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‘Zact’ launches customizable, no-contract data plans on Sprint, coming to iOS soon

Earlier this month we told you that Verizon-backed ItsOn, a company building software for carriers that provides users with dynamic pricing plans on mobile devices, was planning on introducing a new mobile service that takes advantage of its software. Today ItsOn has officially announced Zact, a mobile service that provides flexible, adjustable data plans that allows users to pay for only what they use, customize voice, text, and data plans in real-time at any time, and share data on an unlimited amount of devices:

-Consumers are able to create their own unique mix of talk, text and data, and can even forgo buying a data plan altogether to instead buy an app-specific data plan for maximum savings.
-Customize your amount of voice, text and data right from your device, and adjust it any time
-‘Never Overpay Guarantee’ with automatic credit back to a plan that would have saved you money if a bigger plan was unnecessarily purchased
-True sharing that lets you allocate a custom plan of any size to as many devices as you wish
-Remote parental control on kids phones to set curfews, apps and contact restrictions
-Access to specialized plans including app-specific plans, one-time top-ups and international long distance

In the video above we get a good look at how ItsOn’s software makes it easy for users to manage their flexible data plans and share data with others.

The service will initially be available to preorder with the LG Viper 4G LTE and LG Optimus Elite starting today on Zact’s website. Surprisingly, the Zact service will be available only in the US on Sprint’s 4G network and not Verizon’s as originally expected.

Although the service and ItsOn software is currently being limited to select Android devices, we’ve noted before that plans for iOS are already believed to be underway.

Zact Debuts Industry’s First Smart Mobile Service

‘Never Overpay Guarantee’ on Voice, Text, and Data

Includes Adjustable Plans From Device, True Sharing, Data-by-the-App, and Built-In Parental Controls

May 13, 2013, Redwood City, CA – Zact, the industry’s first smart mobile service provider, made its debut today giving people a whole new level of freedom, control, and flexibility over their voice, text and data services.  Zact started out with a simple premise: In today’s world of innovative smartphones, exciting apps, and fast data connection speeds – people want wireless service that is flexible, adjustable and gives them exactly what they need.  People are often frustrated by expensive one-size-fits-all plans and mobile phone subsidies that lock them into two-year contracts.  People don’t want to waste money on overage penalties or forfeiture of unused minutes or data. Also, people want to affordably share their minutes and data among more devices added to their account.

To solve this problem, Zact was created.  With Zact, consumers get a smart mobile service powered by technology from Zact’s parent company, ItsOn, which has a cloud-based software platform for delivering unprecedented levels of freedom and flexibility.  Consumers are able to create their own unique mix of talk, text and data, and can even forgo buying a data plan altogether to instead buy an app-specific data plan for maximum savings.   Zact was created to give people what they want and solve pain points, especially as people add more devices or family members to their account.  Zact delivers the following:

•               Customize your amount of voice, text and data right from your device, and adjust it any time

•               ‘Never Overpay Guarantee’ with automatic credit back to a plan that would have saved you money if a bigger plan was unnecessarily purchased

•               True sharing that lets you allocate a custom plan of any size to as many devices as you wish

•               Remote parental control on kids phones to set curfews, apps and contact restrictions

•               Access to specialized plans including app-specific plans, one-time top-ups and international long distance

Easily and Quickly Adjust

With Zact, you can easily and quickly adjust your plan right from your device.  If you need more talk, text, or data, Zact will let you know and with two taps you’ll be able to get more of what you need with no penalties.  You will never be charged without your explicit consent so there are never overages or surprises.

Never Overpay Guarantee

And, you never have to worry about overpaying because with Zact you automatically get money credited back to your account on the plan increment that would have fit you best.  This means no need to worry about paying for too much voice, text or data because you will always end up with the plan level that is exactly right based on your actual usage.

Truly Sharable

There is no need to buy a big expensive sharing plan.  Any plan is sharable with Zact.  There is no limit to the number of Zact-enabled devices you can add to your account.  Once added, you have the option to easily allocate and customize the amount of voice, text and data you assign for each person or device on your account. Outside of a nominal $4.99 monthly maintenance charge per each device, there are no additional fees for sharing and no need for separate amounts of voice, text and data per device.

Parental Control

With Zact, parents can easily set parental controls. Control features include the ability to set curfew, block access to browsers, restrict apps and contacts.  Now there’s no more worry about late night texting, too much video game playing, or having to confiscate a child’s device. The controls to limit a child’s access can be directly managed from the parent’s Zact device, which means it’s like having a remote control of your kids’ device.

Specialized Plans

Zact will also allow customers to buy one-off specialized plans.  Need a international long distance plan?  Or rather skip a data plan, and have individual data just for specific apps at a low price?  Zact gives you specialized plans right on your device, so you can be selective and buy only what you need.

Today, the average spend per person in the U.S. on wireless services is $93 per month, according to Nielsen Research – which also states the average person uses 644 voice minutes per month, sends and receives 764 texts per month. In addition the average person in the U.S. utilizes approximately 500 MB of data per month. With Zact, the cost of service that would suit the average person would be approximately $31 per month, with is 3X less than what people typically pay.  Even after purchasing an unsubsidized device from Zact, the average smartphone user can still expect to save as much as $1,275 over a two-year period.  Families sharing a plan can expect to save even more.

“Our goal is to give mobile consumers freedom, flexibility and control of their wireless service right from their device.  With Zact, no contract is just the beginning – you can create your own unique plan and share it with anyone,” said Greg Raleigh, founder and CEO of ItsOn, parent company of Zact.  “You get exactly what you want, and you never have to pay more than you need due to our Never Overpay Guarantee. It’s the ultimate unplan.”

Zact is initially available for pre-order on the LG Viper 4g LTE and LG Optimus Elite Android based smartphones.  The phones are unsubsidized and priced at $399 and $199 respectively. The Zact service is available in the U.S. and runs on the Sprint Nationwide Network with 4G/LTE coverage where available and free domestic roaming. Go to Zact.com web site for more information or to place a pre-order beginning May 13, 2013. Devices with Zact service are expected to ship in June 2013.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.