Airvoice - Good for many Reasons
The next pre-paid wireless carrier I want to review is Airvoice Wireless. They were founded in 1999 in Michigan.
Info on Airvoice courtesy of Airvoice.com
Company History
Airvoice Wireless is a leading prepaid wireless carrier that provides service within the United States. With headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, MI, our company operates independently; utilizing digital, nationwide GSM technology. Our mission is to provide dependable wireless service to our customers at an affordable price along with outstanding customer service.
Founded in 1999, Airvoice Wireless originally only existed on the US West Coast with a limited coverage area. In the year 2000, Airvoice began offering service on the then cutting-edge TDMA technology. This allowed the company to provide nationwide service. Now able to reach more customers, Airvoice Wireless began to flourish within the prepaid market.
In 2005, the company switched networks from TDMA to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network. Now utilizing breakthrough SIM technology, Airvoice was able to provide its customers better network coverage and more digital features.
Today, with a strong GSM network and dedicated team, Airvoice Wireless provides service to a large subscriber base, adding more each day. The company holds an impressive share in the prepaid wireless market, with agents and customers in over 40 states, as well as in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Our Mission
The Management Team of Airvoice Wireless understands that living up to superior business principles is the key to success. Our vision and values reflect on the way we conduct business.
To Our Customers
-While providing quality phone service, Airvoice Wireless’ mission is to enhance and simplify the wireless experience for our customers.
-We aim to provide our customers with outstanding cellular service at an affordable rate while offering superb customer and technical support.
-Airvoice Wireless strives to understand, anticipate, and respond to the needs of our customers while providing innovative products and services.
Airvoice Wireless is one of the few companies that still practice the philosophy of quality customer support. In fact, customer service is what sets Airvoice apart from the many other prepaid providers.
The US based customer support is located within Company headquarters. When contacting our customer service, we can guarantee you will not be transferred around to different departments, having to explain your situation over and over again, until you are finally connected to the right person. Every representative is trained to assist customers on all levels of service.
When calling other service providers for assistance, you often have to navigate a difficult menu and choose from options that may not relate to your particular issue. After choosing an option, you can expect to be on hold for at least 15 minutes before getting connected to a representative. This is not customer service! When calling Airvoice for assistance, you do not have to choose from a long list of options. Simply choose whether you need assistance in English or Spanish, and your call will be directed to a representative usually within less than a few minutes. With call waits significantly shorter than the average hold time for other service providers, Airvoice Customer Service has developed a reputation as the leader of customer support within the industry.
Customers are not assisted only when contacting the support team. Each customer and their needs are taken into consideration on all levels of Airvoice Operations—from rate changes made by executives, to product distribution, to agent selection.
Info on Airvoice courtesy of Airvoice.com
Company History
Airvoice Wireless is a leading prepaid wireless carrier that provides service within the United States. With headquarters in Bloomfield Hills, MI, our company operates independently; utilizing digital, nationwide GSM technology. Our mission is to provide dependable wireless service to our customers at an affordable price along with outstanding customer service.
Founded in 1999, Airvoice Wireless originally only existed on the US West Coast with a limited coverage area. In the year 2000, Airvoice began offering service on the then cutting-edge TDMA technology. This allowed the company to provide nationwide service. Now able to reach more customers, Airvoice Wireless began to flourish within the prepaid market.
In 2005, the company switched networks from TDMA to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network. Now utilizing breakthrough SIM technology, Airvoice was able to provide its customers better network coverage and more digital features.
Today, with a strong GSM network and dedicated team, Airvoice Wireless provides service to a large subscriber base, adding more each day. The company holds an impressive share in the prepaid wireless market, with agents and customers in over 40 states, as well as in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Our Mission
The Management Team of Airvoice Wireless understands that living up to superior business principles is the key to success. Our vision and values reflect on the way we conduct business.
To Our Customers
-While providing quality phone service, Airvoice Wireless’ mission is to enhance and simplify the wireless experience for our customers.
-We aim to provide our customers with outstanding cellular service at an affordable rate while offering superb customer and technical support.
-Airvoice Wireless strives to understand, anticipate, and respond to the needs of our customers while providing innovative products and services.
Airvoice Wireless is one of the few companies that still practice the philosophy of quality customer support. In fact, customer service is what sets Airvoice apart from the many other prepaid providers.
The US based customer support is located within Company headquarters. When contacting our customer service, we can guarantee you will not be transferred around to different departments, having to explain your situation over and over again, until you are finally connected to the right person. Every representative is trained to assist customers on all levels of service.
When calling other service providers for assistance, you often have to navigate a difficult menu and choose from options that may not relate to your particular issue. After choosing an option, you can expect to be on hold for at least 15 minutes before getting connected to a representative. This is not customer service! When calling Airvoice for assistance, you do not have to choose from a long list of options. Simply choose whether you need assistance in English or Spanish, and your call will be directed to a representative usually within less than a few minutes. With call waits significantly shorter than the average hold time for other service providers, Airvoice Customer Service has developed a reputation as the leader of customer support within the industry.
Customers are not assisted only when contacting the support team. Each customer and their needs are taken into consideration on all levels of Airvoice Operations—from rate changes made by executives, to product distribution, to agent selection.
From the Howard Forums Wiki Kevdogg329 wrote in June.
AirVoice Wireless
Updated: 06/20/2012
Customer Service #: 1-888-944-2355
Customer Service Location: MI (US Based!)
Typical Wait Time: Very Short >5min avg
Web-site: http://www.airvoicewireless.com
Web-Chat: none
Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday 10am-10pm EST. Closed Sundays
Coverage: AT&T
Link to Map:http://www.airvoicewireless.com/Coverage.aspx
Check coverage by ZIP: Yes
Technology: GSM
Plans:
$55.00/month for unlimited talk, unlimited text, MMS and 1Gb of data w/$10 International Credit
$40.00/month for unlimited talk, unlimited text, MMS and 500Mb of data w/$10 International Credit
$35.00/month for unlimited talk, unlimited text, MMS and 100Mb of data w/$10 International Credit
$30.00/month for unlimited talk, unlimited text no data and no MMS (MMS and Data available with cash card)
$10.00/month 250 talk or 500 texts (or any combo of the 2) MMS $10 a message. Data $0.33/mb
Pay as you go:
$100 - 1200 minutes 365 days
$50 - 550 minutes 180 days
$30 - 320 minutes 150 days
$20 - 210 minutes 120 days
$10 - 100 minutes 90 days
Text Messaging ($0.10 per message- sent/received)
Voicemail (standard airtime charges apply)
International Calling (contact customer service for rates)
MMS ($0.20 per message- sent/received)
Data ($0.33/Mb)
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE FEE: The fee is $1.00/month, and is usually billed
on the 8th day of the month. If your account has less than $1.00, your
remaining balance will be depleted.
Overage: None. When data cap reached, data stops.
Taxes Charged: **unknown
Data Throttled: Reports indicate that AT&T throttles MVNO data
speeds to 500 kb/s in markets where AT&T offers 3G and 1,500 kbs in
areas where AT&T offers 4G. It is possible that these reports are
incorrect, or that AT&T is throttling data for MVNO customers.
Bring Your Own Device: Available. Programming instructions and
compatible phones on web-site. Supports unlocked GSM phones and locked
AT&T phones. T-mobile phones with data on 1700/2100 WILL NOT SUPPORT
HIGH SPEED DATA.
Data Configuration Instructions:http://www.airvoicewireless.com/PhoneSupport.aspx
Voicemail: Yes.
Disable Voicemail: **Unknown
Supports Conditional Call Forwarding: **Probably
Number Portability: Yes
Unused SIM required for port: Yes
Outgoing calls during port: **Unknown
Detailed Call Records on Website: no
Corporate HQ Address:
2425 Franklin Road
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Main: +1 (888) 944-2355
Fax: +1 (248) 239-0182
Pros:
1. Airvoice has many options concerning plans. The best plan in mobile currently is their $10 for 250min or 500 texts. $0.04 per minute talk is the best I have found for per minute plans. The $0.02 per text is great as well. This is great for someone that uses under 250 minutes a month. 1 $10 card will cover their usage completely. This plan is not so good if you are spending more than $30/month...there are better options out there, including the $30 for talk and text, no MMS or Data.
2. Customer service is great!. the CS is US based and you actually can understand what they are saying. I never have had more than 1 minute wait to talk to CS. They have resolved all issues with no delay.
3. Airvoice has BYOD. Any GSM device that is unlocked will work on Airvoice, even the iPhone. Since they use ATT footprint, any ATT phone with 3G will work on AV with no issues.
4. SIM cards are cheap! You can buy them for $4.99 at Airvoice Sim card purchase or for as low as $0.99 on Ebay.
Cons.
1.Data is expensive unless you purchase a monthly plan that includes data. With the $10 plan data is $0.33/mb (Ouch). The plans that offer data are more expensive than other GSM carriers Straight Talk, RedPocket. The CS tradeoff is worth it in my experience.
2. Cards are hard to buy in store. Where I live, they are non-existent. I have to purchase online to keep service going. Since i have access to the Internet, that is not an issue, but for someone that doesn't I would make sure you could get the cards from somewhere.
Overall I would highly recommend Airvoice for you GSM cell phone needs.
Update 2.19.13 updated info
Thanks a bunch for your info! Wish i had done my homework on all the different carriers before hand.....
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your post. This post really help me a lot and I have learnt some new things from your blog.Jason Stern