Sprint MVNO TextNow Wireless has improved its coverage by partnering with a new GSM-based carrier. Even though the carrier hasn’t named its new partner, it’s more than clear that TextNow adds GSM service on T-Mobile network. Consequently, TextNow now offers Bring Your Own Phone option, which is great given that GSM service brings more flexibility to users in switching between carriers while searching for the better value.

TextNow BYOP

Smartphones that customers can now bring to TextNow and activate with their service “Must be a Sprint, T-Mobile, or unlocked device with either Android or iOS operating system.” New customers who purchase a SIM card for $5 with free shipping and activate it with their compatible phone on TextNow will get first month of service for free. Free month of service is a limited time offer.

TextNow Plans

TextNow service starts at $13.99 per month. The plans include:






$13.99 Short plan – unlimited talk and text to US and Canada and unlimited data with 100MB at high speed

$18.99 Tall plan – unlimited talk and text to US and Canada and unlimited data with 500MB at high speed

$26.99 Grande plan – unlimited talk and text to US and Canada and unlimited data with 1.5GB at high speed

$39.99 Venti plan – unlimited talk and text to US and Canada and unlimited data with 3GB at high speed

$59.99 Quattro plan – unlimited talk and text to US and Canada and unlimited data with 6GB at high speed

In addition to paid plans, TextNow offers free service, too. By downloading a free TextNow app, customers get a completely free VoIP-based calling and texting. Customers can use their free phone number to call and send messages from multiple devices. The App is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows Desktop, Mac OS X, and online at TextNow’s website.

Republic Wireless, which also was a Sprint-only MVNO for years, has recently added GSM service on T-Mobile network. Since then, the carrier’s rapidly grown in number of subscribers and in annual revenue. TextNow, just like Republic, uses its hybrid technology to switch between WiFi and cellular networks, searching for the best possible signal at given moment and location. Hopefully, TextNow will attract more customers who can now try out their affordable service with less hassle and expenses. And if they don’t like it, they can always switch to another GSM-based provider since most of them, if not all, allow BYOP.

Besides Republic Wireless, TextNow-like service is offered by Project Fi. However, their service is limited to only few handsets, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Google Pixel, and Google Pixel XL.

Source: TextNow via Prepaid Phone News