Unlimited pre-paid for $20 p/month

Republic Wireless to offer you talk, text and data all for $20 a month. Watch out Metro PCS. Read full story after the jump.

The company, a part of Bandwidth.com, uses a technology that is embedded in some Android smartphones similar to UMA. This technology allows users to make phone calls over Wi-Fi. Outside of the Wi-Fi area, calls will be run over Sprint’s cellular network using minutes bought in bulk by Republic Wireless. The company is negotiating with other carriers as well.

The advantages to this service are clear, but there are some caveats. You are locked into the use of one specific Android model, described as an entry level LG Optimus One which will automatically switch the phone back and forth between Wi-Fi and a 3G network. You will be able to use Wi-Fi for both talk and text and there will be no contract to sign which means no Teremination Fees but also means no subsidized new handsets. You can leave your email at the sourcelink to receive a notification and a special offer when the service is ready to rollout.

Republic Wireless will probably not draw many customers away from the top four U.S. carriers. Customers of AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile usually are those who don’t mind locking in for 2 years of higher priced service in exchange of paying less for the latest and greatest device. Instead, the $20 unlimited monthly pan could put a dent in pre-paid carriers like MetroPCS.