AfterDawn: News

Wal-Mart to begin selling iPhones

According to five employees of the cell-phone departments at Wal-Mart stores around the country, the giant retailer will become the second mass-market chain to sell the popular Apple iPhone starting this month.

The employees were contacted by Bloomberg and each said that they were currently being trained on how to sell the device.



In September, Best Buy began selling the device, making it the first mass-market retailer to do so. Before that point, the iPhone was only available direct from Apple or from AT&T stores.

Although unconfirmed by both Apple and Wal-Mart, BoyGeniusReport is saying that they have received a tip that Apple will make a 4GB model of the popular iPhone 3G available at the giant retailer for only $99 USD with 2-year contract.

Having the phone priced so low would make it readily available to most consumers, especially those that don't care so much about having tons of music or movies on their phone and also want to be able to go out and say "I have an iPhone!"

Apple initially sold a 4GB model of the 1st generation iPhone but dropped it from its lineup when it introduced a 16GB model. The 4GB models' price back then? $399 USD.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Dec 2008 1:03

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• 13 comments

• schneida

  its nice to read these articles as mal-wart continues on its quest for global domination.

  8.12.2008 02:37 #1

• SSSJDanny

  Originally posted by schneida: its nice to read these articles as mal-wart continues on its quest for global domination.true, i never go to walmart i forgot what video i saw about walmart, but as soon as i saw it i stopped going. Havent been there for 3+ years.

  8.12.2008 02:44 #2

• bryston

  The iPhone is going to be at a good price, but I'm afraid that the 2 year plan is going to be expensive
  
  Just my thoughts,
  
  Jo

  8.12.2008 02:52 #3

• ripxrush

  wtf i want my windows os for 49.99 WITHOUT buying system components!

  8.12.2008 03:10 #4

• manager2

  Walmart affiliate and big supporter of Apple at edited spam link ;) we have not heard this news yet but had a feeling it would happen since Walmart already carry the Apple iPods. There is still some great deals click online top seller theres too many deals to post all on the homepage. Go Apple we will be ready for the iPhone online when and if it comes.

  8.12.2008 03:39 #5

• bryston

  Originally posted by manager2: Walmart affiliate and big supporter of Apple at edited spam link ;) we have not heard this news yet but had a feeling it would happen since Walmart already carry the Apple iPods. There is still some great deals click online top seller theres too many deals to post all on the homepage. Go Apple we will be ready for the iPhone online when and if it comes.
  The link is a spam ad !

  8.12.2008 03:44 #6

• defgod

  This is nice and all. But I still believe that it would have been better for apple if the iPhone was on a carrier with better service in more areas. If they really plan to sell this at that price. It will be more for the everyday consumer. And there are many Walmart stores that might carry the phone but have no service in their area. I'm no fanboy of any carrier but in my experience I've had more coverage with Verizon anywhere east of the Mississippi than with any other carrier. Just my 2 cents.

  8.12.2008 11:54 #7

• djgizmo

  Dude, AT&T/Cinular has the largest GSM based footprint in the US, so they made a pretty good choice in that. In fact everyone except Sprint is moving to a GSM based 4g technology within the next couple years, so maybe in time Verizon will get a shot at the iphone, but till then AT&T is going to have domination.
  
  IF this is true about the $99 iphone, this will basically put a iphone in everyone's hands that's ever had a nokia, which will give Apple majority market share and AT&T a head start before 4g rolls out in a few years. Once 4g starts rolling out by Verizon, they'll have a tough battle on their hands.

  8.12.2008 12:04 #8

• vudoo

  I've thought about an iPhone especially when Streamerp2p goes java. When I'm on the road with my woman in areas where there is no good Rock stations I can whip out the iPhone and all is well. Speaking of cellular phone service I now have Alltel and I read that Verison is buying them out. Now I have a 2 yr contract and own a Motorola Razor and I'd like to think I'm not going to get screwed the same way when Sprint took over Nextel and suddenly reception of Nextel dropped and they tried to get me to switch to Sprint PCS which had a lessor coverage than Nextel. I sure hope Alltel won't suffer from the same symptoms as does Nextel when sprint bought them out.

  8.12.2008 14:34 #9

• nice12c

  Do they really think that people who can't afford the $200-$300 phone is going to buy a $99 phone when the cheapest package for the iPhone is $70 a month. If people can't afford the phone, then they sure can't afford the 2-year contract.

  8.12.2008 17:25 #10

• Shegax

  This is a step in the right direction. Now all we need is for Apple to Abolish it's exclusivity with At&t. With the abolishment, it would be able to open the market to everyone. This is a nice move...but still a baby step. Apple needs to hurry up before other manufacturers start making smart phones that are either #1 More attractive #2 Open to all carriers.
  
  I stand firm with the idea that being exclusive will end up being the crippling of the Iphone, the second something big comes from someone else.

  8.12.2008 22:40 #11

• salsa36

  Walmart shoppers won't be able to afford the contract anyway, even if they get a free Iphone.

  10.12.2008 09:40 #12

• damncrap

  Originally posted by djgizmo: Dude, AT&T/Cinular has the largest GSM based footprint in the US, so they made a pretty good choice in that. In fact everyone except Sprint is moving to a GSM based 4g technology within the next couple years, so maybe in time Verizon will get a shot at the iphone, but till then AT&T is going to have domination.
  
  IF this is true about the $99 iphone, this will basically put a iphone in everyone's hands that's ever had a nokia, which will give Apple majority market share and AT&T a head start before 4g rolls out in a few years. Once 4g starts rolling out by Verizon, they'll have a tough battle on their hands.
  True "AT&T/Cinular has the largest GSM based footprint in the US"
  But GSM is OLD technology I find it hard to believe that the other companies are switching to it. Infact Sprint and Verizon are supposedley going to have WCDMA which is WAAAY better than GSM 3G. Not to mention 3G is also old! Sprint and Verizon had their 3G networks a year before AT&T. They working on the 4G networks while AT&T are building up their 3G. Sprints WIMAX will be awesome also. As for Apple making AT&T their choice, they didnt choose? Apple put the phone up for bid. The Highest bidder got the exclusive rights to it. Do you really believe that because Sprint and Verizon are not GSM they can't have an Iphone working on their network? ALL it takes is for them to be a high bidder and apple would make a CDMA version. They where not interested. AT&T however need something to make them stand out.
  
  $99 Iphone is great and all but a $70 plan and no txt? WTF is that? what are we in the stone ages? Do you really have to bleed people of money that bad? atleast throw in 100 shoot.

  10.12.2008 11:17 #13