An improvement at Helium Mobile. I’ve successfully added voice to my eSIM, so the dual SIM kludge that had data on eSIM but optional talk & text on a separate pSIM is no longer necessary.
Helium Mobile is still classified as an experiment for me. I’m not yet ready to trust them with a number I care about but was able to opt for a new one.
It also seems the referral process has changed. Previously, anyone with an invite from an existing Helium member could sign up regardless of location. Now, there is a referral code, however, one must be in one of Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties Florida.
I saw that on Helium’s blog. I also see someone has lit up a Helium CBRS radio not too far from me. According to Helium’s map, it’s in a residential neighborhood I wouldn’t ordinarily have reason to frequent but I’ll have to make a point of driving by to see if I’m switched from TMO cellular coverage to Helium’s “people’s network”.
For anything close to the current $5 for unlimited talk, text and 30 GB of high-speed data on T-Mobile’s network to be sustainable, significant offload will be required. Helium’s model is similar to those of the cablecos but its pricing is much more aggressive and the model presumes Helium can entice folks to deploy CBRS and WiFi radios to build the “people’s network”. Hmm, WiFi offload, where have I heard of that concept before?
I guess I’ll need to consider removing the beta tag from this topic.
Today, Helium Mobile has announced “unlimited” talk, text and cell data (30 GB at high speed) for $20/month plus taxes and telecom fees available nationwide. $20 per month undercuts others’ “unlimited” offerings including Boost Infinite, MobileX, Tello and US Mobile all clustered at $25/month but seems evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
For those in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties Florida, it’s still $5/month as of now.
So far, Helium’s “unlimited” (30 GB at 4G/5G speeds - 5 GB hotspot) is working fine. I really have no need for “unlimited”, so I wouldn’t pay $20/month for it. However, since I’m in one of Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties, Florida, what ordinarily costs $20/month, I get for $5/month. At $5/month, it’s a no brainer whether I use anywhere close to 30 GB/month (I don’t) or not.
If I did have a need for “unlimited” I would definitely consider Helium. $20/month is the least expensive price point I’ve seen for what Helium provides. It’s T-Mobile network service, so you’ll want to be certain your phone is compatible with their network and T-Mobile has good coverage in your area. Helium is betting on its “people’s network” for WiFi offload (sound familiar) keeping the price sustainable. How that plays out time will tell but, meanwhile, there are no restrictions on using the 30 GB allotted.
I use Helium as secondary service. I didn’t port a number to them nor have I otherwise engaged their support, therefore, cannot speak to that. @davenc mentions in this topic receiving competent support and I’ve seen others say so elsewhere on the Internet as well.
If you think you might need more than 5 GB for hotspot or more than 30 GB of 4G/5G high speed data per month overall, you might also look at MobileX (Verizon network) or US Mobile (choice of T-Mobile or Verizon network). Both offer “unlimited” plans for $25/month providing more hotpot and/or more cell data per month. For example, for $25/month Mobile X provides the same 30 GB of 4G/5G data and there is no separate hotspot cap (meaning all 30 GB can be used for hotspot).
With today’s blog post, Helium Mobile is “welcoming” those in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties, Florida to their nationwide $20/month “unlimited” (30 GB at high speed - 5 GB hotspot) plan.
Previously, if you lived in one of Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach counties, the price was $5/month. While I didn’t really expect the $5/month price point to last, I don’t know that I would feel “welcomed” by what is in reality a price increase.
To Helium’s credit, if like me, you got in on the $5/month price, it’s not being raised for existing subscribers. At $20/month, Helium remains the price leader for “unlimited” and has delivered service equivalent to any other T-Mobile based MVNO I’ve used.
It will be interesting to see how they do this? Will it rely only on their MVNO agreement with T-Mobile or will Helium’s CBRS/WiFi network provide offloading capacity internationally as it, theoretically, does nationally?
An international roaming add-on is now available in Helium’s app. It’s $15/GB. The initial $15 includes 60 minutes of voice and 100 texts. It’s unclear if adding additional GBs also adds more voice and text messaging.
It might be OK as a backup or, perhaps, for a short trip but for extended international travel, I think I’d still look for temporary local service.
Based on this from Helium’s international roaming FAQ…
…I would say $30 would get 2 GB of data, 120 minutes of calling, 200 texts and so forth.
I’ve got about $20, if it helps. I’ve pretty much given up on bargain shopping. I just pay up for Google Fi and don’t worry anymore. It’s the only thing that seems to work everywhere I need it to, with the bandwidth I want (but not necessarily the price I would prefer).
I had intended to look over the Helium terms, but my employer has blocked access to that site.
Frankly, I don’t rely on Helium as primary service. I don’t need “unlimited” nor do I have any serious near future plans for international travel. Because, I don’t need unlimited I wouldn’t pay $20/month but I was able to get in when it was $5/month.
With that said, as far as I can tell, they’re just another T-Mobile MVNO (I mean that in a good way). Unlike Fi, there’s no domestic roaming of which I’m aware. Hotspot is limited to 5 GB of the overall 30 GB per month limit, which like everyone else they advertise as “unlimited” because slow data remains available on the phone after 30 GB. I expect but am not certain the new international roaming is leveraging the fact T-Mobile is the network partner.
Their rationale on pricing is offload aside, apparently, from international roaming. They started with CBRS and have since moved onto WiFi. In and off itself, offload is hardly a radical concept. The old Republic had its version and so do the cablecos.
Helium hopes to leverage crypto (rewards) to entice enthusiasts to essentially build the offload network if you will for them (since unlike the cablecos they don’t own one themselves) and that it will be worthwhile for those they call builders to do so. Will it work? The up front cost of the CBRS equipment was too expensive and I don’t own a commercial grade Internet connection, so I haven’t bothered to explore the idea of helping build the “people’s network”. For me, it’s $5/month service that has been as reliable as any other T-Mobile MVNO (including Fi though I never used Fi roaming - domestic or international) I’ve used. Again, I mean that positively.
Edited to Add:
At least, one hotspot builder seems to find the rewards lacking:
I decided to turn on Helium’s “Discovery Mapping” feature, which is intended to help Helium prioritize where to build out its “People’s Network”.
I’m undecided about the privacy implications but with minimal effort, I’ve already earned enough to more than pay for next month’s service. Obviously, it helps that, for me, service is $5/month.
The up front cost of the CBRS equipment was too expensive and I don’t own a commercial grade Internet connection, so I haven’t bothered to explore the idea of helping build the “people’s network”. For me, it’s $5/month service that has been as reliable as any other T-Mobile MVNO (including Fi though I never used Fi roaming - domestic or international) I’ve used. Again, I mean that positively.