Republic Wireless Launches, What are Implications?

Republic Wireless has launched a limited beta program of its $19-a-month hybrid wireless service using, to start, the LG Optimus smartphone running Android 2.3. 

Aside from the low price, Republic Wireless is going to test consumer demand for a "Wi-Fi-first" mobile service that defaults to any available Wi-Fi network first, then switches to the mobile network only when that is not possible. 

"Republic is a Wi-Fi network," the company says. "Anything cellular can do, Wi-Fi can do better (and for less)." Wi-Fi better? 

The immediate logical question is the degree of traction Republic Wireless can get in the wireless market. But perhaps a more-important question is whether Republic Wireless will affect the thinking of fixed-network VoIP providers. 

There is, to be sure, a market for fixed-line VoIP services. But it is hard to ignore the broader shift to use of wireless devices as the "default" mode for consumers globally. To be sure, wireless service providers someday will embrace mobile VoIP in a more-active way. In the meantime, there remains a market opportunity for providers who can enable a shift "now."

In this case, given the limitation of service to domestic calling, Republic Wireless won't be a competitive substitute for Vonage, for example, as used by people who mostly need to call internationally. But lots of people do not need to make many international calls, and might now evaluate Republic Wireless as a substitute for a fixed voice line. 

And that makes the competition as much fixed voice line service as much as "mobile service."

Sprint will be Republic's first cellular partner, but other partners might be added as well. 

The cost of the phone and the first month of service will be $199, with unlimited voice, data and texting costing $19 a month thereafter. Other phone models will be announced later, the company says. No contracts are required. 

Republic Wireless Readies $20/Month Unlimited Mobile Service

Republic Wireless is a new mobile phone service from Bandwidth.com that will be launching on November 8, with some features some users will find compelling. Republic Wireless teaser

Among those features is the price, said to be $20 per month, with unlimited talk, texting and data. The plan is also touted as truly “unlimited” with no bandwidth caps. $20 a month unlimited smart phone service?


Republic is a mobile virtual network operator, but is integrating Wi-Fi connectivity and software that will switch connections between the mobile network and the Wi-Fi network automatically.

The hybrid service essentially will default to Wi-Fi whenever possible, and use the mobile network only when Wi-Fi is not available. 


That should translate into lower calling costs for end users, since Bandwidth.com will be able to use fixed network VoIP much of the time.

Public Wi-Fi usage

In all likelihood, pricing will set at levels much lower than what users typically expect from mobile service plans, and without need for a contract. Republic Wireless


Users will have to buy a new device specially created by Republic Wireless, which undoubtedly will prove a barrier to some users. But $20 a month, with unlimited data access, texting and calling, is going to be attractive to lots of people.



Smart phone owners are using Wi-Fi hot spots in increasing numbers, both in the home and out in public.  A recent study by WeFi shows an uptick in smart phone data consumption, much of it by users on the Android platform, for example. That might explain why the Republic Wireless service will use Android devices.  Smart phone Wi-Fi usage