cablevision's new wifi service

https://freewheel.com/
Unlimited talk and text and data (at wifi speeds) for $30/month or $10/month if you are a cablevision customer. There is a choice of only one phone model, and it has no cellular as back up. The marketing seems to be at young people who are never far from a wifi hot spot, and or families that are looking for a reason to keep their increasingly expensive cable service.

So compared to plans like: 4 Smartphones on MORE Everything Verizon
4 x $40 =$160 monthly line access + 10 GB $80 monthly account access = $240 monthly access*

You can buy cable TV plus some $10/month wifi phones with unlimited talk + no cellular

What do families do today? Does everyone get a cellular phone for every child? Would you feel like a bad parent if you gave them a Wi-Fi phone under the hope that they can get to a wireless hot spot in most emergencies?

Sounds a little not good. I would never trust a phone on just wi-fi. I will hand it to them trying to keep cable alive.

Quote: AZDuffman

Sounds a little not good. I would never trust a phone on just wi-fi. I will hand it to them trying to keep cable alive.

So, as I understand these family plans for cellular, they are $130 for two (unlimited talk and text+10 Gb data) + $15 for each additional phone (unlimited talk and text + NO MORE DATA).

So if you had three children under the age of 16, you would have to pay $130+3*$15=$175. You would be comfortable with that amount?

Quote: Pacomartin

So, as I understand these family plans for cellular, they are $130 for two (unlimited talk and text+10 Gb data) + $15 for each additional phone (unlimited talk and text + NO MORE DATA).

So if you had three children under the age of 16, you would have to pay $130+3*$15=$175. You would be comfortable with that amount?

I doubt it. I use a pay-as-you-use plan that runs about $65 most months.

Quote: AZDuffman

I doubt it. I use a pay-as-you-use plan that runs about $65 most months.

For how many people and for what services (i.e. talk, text, and how much data)?

Quote: Pacomartin

For how many people and for what services (i.e. talk, text, and how much data)?

One person, 500-1000 minutes and 500-1000 text messages most months. Data I can let you know next bill if you or anybody is interested. The downside is that you are on your own to activate the phone. It is not hard, but it is not having the kids at Verizon do it while you wait.

They "tier" the services so that each month you pay what you use. For me that works because I have "heavy" months and not so much depending on how business is going. I think the biggest my bill ever was might have been $70-75 all-in including taxes and that was probably when I was in a courthouse using data while meanwhile using voice call a lot on whatever other things were going on. Some months when I was a hermit it dropped to 45. $6 of it all is just a base fee, so if you don't pick up the phone all month only $10 or so with taxes.

What's cablevision, is that a real company?

Quote: Evenbob

What's cablevision, is that a real company?

It is based in Long Island originally, now in NYC and other cities. It is ranked as 9th largest MSO (which includes cable companies, satellite, and fiber operators).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-system_operator

Quote: AZDuffman

One person, 500-1000 minutes and 500-1000 text messages most months. Data I can let you know next bill if you or anybody is interested. The downside is that you are on your own to activate the phone. It is not hard, but it is not having the kids at Verizon do it while you wait.

Verizon has recently dropped the price for one phone (unlimited talk and text) to $45 a month. So the tiering service may be cheaper depending on how much data you use.

I have never heard of giving someone unlimited talk and text (albeit from wi-fi locations only) for $10 a month. I know that there are skype phones and google voice that may be cheaper. And you could argue that it isn't really $10 a month since you must have cable.