BENTONVILLE, ARK.—
Walmart is rolling out its
first prepaid 4G plan.
Offered through T-Mobile, the plan provides
unlimited data and text and 100 minutes of voice
for $30 a month.
The plan, which joins Walmart Family Mobile,
another prepaid program by the carrier, launched
Oct. 16 and will be sold exclusively through
Walmart’s stores and website, and at
.
Customers will be allotted up to 5GB of data
over T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network, but throughput
will be throttled back to 2G speeds thereafter
for the remainder of the month.
Voice is priced at 10 cents per minute after the
first 100-minute allotment.
As part of the rollout, Walmart is doubling its TMobile
handset assortment from three to six models,
including the chain’s first prepaid 4G phone.
The T-Mobile programs join Walmart’s other
exclusive prepaid plan Straight Talk, which provides
unlimited talk, text and data for $45 a month
through TracFone.
Walmart said 60 percent of its customers cited
access to a high-speed data network as a key factor
in the purchase of a wireless service plan.
“Walmart is proud to offer our customers fast
and affordable mobile options, especially as texting
and social networking become a regular form
of communication,” said Seong Ohm, recently
named senior entertainment VP, Walmart U.S.
“Together with our suppliers we continue to ensure
the products our customers want and need
— from the latest smartphone and TV to groceries
and toys – are available at every-day low prices.”
Amy McCune, national retail VP at T-Mobile
USA, said the plan will help meet burgeoning demand
for prepaid service, which is expected to
double by 2015.
“T-Mobile is thrilled to offer this exclusive, affordable
service plan, designed specifically with
heavy text and data users in mind,” she said.