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Charter's Spectrum Mobile officially launched over the weekend as an MVNO on the Verizon network. News of its impending launch came in early June when By the Gig pricing was expected to be at $12/month. However, the official launch price came in at $14/month, which makes it $2/month more expensive than Charter's rival brand from Comcast, Xfinity Mobile. A $45 "unlimited plan" did however come to fruition.
Spectrum Mobile Pricing Details
In order to signup with Spectrum Mobile, you do need to be a subscriber to Spectrum's Internet service. This is the same tactic that Comcast applies to Xfinity Mobile.
By The Gig Pricing
By The Gig Pricing includes unlimited talk and text and international text with data priced at $14/GB. Each line on a plan is charged in advance for their first GB of data per bill cycle. If there are multiple lines, data is shared between each line. If a customer goes over the data allotment, they'll automatically be billed for another GB. Video streaming is limited to a resolution of 480p. Mobile hotspot is included at no extra charge. Taxes and fees do cost extra.
Spectrum is restricting new Internet customers from signing up with more than 2 lines of service with Xfinity Mobile for a period of 30 days. After 30 days of service, a total of 5 lines may be maintained on an account based on credit rating.
Unlimited Plan
Spectrum Mobile also offers what it calls an "unlimited plan" for $45/month. The unlimited plan includes unlimited talk, text, international texting and data. However, Spectrum says that after 20GB of data has been consumed in a month, you may experience reduced speeds for the rest of your billing cycle. That's a far cry from what the industry considers unlimited these days. Typically a carrier or MVNO will only temporarily slow your data speeds down once you consume more than a certain amount of data in a month if and ONLY if the network is busy. Comcast's Xfinity Mobile also has an "unlimited plan" with only 20GB of high speed data.
The unlimited plan also includes 5GB of high speed mobile hotspot data. Hotspot data speeds get reduced to a maximum of 600 Kbps once more than 5GB of data gets consumed in a billing cycle.
Video streaming is limited to a maximum resolution of 480p. Taxes and fees are extra, and the same 30 day multi-line restrictions apply as they do for the By the Gig option.
What Happens If You Want To Cancel Spectrum Internet And Keep Spectrum Mobile?
If you decide to cancel your Spectrum Internet subscription, your Spectrum Mobile subscription will be charged an additional $20 per line. That's not exactly cheap. Furthermore, Spectrum WiFi speeds will be limited to 5 Mbps. I'm assuming that is the speed that you'll get when you are connected to a Spectrum Mobile WiFi hotspot. Spectrum Mobile includes nationwide access to a half a million hotspots.
Phones
At the moment, Spectrum is not supporting bring your own phone. (Update: In December of 2018, Spectrum Mobile launched support for Bring Your Own iPhone). If you want service with an Android device, you'll have to purchase a phone from the MVNO. The following phones are available for purchase:
- Samsung Galaxy S8+ starting at $29.17/month for 24 months with 0% APR
- Samsung Galaxy S8 starting at $25/month
- Samsung Galaxy S9 starting at $31.25/month
- Samsung Galaxy S9+ starting at $35.42/month
- LG K30 starting at $7.50/month
Editor's Take
This is another cable company entering the MVNO arena. By bundling wireless service with your home internet, Spectrum has come up with another way to try and retain you as a customer. I do believe that cable companies see 5G networks as a threat to their at home broadband internet businesses. With the data speeds that 5G networks are supposed to bring, wireless carriers may soon become a viable alternative to home internet. On top of that, we're already starting to see carriers bundle TV and streaming services with mobile phone plans. AT&T for instance has DIRECTV NOW and WatchTV. T-Mobile recently purchased Layer3 TV which it touts as being "The New Cable." So it seems that cable companies are trying to get a jump on things and grab new customers before wireless carriers become a true threat to their traditional business model.
When using a Hot Spot connection does it use some of my 1g data pian?
I’m planning to switch to spectrum mobile is there service bad??? If it is I’ll just go to another company instead?
Do I have to finance (aka monthly pay) for a phone, can I buy it outright and save on monthly fees?
I been a Spectrum customer going on three years. I was very impressed to hear about their new mobile phones and so I decided to get one. I do not understand why is it so hard to activate a phone, after trying for three days I decided that I should return the phone. Spectrum internet is down you can not activated phone online and I tried calling customer service they’re telling me that I should go and borrow a stranger’s or friend’s phone. I’m sorry but I do not want everyone in my business. The next day I called after borrowing a phone the customer service lady gets all of my information and places me on hold for a very long time to tell me that I should call back at a later time because they’re having high volume of wait time???? Why have Spectrum mobile phones if you’re not prepared to handle phone services??? Very dissatisfied customer
Do you plan on accepting Bring your own phone any time in the future?
I just got my new iPhone 8+ phone and it is activated. But I can’t get thru to Spectrum Mobile or Verizon to talk with representative….Verizon voicemail recording says to hold on so they can connect me with an external operator. They don’t do that,?they say “You need to buy a roaming pin# (which I had to do for $15 for 2hrs of time!!!! This is not a prepaid phone, so why when I use the “pin”, my call is dropped??? I can’t use my old phone…..so now what????
I have 4 lines and 2 tablets with Verizon. I don’t see a fee monthly fee for tablets. I am purchasing my phones from Verizon so how would that work to bring them to Spectrum? Does Spectrum buy out contracts?
What if I am currently paying monthly on my phone with Verizon currently would I be subjected to any cancellation fee??
I agree, Verizon has been very steady and not raised prices. Spectrum/Charter have done nothing but raise rates so to say everything will be steady is an opinion not a fact. I have a perfectly working phone and I’m already using Verizon so I don’t see how this would benefit me. By my calculations, your start up cost will be well over $100 regardless of your plan.
I moved from att wireless to spectrum mobile and I am very happy with it. I wanted a new phone so purchasing a phone was not an issue.very good service and no issues plus I’m saving money. It’s a win win
I have Verizon already can I cancel it and go with spectrum, and do I have to pay a fee .?
All of my services are with Time Warner, only my mobile phones are with AT&T. Since I pay my bills to Time Warner will I be considered to have internet services with Spectrum? When will Spectrum provide wireless services to customers that want to continue using their own I-Phones? When will Spectrum open stores located near Hwy 281 and north of the 1604 Loop in San Antonio, TX?
Hey Joe, why do you writers fail to explain your acronyms in? I have to look for someone else to explain what an MVNO. I’ve noticed in many articles on the web that many authors like you FTE the UA that they UITA.
(FTE=Fail To Explain, UA=Uncommon Acronyms, UITA=Use In Their Articles). Get the point?
I have spectrum bundle phone/internet/tv. Started out at $99/month. 9 years later it has doubled in cost. Will that happen with phone too? My verizon bill has stayed steady for 9 years and has actually even reduced a little.
OK has anyone had any problems with the service they provider
I will try the service when I can use my phone or when they sell a very cheap priced phone for me is to try their service. No way am I spending a bundle on new service that might not work well where I live. 24 Sep 2018, you still have to buy their phone…….cheapest is LG K30
$7.50/mo
for 24 months, 0% APR
$179.99
I have been with att forever and have been considering changing to spectrum so I have been reading the comments very carefully. I have spectrum for my TV, Internet and phone and have been very happy with it so I wonder if mobile is good. I need a new phone and Its costly through att and I would have to go into another contract again so that’s why I’m considering spectrum. Just trying to find out if it’s a good move to make
I have been receiving e-mails offering Spectrum wireless service. I have the landline phone plan with Spectrum and the only downside is that if the internet is out then my phone doesn’t work. The question I need answered is if the internet goes out will my cell phone on the spectrum wireless plan still work or will it not work?
Will you offer a triple play or bundle option? Internet, cable and mobile?
I spoke to a representative with Spectrum mobile a couple of days ago. They informed me you would be able to bring your own phone to the service starting September 14th. They stated you would have to take your phone in to a Spectrum store that handles the mobile service, so not all brick and mortar locations would be able to set it up.
Even though I have a brand new Motorola Moto G6 that is perfect for Verizon, Spectrum, which uses Verizon, won’t let me use it and said that I HAVE TO buy one of their phones… sad since I have been their customer over 10 yrs!
What a SCAM! You must purchase their phone for 700.00 bucks even though you already have a perfectly good phone? WOW, what a “deal”
I guess a SUCKER IS born every minute.i
When will I be able to use my iPhone if I go with Spectrum mobile and not my current carrier, Version?
So I buy a galaxys9 for 850$ capable of 4k streaming and you limit me to 480p… almost had me, but no thanks
How do i obtain username and password for my spectrum mobile i just bought and recieved in the mail?
No deal
Even without having to buy a phone from them, the rates are not competitive. The only “advantage” is having access to their nationwide wi-fi.