Black Wireless, FreedomPop, Mango Mobile, and Unreal Mobile are all cellular MVNO service providers owned by Red Pocket Mobile.
Red Pocket Mobile is, itself, an MVNO that has been around since 2006.
Until late June of 2019 UNREAL Mobile and FreedomPop were 'sister' companies, but not under Red Pocket's umbrella. While UNREAL and FreedomPop continue to act as their own virtual storefronts, they are now owned by RedPocket.
Mango Mobile and Black Wireless act as 'direct subsidiaries' of RedPocket - and you will note Red Pocket branding on their virtual storefronts.
Companies & Plans
Red Pocket Mobile
Red Pocket Mobile
Red Pocket Mobile is an MVNO which offers plans on the Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T networks.
They offer plans that can be used on any device that runs on a SIM card. Red Pocket has stated that they will not attempt to block or prohibit the use of any mobile devices.
Red Pocket offers both voice/text/data plans and data only plans.
Red Pocket's plans and plan terms tend to be confusing - but we'll try and explain them here.
Red Pocket's plan labeling correlates with the underlying network being used on the plan:
- GSMT = T-Mobile
- GSMA = AT&T
- CDMA = Verizon
- CDMAS = Sprint (no longer offered for new customers)
They also offer International Data Plans for either $9/ first GB, then $8/GB for 30days or $15/ first GB then $14/GB for 30days - dependent on country of travel.
Last Update: May 2021
Sprint is now part of T-Mobile, as per the merger that closed on April 1, 2020.
New Sprint customers are directed to T-Mobile to sign up for their plans, however, some of Sprint's legacy plans are still available in-store or over the phone. Customers on existing direct Sprint plans will be able to retain those plans for three years following the merger without price increases or changes to features.
The two networks still operate mostly independently with their own towers and frequency bands but are systematically being integrated. As of May 2021, most Sprint phones, Tablet, and mobile hotspots will freely roam onto the T-Mobile network thanks to network changes behind the scenes as well as roaming list updates pushed to Sprint devices.
T-Mobile is also offering most Sprint smartphone customers the ability to choose the "T-Mobile Network Experience". In short, TNX allows Sprint network customers with compatible devices to trade in their Sprint SIM card for a T-Mobile SIM card and move their plan to the T-Mobile network while retaining the features, billing, and terms of their original Sprint plan. You can read more about what this means here.
At present time - aside from Boost being sold to Dish Network - there are no changes to 3rd party, reseller, or MVNO plans sold on the Sprint network. However, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will update as appropriate.
Plan Information
Currently Available Plans
Smartphone Plans
- 50GB - $50/month (All carriers)
- 22GB - $40/month (AT&T & T-Mobile)
- 12GB - $40/month (Verizon)
- 10GB - $30/month (All carriers)
- 3GB - $20/month (All carriers)
- Annual plans are available on eBay
Data Only Plans (Available on AT&T only)
- 20GB - $40/month
- 5GB - $25/month
- 1GB - $10/month
Global Data Plans
- Explorer (50 countries): 1GB - $9/month; Additional data can be purchased for $8/GB
- Jetsetter (150 countries): 1GB - $15/month; Additional data can be purchased for $14/GB
Refer-A-Friend Program
In April 2020, Red Pocket introduced a Refer-A-Friend program. Current subscribers who refer a friend will receive an account credit up to $25 (depending on which plan they are on). The referred friend/new subscriber will receive an account credit as well. The referral program is only available on monthly plans, not on multi-month or annual plans. Current subscribers can find their unique referral code in their online account dashboard.
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile,
- Carrier Relationship: MVNO
- Plan Types Available: Phone, Data Only
- Device Types Permitted: Any
- Unlimited: Technically - yes, but with high-speed data caps.
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes, all data on plans can be used as hotspot data, but availability depends on the network and device.
- Throttling: Data is throttled to 2G speeds after plan's high speed data bucket is used.
- Network Management: Always
- Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
- 5G Access: Yes, on GSMT/T-Mobile plans only on Android devices, and on GSMA/AT&T only on iPhone devices
- Device Purchase Required: No. Red Pocket sells several models of iPhone, or you can bring your own device.
- Plan Period: Monthly, annual
- International Roaming: None - 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands only. They do offer separate plans with separate pricing for International travelers.
- Domestic Roaming: No
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: 5
- Extras: None
Freedom Pop
FreedomPop
In June of 2019, it was announced by RedPocket Mobile acquired UNREAL Mobile and their sister company FreedomPop. Around the same time, UNREAL mobile increased the fees on their plans.
In July 2019, Ting Mobile announced that they would be acquiring FreedomPop's Sprint based service lines - and moving the entire line (phone number included) to Ting.
Freedom Pop has offered many iterations of plans in its history as a company - and plans can change frequently and without warning.
They currently offer smartphone plans with 1GB, 4GB, or 10GB of high speed data per month.
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T (GSM)
- Carrier Relationship: MVNO
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones
- Unlimited: No
- High Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes, if you enroll in Premium Plus Service for an additional $7.99/month
- Throttling: Yes after high speed data cap
- You can add a 'Speed Boost' onto you plan for full LTE speed data for an additional fee.
- Network Management: Always prioritized behind native postpaid customers.
- Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
- 5G Access: No
- Device Purchase Required: No
- Plan Period: Monthly
- International Roaming: None
- Domestic Roaming: None
- Data Roll Over: No
- Overage Charges: Yes - if you go over your text, voice, or data limit you are automatically billed for extra.
- Lines permitted per account: 10, with all lines on an account sharing in a data bucket. $5 fee per line.
UNREAL Mobile
UNREAL Mobile
UNREAL Mobile is an AT&T based MVNO which first began service in June 2018. They were purchased by RedPocket in 2019.
Plan Information
UNREAL offers smartphone-based plans with hotspot data and permits use of their SIMs in hotspot devices.
UNREAL tends to advertise 'unlimited data', but that advertisement really means unlimited 2G speed data. You still need to select a capped amount of LTE speed data and add that cost to the base $10 'unlimited 2G data' price.
Currently Available Plans
UNREAL offers single month, 3-month, or 12-month plan commitments. Plans are available on the AT&T or T-Mobile networks and include 5G access.
- 1-Month Plans
- 2GB, 3GB, or 12GB - $10-25/month
- 3-Month Plans
- 2GB, 3GB, or 12GB - $13-30/month
- 12-Month Plans
- 2GB, 3GB, or 12GB - $10-25/month
Be careful when selecting a plan - there is often a 'promo' pricing period, after which costs go up to 'regular' pricing.
History
Prior to acquisition by RedPocket, UNREAL offered a choice of refurbished Sprint based hotspots for use with plans offered on the Sprint network. When UNREAL was acquired by RedPocket, Sprint customers were migrated to Ting - and offered a promo pricing scheme on Ting.
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T, T-Mobile
- Carrier Relationship: MVNO
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Can use SIM in any device
- Unlimited: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes
- Throttling: Data is throttled to 2G (~80kbps) speeds after the plan's data bucket is used.
- Network Management: None
- Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
- 5G Access: Yes
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 1, 3, or 12-month plans available
- International Roaming: None - 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands only
- Domestic Roaming: None
- Data Roll Over: Roll-over of 500MB is included in plans over 5GB. Roll-over data feature for 1GB roll-over can be added for $$.
- Overage Charges: There are no overage charges for these plans. Once you use your data speeds are slowed to 2G until the next billing period.
- Lines permitted per account: 1
- Extras:
Mango Mobile
Mango Mobile currently offers plans with very small high-speed data buckets on the T-Mobile network.
History
In early February of 2020, it was noted that Mango Mobile was offering a multi-month plan on the T-Mobile network.
This plan offered 50GB of on-device high-speed data and an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data on top of that.
However, the plan was only available for a few weeks. As of 2/26/2020, Mango Mobile's multi-month plan was no longer available on their site - the multi-month plan had disappeared from their site completely, leaving the largest data bucket available on any plan to be only 3GB.
Multi-Month Plan Details
This plan is no longer available.
While available, this multi-month plan was could be purchased in increments of 3-months, 6-months, 9-months, or 12-months and was offered with a promotional price of $25/month (normally $40/month). An additional discount on their 6-month plan, brought the monthly cost to only $16.67/month ($100 total). Data on this plan was partitioned - 50GB was available for on-device data, and 20B was available at hotspot data.The multi-month plan also came with unlimited talk/text, and international calling to 50 countries.
Black Wireless
Black Wireless
Black Wireless offers plans on the AT&T network.
Currently Available Plans
- 10GB - $30/month
- 22GB - $40/month
Plan Specifications:
- Carrier Networks Used: AT&T
- Carrier Relationship: MVNO
- Plan Types Available: Phone
- Device Types Permitted: Phones
- Unlimited: No
- High-Speed Mobile Hotspot Use: Yes, all data can be used as mobile hotspot.
- Throttling: Data is throttled to 128kbps speed after the plan's high speed data cap is reached.
- Network Management: Unknown, but likely
- Video Streaming Resolution: Not specified
- 5G Access: No
- Device Purchase Required: No, but can purchase a device
- Plan Period: 1, 6, or 12-month plans available
- International Roaming: None
- Domestic Roaming: None
- Data Roll Over: None
- Overage Charges: None
- Lines permitted per account: 1
- Extras:
History
In early February of 2020, it was noted that Black Wireless was offering a multi-month plan on the T-Mobile network.
These plans offered 50GB of on-device high-speed data, and an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data on top of that.
However, the plan was only available for a few weeks. As of 2/26/2020, Black Wireless' Multi-Month plan was no longer available on their site.
News & Status:
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Red Pocket | Mango Mobile | Black Wireless | Unreal Mobile | FreedomPop
Shopping for Cellular Data Plans
Finding the right plans for your needs is no easy task - quite simply mobile travelers using cellular data as their primary way online is not how most carriers have designed their plans. Many of us want plans that provide copious amounts of data.
Understanding the different plan terms (like network management, throttling, hotspot data, video resolution) is key to determining if a plan will meet your needs or not. You also need plans that are suitable for use in the device you want to use them in - such as smartphone, mobile hotspot device or cellular embedded router.
To learn more about shopping for dataplans, check out these key guides:
As heavily as the carriers push their "Unlimited' data plans - you'll quickly discover that most have limits. Here's a video going over what you need to know about unlimited plans, including 3rd party resellers plans that you might find on the internet:
But a data plan alone will not keep you online - it's only one part of the equation. You also need the right gear and signal enhancing strategy.
For more education on assembling a cellular centric mobile internet setup, head on over to our collection of guides:
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