Here’s What We Know About Verizon-Backed Visible’s Unlimited $40/Month Plan
If you’re so fed up with your outrageously high phone bill that you’re willing to be a guinea pig for a startup cell phone provider, you could save big.
For just $40 per month, you can get an unlimited plan with Visible.
The company was launched earlier this year by former Verizon employees and received some funding from the phone service giant, a TechCrunch article said. Visible will use the Verizon 4G LTE network.
Visible’s website makes the company’s priorities clear:
It’s simple. The company only has one plan, and it comes with unlimited minutes, messaging and data.
It’s cheap. It’s only $40, and there won’t be any surprise fees or overage charges.
It believes in tech. There aren’t any Visible stores; it’s totally app-based. And while you can pay your bill with a credit or debit card if you’d like, it’s equipped to accept PayPal and Venmo payments, too.
Of course, as any early adopter might guess, signing up is not so simple. For now, if you want to try the service, you’ll need an access code. The company website says the only way to get one is from a current member who already has one.
A Gizmodo reporter requested a code and got one pretty fast. However, it’s arguably easier for a tech writer to get a code than the average Joe who doesn’t have the ability to influence thousands of people with a single article.
A few dozen people tweeted the company over the past few days asking for access and were told to sign up for the email list on Visible’s website. We tried signing up for the emails and tweeting. So far, no code for us.
Got a Code? Here’s What to Expect
If you’re among the chosen ones who get an invite to try Visible, there are some things you should know.
To make the switch, you’ll need to download the Visible app. Right now, it’s only available in the Apple app store, but Visible promises it will soon welcome Android users, too.
It’s also worth noting that having an iPhone is not enough. The iPhone 6, iPhone 6s, iPhone 8 and iPhone X should all be fine. The iPhone SE and iPhone 7 will work in some cases but not in others. Find your phone’s ID number and enter it into Visible’s compatibility tool to find out if your phone will work.
Unfortunately, if your phone is incompatible, buying a new one from Visible isn’t an option. The company only sells the service, not the phone itself. This also means you will need to unlock your phone to use it on Visible.
It may take a bit of work to switch networks, but it’s good to note that you can keep your phone number. Once you’re signed up, the company will send you a new SIM card via overnight shipping so you can start using your phone as soon as possible.
If the $40 a month price tag is incentive enough to make you overlook some growing pains and you can get your hands on a download code, then it could be worth the switch. The first users will be providing feedback to the company to work out any kinks before the service becomes more widely available.
Desiree Stennett (@desi_stennett) is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder. She writes about how government and court actions impact your wallet.
