I once had two accounts. One blue and one red. I still have the blue. 6 months service so far. It fits my needs. The red account was problematic and I ultimately cancelled it within the 100 days although getting the refund took some effort. I think there would be more interest if the blue service wasn't the only somewhat reliable choice. At this point, however, the only way I would sign up for the red network again it if it would be offered with the original terms. Having to pay a yearly fee would kill it for me.
First. I'd like thank all of you here for taking time to discuss FreeMii. I've learned more in the last 24hours reading each post than I probably have in the past 24 months. So again. Thank you all.
I'd also like to offer context and answers to a few of the frequent issues raised and give a status update on FreeMii.
Our north star is the belief that access to the internet should be free. Hopefully you all agree. We're working to make that happen starting(but not ending) with FreeMii.
Regarding speeds. Unfortunately, speeds and network performance are set and established by the respect mobile network operators. The pro is that we since we do not bear the responsibility, we also do not have the costs of maintaining networks.
Beta networks. Red and Pink currently have their limited thresholds between 9-12 gigs. This is a safeguard against excessive consumption while these networks are still in partial support. We've built out handling for higher capacity lines (~18-20gigs) and will slowly begin upgrading beta users for this support. Excited about it.
Blue. This network is our feature network and likely will be longterm going forward.
For pricing. We've been testing quite a bit. We'll likely settle on the $249 -$299 range for DataPlus. With annual renewal ($99-$149). Discounts on family packs.The offer without the annual renewal was a bit too unconscionable for potential customers. This is why we've added renewals. Instead of the current FreeMii Membership sold separately as a purchase requirement, we'll offer our FreeMii Data Club membership separately merely as an option. Similar to Prime. You heard it here first.
Capped? Ehh. TBH we do not view the current consumption thresholds for the beta networks or any deprioritization with the blue network as a cap. Reason being, we reserve full discretion to recycle member lines at any time. While early recycles are still manual (by choice) we can automate it. The new handling with higher data capacity for lines on these beta networks will ensure we won't need early recycles and your experience will be uninterrupted.
Porting. We've restored porting. We actually only prohibited porting for 3 weeks or so late last year. We were hoping to streamline activations since carriers have legacy backend systems from the many mergers decades ago. Brought back porting for all networks in early December. Decided to keep doing the hard things.
In all this we are studying best use cases and consumption trends to leverages for additional efficiencies and economies of scale.
I should note our target segments are families and students. Moderate to slightly above average consumption (4-11 gigs monthly) will yield the best experience. Renewals make it easier to communicate our wholesale membership structure (costco - prime - sams club) to our targets.
I appreciate you all testing parameters and finding limitations, many of which i wasn't even aware. You all in this thread are more technically inclined than our target segment. For power users perhaps our Data Pro and Data Pro Plus service options will suit your needs and expectations. No time line on these options though. We're focusing on FreeMii enabled devices.
Shoot your questions or feedback.
Cheers
-Dave
If you could please get me in on one of those high capacity lines you are talking about for my pink sim I would appreciate it. As you can see from this thread I've run into plenty of issues with the current 10gb cap. And whilst you say you can manually extend data past 10gb customer service were unable to get it to stick for mine. 18-20gb would be perfect. Happy to provide feedback on the upgrade.
Really glad to see you here, I see your new ads on FB, but I never see any responses to comments there. I've answered some questions there, and sang your praises. There is a subreddit, but it's not very active. The one thing I see consistently is skepticism over the term "free". I understand what you mean when you say it, but I think it may raise a "red flag" or "scam alert" reaction from some. I got in at the $149 price point, which is great. I know that that price point is not sustainable, and that you had to raise the entry price. From the comments I've seen, I think you're at about the max now. Any higher, and I don't think you'll get many bites.
As an aside, just out of curiosity, how many active memberships as of now?
I say give Monika S. a big raise, she is a very hard worker in regards to online communications with customers. I recommend going back to the Pay one time membership fee for LIFE, get rid of the annual renewal fee because it's rather depressing. Thanks
David has been sorting me out with this double data upgrade on my pink sim. Thank you David and support for your efforts. It took about 4 days and my data didn't resume right away but it works now. Hopefully I won't run into any more data stoppages now.
Thanks again David and team.
Just an update. After my pink sim upgrade expecting 18-20gb. Thought all was well but I just got the dreaded out of data message again. Made it to 11.61gb which is a couple of GB more than normal but still well short of the supposed limit. 
Edit. They have me back up and running now within 24 hours. Thanks freemii team. Hopefully just a one off glitch.
Glitched again for a day but freemii got me back up and running again. Will see if I can make it past 15gb this month. Customer service team and David have been great throughout. I was expecting some glitches as it is new for them but hopefully it will settle down now.
OK, so I see that the Membership/Data Plus plan has changed to $299. I can't find the renewal charges. Is it now $299/year?
Yes it says somewhere $299 a year. You save a little vs the next cheapest 20gb att yearly plan but lose some features like hotspot. Tmo and verizon are overpriced at $299 with the limitations they have on freemii.
This is quickly smelling like a Ponzi scheme.
Who is the audience for this at these prices?
A no name company wants money up front where you don't save much if anything?
I am glad some nthcircle members got some use before the seemingly inevitable collapse.
Perhaps not so much of a Ponzi scheme, but a significant mis-reading of the marketplace for their earlier offers.
If their average customer used 3-5 GB/mo, something close to the second FreeMi offer might have been sustainable. (The pricing structure with a relatively reasonable sign-up and relatively reasonable annual renewal fee.) But, the inherent risk factor of paying upfront didn't encourage 'average' data users to take the risk-- the payoff period was too long for a company with no visible track record.
The folks inclined to take the risk were those who used significantly higher data, because the at-risk period was considerably shorter.
So, they attracted primarily people who saw a shorter pay-off, and they used more data than the 'average' user. That set off the inevitable chain reaction of needing to raise prices to serve FreeMi's 'average' user, rather than the overall marketplace's 'average' user.
Unless you are a savvy user, we are forced into higher data usage just to access internet websites and mms.
They are still the cheapest att annual plan with over 20gb data. So there is that. I suggest they lower the prices of the other two networks considering the extra limitations. As well as come up with more perks of being a member. Else what is the point of a membership fee.
Personally I think they are just trying to find their feet rather than being a scam. Though I agree optics don't look good.
Just read a post from a guy on Reddit that FreeMii is "asking for money" from him to renew his plan that he got under the early days of one single payment for life. Anyone else getting hit up? I'm trying to get more details from him.
I doubt that is true and if it is that would be a mistake one email to Monika would fix. I have emails from them confirming I will never be charged anything. And I joined much later. They would have to have joined very early for the renewal to apply already. Perhaps the terms were different back then? I don't know. Keep us posted please.
I agree, just wanted to see if anyone else had heard anything. I also have the email from CS that I wouldn't be charged. thanks.
Reddit has such trustworthy members.
Sigh!!!
Unfortunately, it's true.
I registered in August of last year when it was still unlimited, no yearly renewal, and received a text message on Friday saying that i needed to reload funds on my account as the billing date was coming up and would face suspension otherwise.
I don't even know how you go about doing that... but that's besides the point...