch to their Boost Unlimited plan?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2008 1:21PM]

Sprint added an all-you-can-call plan including text and data for $99 today