Tuesday, January 8, 2013
FreedomPop, textPlus Partner On Free Wireless Data, Text, and Voice
Are you looking for free mobile data, text, and calling? Two, Internet-enabled communications startups, FreedomPop, and TextPlus said this morning that they are working together to introduce a 100 percent free mobile data, text and calling service, by combining plans and technology from the two companies.
The companies--both of which are based in Los Angeles--said that, starting in the first quarter of 2013, they will integrate the free text and calling services from textPlus with FreedomPop's free wireless Internet offering, which will enable users to get free mobile data, text, and calling in a single bundle.
FreedomPop offers up a free, wireless Internet service which is using high speed, 4G wireless services from Clearwire/Sprint; textPlus is well known for their mobile apps, which give users unlimited, free texting and calling services. The companies said the new bundled plans will include both free and premium plans, with a top tier of under $15 per month for unlimited texting and 1,000 voice minutes.
Both companies have backing from top tier venture investment companies, and are led by experience entrepeneurs. FreedomPop is led by Stephen Stokols, and backed by Mangrove Capital, DCM, and Atomico, the venture investment arm of the founders of Skype. textPlus is led by Scott Lahman, one of the the cofounders of JAMDAT Mobile, and is backed by The Raine Group, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Matrix Partners and GRP Partners.