Walmart To Stoke Q4 Cellular Competition
By Joseph Palenchar -- TWICE, 10/15/2009
Bentonville, Ark. - Walmart, which already sells TracFone-branded prepaid cellular on a nationwide basis, will now add Straight Talk-brand prepaid services, also provided byTracFone, on an exclusive basis beginning Oct. 18.
A $30/month Straight Talk plan offers 1,000 voice minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of mobile Web access nationwide with free 411 calls. An unlimited 30-day plan at $45/month offers unlimited voice, text and Web access nationally, also with free 411 calls. The plans, which will also be available at Walmart.com and StraightTalk.com, follow a successful 234-store pilot program that began last summer, Walmart said.
By switching to the $30 Straight Talk plan, the company contended, "the average 1,000 minutes-per-month consumer could save more than $500 per year and still be on a reliable [Verizon Wireless] nationwide network."
To extend service, consumers will buy monthly refill cards at Walmart or buy online at Walmart.com or StraightTalk.com. Phones tied to the service include an entry-level LG 220 flip phone at $39.98, LG Slider 290 at $79.98 and Samsung 451 with QWERTY keyboard at $99.88.
For now, the service is branded only as "Straight Talk, exclusively at Walmart" in ads, "but there is discussion about packaging changes in the future that will include the Walmart branding," a spokesperson said.
Walmart also offers TracFone's Net10-branded prepaid service.
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Hmmm, the comment system completely mangled that one...
Jason Pearce - 2009-20-10 18:38:46 EDT -
However it may be, this is sure to generate some competition. I think its actually a welcome announcement for consumers who have been hard-hit lately.
And let's face it, we are all of the opinion that we are paying too much for cell service anyway.
The Straight Talk deals are outstanding, not just for the low pricing, but also because of the reliable, nationwide coverage it enjoys. In contrast, many of the cheaper regional prepaid carriers suffer from network problems or high roaming costs.
So, thumbs up for this deal between Wal-Mart and Tracfone.
Jason Pearce - 2009-20-10 18:34:48 EDT -
Dear straight talk (or whomever you are):
Not sure what article you're referring to. Certainly not the one above. It NEVER says Walmart is doing anything other than selling the service; it SAYS it's available directly from Straight Talk; and it SAYS Walmart's been selling them since the summer in 234 stores.
Did you even bother to read it?
Yosh Schmenge - 2009-20-10 17:15:12 EDT -
Funny how all these articles with WRONG information have popped up all over the place. Walmart has nothing to do with Straight Talk other than Selling them. In fact, you can buy them directly from ST. The other strange thing is that these phones have been available since July. For factual information, please visit: www.saveonprepaidphones.com/Straight_Talk_Prepaid_Cell_Phone
straight talk - 2009-16-10 20:47:58 EDT
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