A new service launching in April is touting nationwide unlimited mobile phone calling and mobile web and data and email access. All the calls you want, no long distance fees, no roaming fees, etc. etc. The price? $70 per month. The service is from a new company called ZERO1 Communications. Sounds pretty good – and it is if you want all that – particularly the data part. Most similar wireless calling only plans are considerably less, however.

Coverage is very good because the company is working with most of the major existing providers. It uses their networks to get the signal to a tower, then onto its network where it converts ALL the signals (voice and data) to IP packets. That means they can be carried essentially for free on the public internet. Great for data and good for voice. Then for voice calls, if needed, it routes them back onto mobile at the other end.

The buzz in the VoIP and telecom world is how unique and cheap this is. Unique it may be – at least in the US and with that level of coverage. But take a look at low-flyer cell company MetroPCS. Guess what – same deal for $50 per month – in place now and has been for a couple of years. Metro PCS does have one big downside though – they only have limited coverage across the US – great if you live in a MetroPCS city and don’t travel all over the place. Not so good otherwise.

The big question – will you be able to use an unlocked iPhone on the new ZERO1 service?