FreedomPop Brings FREE 4G Mobile Calls, Texts and Internet SIM to the UK

Fancy a completely free 4G mobile SIM that comes with 200MB of data, 200 texts and 200 minutes of voice calls per month? A new operator called FreedomPop, which started in the USA with a similar product, has announced that it will be doing the same for the United Kingdom from this summer.

At this point you might well be wondering how such an operator would be able to make any money. Apparently it does so by selling extra services, such as bigger data allowances and handsets etc.

In the USA FreedomPop’s platform is based off Sprint’s national 4G network, but at the time of writing the operator has not yet confirmed whether they’ll be working (MVNO) with O2, EE, Three UK or Vodafone in the United Kingdom.

FreedomPop Statement

At FreedomPop, we’re all really excited to announce our first steps into Europe with the launch of UK’s very first free mobile phone service this summer. We’ve seen tremendous success with offering free talk, text, and data in the US, and we’re looking forward to making this available to everyone, wherever they are. Sign up on a first-come, first-serve basis to be among our first beta users.

The free tier will include 200 minutes, 200 texts, and 200MB of data. Also, included is free international calling to over 60 countries and free unlimited calls and texts to each other.

We’re also launching Jetsetter, the world’s first global sim that offers free service that will be initially available in the UK, Spain, and France. Beta invites will become available here.

In addition, any unused bits of your free data allowance will roll over to the next month and the operator said they also supported anonymous website browsing to protect user privacy. Customers will also have the clever option of being able to add a second phone number (+£2 per month) from over 60 countries, which can make it cheaper to contact people in different parts of the world.

A related BBC report states that FreedomPop is aiming to grab 100,000 customers this summer and “wipe out” the established market for £5-£10 data plans, which might not be as bonkers as it sounds given how they’ve managed to sign-up a million customers in the USA (51% using their free tariff and the rest paying for extras).

The SIM sounds ideal for light mobile users or those who simply need a backup for their alarm system or emergencies. But those who choose to subscribe will also have to keep their eyes open for any excess use charges, such as those that may apply when you go over the free allowances. At the time of writing we couldn’t find any UK specific T&C’s and as such we have no firm idea of how this will all be handled.