T-Mobile launches MyFaves

Nicole Lee Writer

I started my career with CNET all the way back in 2005, when the (original) Motorola Razrs were all the rage. Since then, I've written about everything from consumer electronics to internet culture for outlets like CNET, Engadget and Yahoo. Outside of work, I'm a big fan of baseball, board games, tabletop RPGs and improv comedy.

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Nicole Lee

Oct. 2, 2006 3:17 p.m. PT

T-Mobile released MyFaves today, a new cell phone software package that the company refers to as a new "wireless communication experience." MyFaves lets you have up to five photos or icons that illustrate your five most favorite people on the phone's home screen, and here's the kicker: You can get unlimited nationwide any-network calling to any of those five people, even if they're on another network or on a landline. However, there will be a monthly fee; starting at $39.99 per month for individuals or $69.99 per month for families. And you can change each of the five people only once per calendar month. Also, not all phones will be compatible with the service; presumably because the device would have to support the MyFaves user interface, though T-Mobile plans to have most of its phones MyFaves compatible by the end of the year.

This concept isn't entirely new. Alltel has had a similar My Circle service for a while now, which lets you add up to 10 friends in an unlimited any-network plan. Alltel is a regional carrier, though, making T-Mobile the first national carrier to have this type of service. All of which begs the question: if you really call only five people on a regularly...

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