i wireless
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| Iowa Wireless Services LLC dba i wireless |
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Urbandale, Iowa |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Products | Wireless |
| Employees | ~200 |
| Website | i wireless website |
i wireless (formally Iowa Wireless) is an affiliate of T-Mobile, operating on the GSM-1900 platform. Based in Urbandale, Iowa, i wireless primarily provides wireless cell phone coverage in Iowa, but also exists in western Illinois (specifically the Quad Cities area), southwestern Wisconsin, and southeastern South Dakota (Specifically in the Sioux City area.)
The carrier added coverage in and immediately surrounding Sioux City, Iowa, in June 2006, and has plans to add approximately 100 new cell sites mainly in western Iowa throughout 2007. In some rural areas they are the only GSM provider, and also providing roaming services for AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless), T-Mobile USA, and other smaller GSM carriers. i wireless is popular for their MEGAtalk plan which offers unlimited local calling 24/7, however has been criticized for their relatively small coverage area compared to larger carriers, as well as long distance charges for calls outside of their coverage area on local plans. Most cell phone carriers do not charge for long distance calls, however most carriers only offer nationwide plans, without the advantages of local plans offer. i wireless offers both plans, depending on the needs of the consumer.
Although i wireless limits the long distance calling on their local plans, they have many plans that offer free long distance and nationwide calling. i wireless is known throughout Iowa for their nights and weekends that start every night at 5:00, and because they have roaming agreements with virtually every GSM provider in the United States, including companies like T-Mobile and AT&T.
Many customers of i wireless feel that the coverage locally is superior to many larger companies as i wireless only focuses on local trouble spots, and do not have to spend money to build out a nationwide network. 100% of the profits are from the Iowa area, and spent on consumers covered by their network locally, as opposed to spending money to cover consumers in other states.
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[edit] Plans
In January 2007, i wireless launched new my5 plans. These plans are very similar to myFaves plans offered by affiliate T-Mobile. They are available as an add on to any nationwide plan for $10 a month to current or new customers. With my5 plans, just like myFaves plans, customers are allowed to pick 5 numbers that they can call that will not take away from their plan minutes. My5 plans have been designed to mirror T-Mobile's plans, but with i wireless' minute packages, which tend to offer more minutes for the price. These plans also continue the well known offering of nights starting at 5 PM for no additional cost. Numbers can be changed once a month through i wireless customer service, or through the web interface.
T-Mobile, as well as i wireless have been criticized for imitating Alltel who has my circle which offers 10 numbers instead of 5. Although similar, these plans are different in that they can be added to any plan. All my5 share plans with i wireless also offer 10 numbers, (5 per line) for no additional cost. With each additional share line, another 5 numbers can be added. That means there is no limit on the maximum amount of numbers, as each line can have their own five numbers. Alltel's plans offer 10 numbers, regardless of the number of lines on a plan, and is only available on eligible my circle plans.
[edit] i wireless Data Services
i wireless currently offers GPRS data services on its entire network.
EDGE is currently being rolled out, and is active in most of the larger cities in Iowa currently.
Mobile Web uses a proxy and does not allow tethering or 3rd Party Applications.
Mobile Web Plus uses no proxy, and does allow tethering and 3rd Party Applications.
Mobile Connect is a separate data account designed for use with a PCMCIA or USB Aircard.
Mobile Connect gives the user a separate SIM card to use in the Aircard and costs $39.95 per month unless added to a voice plan, in which case it is $19.95 per month.
| PIA Customers ($0.00) | Postpaid Customers ($0.00) | Mobile Web ($5.95/month) | Mobile Web Plus ($19.95/month) | Mobile Connect ($39.95/month) | |
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| APN (Access Point) | wap9.iwireless.com | wap1.iwireless.com | wap1.iwireless.com | i2.iwireless.com | i2.iwireless.com |
| IP Address | 209.4.229.32 | 209.4.229.31 | 209.4.229.31 | none | none |
| Port | 9201 | 9201 | 9201 | 9201 | 9201 |
| Homepage | http://pwr.iwireless.com | http://pwr.iwireless.com | http://pwr.iwireless.com | any webpage will work; user defined | defined in computer |
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[edit] Corporate Sponsorship
In August 2005, i wireless announced a 10-year agreement with The MARK of The Quad Cities (now the i wireless Center) and the Illinois Quad City Civic Center Authority to secure naming rights of the arena, but a name change to the i wireless Center did not take place until July 19, 2007.
[edit] See also
- I-Wireless. Nationwide. An MVNO of the Sprint network. Funded by Cincinnati Bell
- I Wireless. Based in Florida. Sells mobile phone equipment wholesale. Owned by Ira Horowitz
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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