H2O Wireless, an MVNO that is managed by Fort Lee, N.J.-based Locus Telecommunications and runs on AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) network, has revived an unlimited data offer that it had discontinued in 2011.
H2O said that its $60 monthly plan, which previously offered 3 GB of data per month, now offers unlimited data. The action is notable because, in November 2011, H2O discontinued its $60 unlimited data service by replacing it with a 2 GB data cap. (The company in August 2013, upgraded the cap from 2 GB to 3 GB.)
Under the company's new plans, which all include unlimited voice, texting, MMS and free international messaging, customers can get more data. The $30 plan had 50 MB and now has 500 MB; the $40 plan had 500 MB and now has 1 GB and the $50 plan had 1 GB and now has 2 GB.
So why did H2O reinstate its unlimited data service?
"H2O Wireless faces fierce competition in the market so we are always looking for ways to continuously expand our consumer offerings," H2O said in a statement to FierceWireless. "Specifically, by providing features that are the most sought after--which at this time is data. This is why we upgraded the data on each of our monthly unlimited plans, with the $60 monthly unlimited plan having the most drastic increase with an unlimited data upgrade. Our customers spoke and we listened."
H2O also said it is now offering speedier service on AT&T's HSPA+ network, though it's unclear when that switch was made. An H2O spokeswoman did not immediately have a comment on the timing. AT&T has argued that its HSPA+ service coupled with enhanced backhaul delivers "4G" speeds.
H2O's relaunch of unlimited data is notable in light of the fact that most wireless carriers have moved from unlimited data offerings to tiered data pricing. Indeed, AT&T itself said in October that it would make all new customers sign up for its Mobile Share shared data plans, in effect doing away with its traditional voice and data plans. All Mobile Share plans offer metered, usage-based data pricing.
For more:
- see this release
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Correction, Dec. 4, 2013: This article misidentified the terms of H2O's $30 plan. The $30 plan previously had had 50 MB of data and now has 500 MB.