Republic Wireless Opens $19 Unlimited Service to Everyone

Today, Republic Wireless, a new carrier offering a $19 per month unlimited smartphone plan, opened its service to everyone after months of limited beta testing. The plan includes unlimited voice, text and data and employs a hybrid technology that uses a Wi-Fi connection whenever possible for calls and data and then switches to Sprint’s 3G network when out of range. Republic currently only offers one smartphone, the Motorola Defy XT, which is available for preorder and costs $249 without contract plus a $10 activation fee. The phone is expected to ship in mid-December.