Spectrum Mobile announces affordable unlimited
On October 11, Spectrum Mobile introduced us to its newest and most competitive unlimited plan offering. It starts at $29.99/month per line for customers with 2 or more lines, taxes and fees included, all without a contract. The plan provides customers with nationwide 4G LTE and 5G services. New and existing customers are eligible for this plan on unlimited lines, which can be combined with By the Gig lines in one bill if desired. Customers can also save by bundling their Spectrum broadband Internet service with the mobile plans. Incidentally, these rates are exclusively available for Spectrum’s existing Internet subscribers only.
The NPD Take:
- As consumers see MVNOs and prepaid service providers bringing more low-priced plans to market, the availability of money-saving options is a tempting draw to switch from traditional and more expensive premium plans. On the other hand, the fierce price battles poise a threat to sustainability of the high-margin business model enjoyed by the U.S. operators.
- According to NPD’s August 2021 Connected Intelligence Mobility Survey, nearly 10% of switchers were drawn by their new providers’ add-on offers such as free streaming services included. Carriers’ smartphone promotions and subsidies also attract customers, which sets them apart from MVNOs. So, while less expensive plans may draw consumers looking to simply lower their monthly bill, more premium postpaid plans may maintain subscribers with extra services and device promotions.
- It will be interesting to see if these plans alter switcher behavior, and whether those who switch from traditional postpaid service provider plans will opt for discounted plans from MVNOs or prepaid services.
Motorola’s 2021 Release is Cutting Edge
Motorola recently released its new Edge (2021). The smartphone is stacked with premium features like a 5000mAh battery (lasting up to 2 days), NFC, 144Hz refresh rate, 2460x1080 FHD+ LCD display, 108MP rear camera and 4K UHD video capture. It is 5G compatible on certain carriers. Originally priced at $699.99, it is currently on sale for $599.99 on Motorola.com. It’s also available for as low as $399.99 at BestBuy.com when activating the unlocked phone on an AT&T service plan at the time of purchase. Verizon, which was the exclusive seller of the initial Edge phone, continues to be sole carrier partner for the phone. Verizon’s 5G UW (millimeter wave) version of the phone is available for $550 before trade-in switcher offers.
The NPD Take:
- The technology packed into this smartphone is certainly impressive, and the price makes it a real contender. While the features are top tier, it only inches slightly above Motorola’s typical smartphone pricing. According to NPD’s August 2021 Connected Intelligence Mobility Survey, 97% of Motorola customers paid less than $600 for their current smartphones. More than half paid less than $200, however.
- Motorola may attract brand switchers with this phone as wel. The same survey shows LG’s customers paying similar prices to Motorola’s, if not slightly higher. With LG’s smartphone market exit, as LG devices trickle off shelves without back-fill by the brand, the 2021 Edge could hit the mark for LG customers looking to replace their smartphones. The NPD Mobility Survey also found, prior to the release of the 2021 Edge, that 19% of current LG smartphone owners reported they would consider a Motorola as their next smartphone.
- With all of these features and factors, the 2021 iteration of the Edge is poised for success. This will be especially noteworthy to compare with the 2020 version’s performance, which was hindered by its timing (as it hit shelves as the pandemic struck) and pricing (MSRP of $999!). .