This is one in a series of Prepaid Phone News' series of comprehensive US prepaid mobile operator profiles. These profiles cover all the major US mobile operators' prepaid plans as well as MVNOs which offer a good value.
Overview: Simple Mobile is a T-Mobile MVNO which was founded in 2009. It was acquired in june, 2012 by multinational mobile operator America Movil's Tracfone Division, which operates under the Tracfone, NET10 and Straight Talk prepaid brands in the US. At the time of the acquisition Simple had approximately 1 million subscribers.
Technology: GSM on the 1900 Mhz band with GPRS, Edge and HSPA+ data support. Additional HSPA and HSPA+ service on the 1700 Mhz AWS band.
Plans: Simple Mobile offers the following monthly prepaid plans.
Simple Mobile Plans
Price
Voice Minutes
Domestic & International SMS Text Messages
Domestic MMS Picture Messages
Data
$25 (15 day plan)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
None
$40 (30 day plan)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited, Throttled after 250 MB 1
$50 (30 day plan)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited 2
$50 BlackBerry Plan (30 day plan)
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited, includes BIS 3
1 Throttled speed is approximately 240 Kbps. Users report losing data access for the rest of the plan month after 3 GB/month
2 Users report being throttled to approximately 240 Kbps after 2 GB/month and losing data access for the rest of the plan month after 3 GB/month
3 BIS (BlackBerry Internet Service) allows BlackBerrys to use Push email, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) & BlackBerry App World.
International Rates: International calling requires an add on plan. There are two available plans:
$10 Pay-As-You-Go International Plan: Can be added to any plan, including the $25, 15 day plan. It provides up to 500 international rollover minutes. Minutes expire after 180 days. Adding another $10 extends the expiration date 180 days from the date funds were added. Sample rates (full list) per minute: Canada (all) 0.83¢; Mexico City (landline) 1.33¢; China (mobile) 2.06¢; UK (landline) 1.22¢; Philippines (landline) 12.82¢.
$10 Unlimited Plan: Can be added to any monthly plan. Allows one month of unlimited calls to up to 10 different numbers in 50 countries (full list), including Canada, Mexico (Triangle and Onnet landlines only), China (all) and the UK (landlines).
International direct dialing is not supported. You must first dial a 10 dig access number, wait for a prompt and then dial the international number
There is no extra charge for international texts. International picture messaging is not supported.
Coverage: Simple Mobile uses the T-Mobile native network, which is comparable in size to Sprint's network but much smaller than AT&T or Verizon's networks. There is no off-network roaming. Coverage is available in most cities and larger towns and along most interstates, but is lacking in rural and many resort areas. Simple Mobile's coverage map is a national map that doesn't show enough detail to be very useful. You can use the T-Mobile prepaid coverage map which shows T-Mobile's native coverage which is used by Simple Mobile. Warning: You must zoom in ten levels on the T-Mobile map before it shows which areas are native coverage and which roaming (labeled "Service Partner"). Simple Mobile will not work in Service Partner areas.
Devices: Simple Mobile doesn't sell phones itself but does list compatible phones from third party dealers on its Web site.
SIMs: SIMs cost $12.99 with free shipping. Regular and micro SIMs are available. SIMs are also available from Amazon
for as little as 99¢ with free shipping.
BYOD: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is officially supported by SimpleMobile. Support and programming instructions are provided for hundreds of approved devices. You can also use any T-Mobile USA or unlocked GSM device with support for the 1900 Mhz band and ideally (for maximum 3G coverage) the 1700 Mhz AWS band.
How to Buy: SIMs are available online from Simple Mobile and from online and brick and mortar dealers (dealer locator).
How to Activate: Activate online or by calling 877-878-7908 from another phone. If you are porting a number from another operator you must call, porting is not available online. Activation is free.
Payment Options: You can top up a Simple Mobile account with a PIN or a credit or debit card online at mysimplemobile.com or by calling 611 from your Simple Mobile phone or (866-273-3455) from another phone.
You can apply a PIN by sending a text to 848484 containing REUP# plus the PIN number, i.e., REUP#8765765465435432
If you create an account at mysimplemobile.com you can use the web site's My Account section to set up auto pay, check your balance and plan expiration, switch plans, purchase pay as you go international credit and top up with a PIN or credit or debit card.
PIN cards or codes are available from online and local Simple Mobile dealers (dealer locator) and some convenience stores, supermarkets and chain drugstores. PINs can be purchased at a discount from callingmart.com and other online retailers. PINs are not available on the Simple Mobile Web site.
Account expiration: Plans renew every 30 days (15 days for the $25 plan). If you do not have sufficient funds in your account to renew your service will be suspended. If you do not renew within 90 days after your account is suspended you will lose your phone number.
Account Management: You can check your cash balance or available minutes, change plans, add PINs and make a payments using a credit or debit card using the My Account option at mysimplemobile.com (free registration required) or by calling ADD (233) from GSM phones or #ADD (#233) from CDMA phone or 866-2-REFILL (866-273-3455) from another phone.
You can also check your balance for free by sending a text to 848484 with the word INFO in the body of the message.
You can add a PIN to your account by sending a text to 848484 containing REUP# plaus the PIN number, i.e., REUP#8765765465435432
Call Forwarding, Call Waiting and 3-Way Calling
To forward all calls to another number: Not supported
To forward unanswered calls only (conditional call forwarding): Not supported.
Call waiting: Call waiting is enabled by default. It lets you place one call on hold while you take another call. When you are on a call and have another incoming call, you will hear a short tone. You'll have approximately 30 seconds to answer before the second caller hears a standard message or is forwarded to voicemail. Unless you have an unlimited calling plan, you will be charged for both calls.
To answer Call Waiting: To put the first call on hold, press "SEND." You'll automatically be connected with the second call. To return to the first call, press "SEND" again. To switch between the two calls, press "SEND."
3-Way Calling: Only available on the $50 Plans. It lets you create a conference call between yourself and two or more other people. You will be charged for both calls.
While on the first call, dial the 10-digit number of the second person and press "SEND." The first person is automatically put on hold while the call is made.
When the 2nd person answers, press "SEND" to create the conference call.
Simple Mobile "Secret" Codes:
*#06# displays the phone's IMEI (serial number)
Free information services calls
411 - Free directory assistance
611 - Simple Mobile customer care
711 - Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the hearing and speech impaired
911 - Emergency services
Other 3 digit codes like 211, 311 and 511 are not free on Simple Mobile
Customer Service:
Phone support: Call 611 from your Simple Mobile phone or 877.878.7908 or 877.441.4844 from another phone
Email support: crazytalk@mysimplemobile.com
Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Community Forum
Phone Sales and General Information Web Site: mysimplemobile.com
Simple Mobile Pros: Competitve monthly plan pricing, BlackBerry BIS support, good international rates, BYOD, throttled data speed (240 Kbps) is faster than T-Mobile and other most other T-Mobile MVNO's speed of about 120 Kbps)
Simple Mobile Cons: limited T-Mobile native coverage, no call forwarding, tethering not allowed, undisclosed data caps on "Unlimited" data plans.
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