There’s now a low-cost wireless carrier here in the United States that’s willing to accept your bitcoin, litecoin, and yes, even dogecoin to pay for cellular service.
They are RingPlus, and chances are you haven’t heard of them before.
The Los Angeles-based provider offers wireless plans from $1.99 to $33.00 per month, and says they aren’t in the business of selling cellular phones. Rather, they’re responsible for the coverage, and the end user can use any Sprint-approved device on their network (which if you haven’t guessed, appears to piggyback on Sprint’s wireless infrastructure).
“We listened to our members who are asking for alternative ways to pay their bill, and are extremely satisfied to be leading the charge – so to speak,” said RingPlus CEO Karl Seelig.
It’s all coming together in partnership with nearby GoCoin, who operates out of lovely Santa Monica, California. Members of the service use their digital monies to “top-up” their wireless allowance.
“We’re excited to be partnering with GoCoin, as we can now accept not one but three of the major new virtual currencies. This kind of diversity of choice is great for RingPlus’ members as well as the wireless industry in general,” Seelig said.
The move makes RingPlus the first in the United States to take such a step, which will certainly please members of the bitcoin community.
“Accepting popular coins as a form of payment directly aligns with how the millennial generation wants to take control of their money,” said Steve Beauregard, GoCoin co-founder and chief executive officer. “RingPlus clearly understands this trend and has taken the innovative steps to embrace what digital currency have to offer.”
While RingPlus may be the first in the United States to accept bitcoin, they aren’t the first in the world. Late last year, it was announced that European mobile carrier ‘Mobile Vikings’ had begun accepting the digital currency. A few weeks later, we learned that over 100 customers had used bitcoin to top-up.
Do you think the trend will take off in the wireless industry?
[textmarker color=”C24000″]Image[/textmarker] Vasile Cotovanu
