Mac News Network View: Standard | Headlines | Categorized | Slim
Mac News Network
Mac News iPod News Reviews Forums
445.15 ( + 3.01 )
 



RSS/XML Feeds | More



Desktop Headlines
Walmart adding iPhone to no-contract 'Straight Talk' service
Tuesday, January 8, 2013 @ 8:30pm

Walmart will add the iPhone 5 and iPhone 4 to no-contract Straight Talk unlimited plans, with no carrier subsidy, starting on January 11, the company says. More than 2,000 Walmart stores and the online corporate site will sell the iPhone 5 for $649 (16GB model only) and the iPhone 4 for $449 (8GB model only). Qualified buyers will be able to get a Walmart Credit Card that allows for the phone cost to be billed in $25 monthly increments.



The plans are contract-free with two basic options: $45 per month for unlimited US talk, text and data use, or $60 for the same plan with unlimited international calling. The $25-per-month financing option on the cost of the phone is a no-interest option, but does require qualifying for a Walmart Credit Card (which has no annual fee but does charge interest on carried debt). A buyer can also opt to pay the cost of the phone outright. The company says the Straight Talk plans and phone purchase will save consumers up to $950 per year compared with the cost of a conventional postpaid "unlimited" contract with traditional carriers such as AT&T or Verizon, though typical savings would generally be lower for most consumers. Walmart hasn't made clear if the iPhones are locked to Straight Talk Wireless or are sold unlocked (or can be unlocked once the phone has been paid off). Users can also bring their own existing unlocked iPhones to the Straight Talk service if desired. Apple itself sells the iPhone 5 16GB model for the same price unlocked and contract-free, allowing users to choose from any GSM-compliant carrier in the US or elsewhere in the world. The unlocked, contract-free iPhone 4 8GB model is also GSM-only, and sells direct from Apple for $450, $1 more than Walmart's price.

Comments on this Article
Print Friendly Version
Email to a Friend
Add MacNN to Your RSS Feeds
Buy from the Apple Store


Related Stories:

Most Recent Stories:

  • Google Labs functions found in Google Glass include a web browser - 5:37 PM EST
  • Leaked screenshots show update coming for web Gmail - 4:41 PM EST
  • Fresh off Tumblr buy, Yahoo said to bid for Hulu - 2:58 PM EST
  • Apple seeds eighth OS X 10.8.4 beta to developers - 7:30 PM EST
  • Motorola appeals dismissal of ITC complaint against Apple - 6:37 PM EST
  • TuneIn Radio 3.6 gets Live for iPhone, better interface, faster sync - 5:43 PM EST
  • Skycore enhances Passbook with MMS data delivery - 5:03 PM EST

    Today's iPodNN Stories:
  • Google Labs functions found in Google Glass include a web browser - 5:37 PM EST
  • Leaked screenshots show update coming for web Gmail - 4:41 PM EST
  • Fresh off Tumblr buy, Yahoo said to bid for Hulu - 2:58 PM EST
  • Briefly: Gmail for Android update leak, Chrome OS updates - 2:18 PM EST
  • Huawei Ascend P6 shown in range of colors, launch date leaked - 12:26 PM EST
  • No comments posted on this story yet. Please post yours.
    Your Comments
    In order to post comments, you must be a registered member of the MacNN Forums and logged in. Please login with your MacNN Forums username and password.

    MacNN Forums Login:

    MacNN Forums Password:

    Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

     
    Contact Us: News Tips | About/Advertising | Feedback

    XML | RSS | Slim | Avantgo | Mobile/PDAs | Headlines | JavaScript Feed
    Desktop Headlines
    | Search | Archives-

    Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com,
    Buy.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.

    Copyright ©1995-2005 MacNN (Mac News Network). All rights reserved. Privacy Policy