Remember NetZero? The company that provides low cost dial-up Internet access? The company just added wireless cellular access to its inexpensive services. And they have come up with an innovative plan to market the service through social media giant Facebook.
First, the basics. NetZero customers buy a WiMax hotspot from NetZero for $50, and sign up for a monthly service plan. The cheapest plan provides 200 MB of data transfers for free. NetZero says the free plan will be available for only the first year. After 12 months, customers have to upgrade to a plan that involves a monthly payment. The next least expensive plan provides 500 MB a month for $10. The most expensive offers 4 GB for $50 a month.
There are no contracts. You can cancel the deal anytime. But, unlike the plan offered by FreedomPOP, there is no refund on the purchase of the modem.
Now, the marketing plan. Sign up to be a NetZero friend on Facebook. Then the company will give you 1 GB of free data transfers each month. You can't use the data yourself, but you can share 200 MB credits with five other Facebook friends. So if you have five other friends sign up, they can give you (200 GB * 5) = 1 GB of data credits to use each month -- for free.
(1 GB of free credit from Facebook friends + 200 MB of free service when you buy a hotspot) = 1.2 GB of data service per month. Not bad!
Like FreedomPOP, NetZero has a contract with Clear, Inc. for WiMax cellular access in USA. WiMax is available in many metropolitan areas around the country, but coverage is poor outside the city limits. Check the NetZero coverage map to find out if there is service in your area. Here's the company website http://www.netzero.net/
First, the basics. NetZero customers buy a WiMax hotspot from NetZero for $50, and sign up for a monthly service plan. The cheapest plan provides 200 MB of data transfers for free. NetZero says the free plan will be available for only the first year. After 12 months, customers have to upgrade to a plan that involves a monthly payment. The next least expensive plan provides 500 MB a month for $10. The most expensive offers 4 GB for $50 a month.
There are no contracts. You can cancel the deal anytime. But, unlike the plan offered by FreedomPOP, there is no refund on the purchase of the modem.
Now, the marketing plan. Sign up to be a NetZero friend on Facebook. Then the company will give you 1 GB of free data transfers each month. You can't use the data yourself, but you can share 200 MB credits with five other Facebook friends. So if you have five other friends sign up, they can give you (200 GB * 5) = 1 GB of data credits to use each month -- for free.
(1 GB of free credit from Facebook friends + 200 MB of free service when you buy a hotspot) = 1.2 GB of data service per month. Not bad!
Like FreedomPOP, NetZero has a contract with Clear, Inc. for WiMax cellular access in USA. WiMax is available in many metropolitan areas around the country, but coverage is poor outside the city limits. Check the NetZero coverage map to find out if there is service in your area. Here's the company website http://www.netzero.net/