FreedomPop's new annual plan will cost less than a nice dinner

If you think cell service costs too much, listen up. FreedomPop, the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that has been giving away free basic cell service, is introducing its new Annual Plan that will run you less than a nice dinner out on the town.

Here’s how it works: right now, you can head over to FreedomPop and sign up for its brand new annual plan which runs $49 a year. The plan entitles you to 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, and 1 GB of data per month on either Sprint or AT&T’s network. If you need more data than that, you can choose one of FreedomPop’s bi-annual plans that run either $78 ($13/mo) or $114 ($19/mo) every six months. These plans bump you up to unlimited calls and texts, and either 2 GB or 5 GB of data a month respectively.

FreedomPop sells inexpensive phones, tablets, and hotspots too. On its web store, you can find used and refurbished devices like the Nexus 5 for $119, the Samsung Galaxy S5 for $149, or the Samsung Galaxy S7 for $449. All of the 125 devices offered by FreedomPop come with its free mobile service, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and a 90-day warranty. When checking out, you can choose to pick up a protection plan for $9 a month on supported devices that covers cracked screens, accidental breaking, and water damage.

“We’re moving away from the idea that a mobile service has to come with a monthly bill,” says FreedomPop cofounder and COO Steven Sesar. “For a one time purchase of under $80, you can get a smartphone and service and not have to think about ongoing payments.”

FreedomPop is obviously aiming to disrupt mobile carriers with these unreal prices and offering consumers a true bargain option. While its initial free plans were based on upselling customers more minutes, texts, and data, these new plans seem to be more focused on asking customers to pay up front for a steep discount.

Would you consider a FreedomPop plan at these prices? Let us known down in the comments.