Low-cost phone carrier TextNow is upgrading its network to be faster and farther reaching. As part of the upgrade, it has launched a new video calling feature that allows users to chat face to face with anyone, even those who receive wireless service from a different provider.

Like other mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), TextNow does not actually operate its own towers, but rents space on someone else's network. Formerly, that someone was Sprint, but since it merged with T-Mobile last year, it no longer exists, and as T-Mobile prepares to shut down Sprint's CDMA-based network, carriers like TextNow are forced to look for new partners.

TextNow has not officially revealed which one currently provides wireless service, only that it is a GSM-based carrier. This narrows it down considerably, and it seems likely that TextNow will simply move its business to T-Mobile. This is good news for TextNow's customers, as the Uncarrier's network is faster and has a wider coverage than Sprint's.

There are other practical benefits as well: with the transition to a GSM-based carrier, TextNow will lower the cost of its SIM cards from $9.99 to $4.99. GSM SIMs will be available on more phones and could be used on Sprint's network in It will be available on approximately 75% of handsets in the U.S., compared to 25% on Sprint's network.

In addition to moving to the new carrier, TextNow will launch a video calling service reminiscent of Apple's FaceTime, with FaceTime adding a web-based interface to bring Android and Windows users into the video chat as well, TextNow's version only requires knowing the other party's cell phone number to invite them to a face-to-face chat.

Enter the number into the TextNow app (Android, iOS) and tap the video call icon instead of the regular phone icon. If the person you are calling does not use TextNow, you will receive a text message in their phone's web browser with a link to open the video chat interface.

I tested TextNow video chat on my own iPhone 12 using a SIM loaned to me by my carrier. I was able to make a video call to my wife's Verizon-based phone, and the video chat looked pretty sharp on my end. (My wife did notice a lag between video and audio, but that may have been a quirk of our network connection.)

We called TextNow a low-cost network, but it might be more accurate to call it a "no-cost" network instead. The carrier's entry-level plan includes free calling and texting via the TextNow app and data over Wi-Fi; TextNow's service is ad-supported and costs $9.99 per month to turn off the ads. If you need data via cellular, you can pay $20 per month for 2GB. This compares somewhat favorably to T-Mobile's 2.5GB Simple Connect plan ($15/month), but loses out to the best Mint Mobile plan, which offers 10GB of data for $20/month.

Still, with video calling now part of TextNow's service, we could see this carrier make a play for inclusion in the best cheap phone plans.

TextNow's move to a GSM network covers only LTE coverage, but a spokesperson told us that those with 5G-enabled phones will be able to pick up the parent company's 5G network where it is available. (Again, if this is about T-Mobile, this is good news, as T-Mobile's 5G currently has the widest coverage of any carrier.) TextNow hopes to expand access to 5G to more customers in the future.