Helio is now ready to rise from the dead and offer service on Sprint's network, complete with roaming on Verizon Wireless.
As a reminder, Helio was a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that launched back in 2006 as a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink. Virgin Mobile USA swallowed up Helio and its subscribers in 2010, but Helio ultimately saw its demise the same year when Sprint eventually merged with Virgin Mobile USA.
A South Korean telecom firm called UBI Telecom is now reviving the Helio brand, launching a new plan after reopening the MVNO's wireless service in May.
UBI is selling telecom services to Korean Americans, and its latest effort sees Helio rising from its ashes and introducing a new option. The new MVNO plan comes in at $29 per month and offers unlimited talk, text (including international messaging) and data, allowing interested Helio customers to use Sprint and Verizon's networks.
To further sweeten the deal, Helio is also offering the first month of service for free, without any obligation.
"Helio wants every customer satisfied and assured. Try free month without any obligation now!" touted the MVNO. The $29 monthly plan reportedly involves no hidden fees, additional charges or overages.
When it comes to the unlimited data it touts, Helio does note that no data overages will apply, but the maximum speed is 128kbps. It's worth pointing out, however, that this data is offered on 2G, and Helio makes no mention of whether it will offer 3G or 4G service as well.
Helio also supports a BYOD program, allowing customers to use its prepaid plan on their own handsets, as long as the devices are compatible with Sprint's network. Alternatively, the MVNO is also offering a range of older smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy S4, priced at $249 and $299, respectively. Helio also plans to sell its own brand devices soon but has yet to offer more details in this regard.
In conclusion, Helio's new offer sounds fairly attractive at $29 per month, with access to both Sprint and Verizon's networks, but its selection of smartphones is not all that impressive and the mobile data is limited to the slow 2G speed.
