Wal-Mart begins no-contract cell phone service

Wal-Mart begins no-contract cell phone service
Wal-Mart is set to launch Straight Talk this week, a no-contract cell phone service that will be available from 3200 Wal-Mart stores nationwide.

The phones and services will be available on Sunday.



There will be two options for the prepaid service, either $30 USD a month for 1000 minutes and 1000 texts or $45 USD for unlimited minutes and texts.

The service will run on Verizon's network and will be a direct competitor to Boost and Metro PCS which have slowly built a decent subscriber base over the past few years.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Oct 2009 14:44
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  • 20 comments
  • slickwill

    Wal-Mart is gong to have their hand in every type of business/service eventually....LOL

    Does this sound like a sweet deal compared to other services?

    15.10.2009 15:50 #1

  • MightyOne

    It would be nice if it came to Canada, as we get SCREWED up here with more corporate greed !!!

    15.10.2009 16:30 #2

  • xnmalletx

    Is that unlimited data too? That is what the poster implies on the left.

    15.10.2009 18:01 #3

  • llongtheD

    I guess the question would be how much are the phones themselves to use with the plan? If they don't rape you on the price of the phone, it seems like it could be competitive.

    15.10.2009 19:26 #4

  • fgamer

    If you ask me Unlimited Text and Minutes is a bet for $45. Looks like Wal-Mart is really setting the standard for where to get good deals. I'm no big fan of Wal-Mart but damn, they know how to go after the competition, so to me that works out best for all of us - at least in the US :) So I would like to thank Wal-Mart for preparing to spank the competition..but I would also like to say shame on Wal-Mart for treating your employees like sweat shop workers. So I love and hate Wal-Mart all at the same time. Wal-Mart good if you're a customer ..bad if you're an employee!!

    15.10.2009 19:27 #5

  • bbbob

    Originally posted by llongtheD: I guess the question would be how much are the phones themselves to use with the plan? If they don't rape you on the price of the phone, it seems like it could be competitive.
    there between $30 and $150 from what i've seen

    15.10.2009 20:25 #6

  • TBandit

    wow they got me intrested, 45$ for unlimited text,data and minutes? there must be an asterik somewhere

    15.10.2009 23:53 #7

  • llongtheD

    Just what I was thinking TBandit.
    If bbbob's phone prices are right, it would be a good deal. Remember since its no contract they can raise the prices at any time. They'll probably just open up another Chinese slave labor factory, to build the phones, like they have for their other goods they sell here in the U.S.
    Anyone interested in Walmarts business practices should check out the documentary, "Walmart, the high cost of low price."

    If your fish seems sick, put it back in the water.

    16.10.2009 03:04 #8

  • karemeli

    I checked the website and the details for the $45 plan is
    30 Day Plan
    Unlimited Minutes & Unlimited Text Messages Nationwide
    30 MB of Data (on data enabled phones)
    Calls to 411 at no additional charge

    and the small print states that "Straight Talk is a service of Tracfone Wireless, Inc."

    16.10.2009 09:42 #9

  • slickwill

    Originally posted by karemeli: .... the small print states that "Straight Talk is a service of Tracfone Wireless, Inc."LOL....I own and use a Motorola Tracfone.

    Also, if you look read the terms and conditions on the website it saids that the minutes/data/text for the $35 plan does not roll over.

    16.10.2009 09:54 #10

  • m3_chris

    Quote:Originally posted by karemeli: .... the small print states that "Straight Talk is a service of Tracfone Wireless, Inc."LOL....I own and use a Motorola Tracfone.

    Also, if you look read the terms and conditions on the website it saids that the minutes/data/text for the $35 plan does not roll over.
    Only one company does rollover, so it's no surprise that they don't.

    Small print about service of trackphone... does not matter, since it uses Verizon Wireless's network. Check out the coverage it's awesome. I am a Verizon wireless dealer, and it sure looks like a great deal. Does not appear that you can use your own phone though if you already have a nicer one.

    16.10.2009 19:45 #11

  • LaurenL

    This is a great plan. I have been using the 45bucks plan for 3 months now and the coverage is great. No surprises - it's through Verizon.
    The data used to be only 30mb but now seems to be unlimited as well. They've also got more phones available now so it's looking better all the time.

    19.10.2009 16:34 #12

  • MNMCT

    There are 2 plans: $30=1000 min. 1000 text 30MB mobile Web access. Nationwide Coverage-not sure exactly what this means yet. $45=unlimited minutes, unlimited text and unlimited data (web access). There are 3 phones as of now: LG220C is $30, LG 290C $80 & Samsung Qwerty R451 $100. You can use your existing number. You have to cancel your contract with your current company and ask them to release or port your number. Keep in mind you will more than likely have to pay a huge cacellation fee if you have not fulfilled your contract. When you call to activate your Straight Talk phone tell them up front that you are using your old number, otherwise you could cancel your $45 card by switching numbers after activation. Look into what Nationwide Coverage means. You have to reload you account before the 30 days expire or give a CC# to have continuous service. I've seen nothing that touches this plan. It's a great deal now and will only get better as Wal-Mart figures out that the majority of people are interested in saving money. They will accomodate their customers-they always do. Wal-Mart is about making our lives easier and allowing us to afford more for our money. So what if they are making a fortune doing that. That's the name of the game isn't it? And if they put the other companies out of business I think it will serve them right. They've been ripping us off for years. For more info look at http://www.straighttalk.com/

    20.10.2009 00:16 #13

  • scum101

    http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

    20.10.2009 00:27 #14

  • llongtheD

    @MNMCT
    So it doesn't bother you how many slaves they have employed in China and other countries, as long as you get a good deal?
    Thats a fact my ignorant friend, do your research.
    As far as you commenting you don't care how many people they put out of business, see if you stick with that when they are your only choice.
    I guess from what you say Walmart is our corporate saviour, the good corporation among all the bad, huh?
    When I read posts like yours it makes me wonder if people really only have enough forethought for just their next purchase.
    Shame on walmart for treating their emloyees, and the slaves they have working in third world countries so poorly, and no, I'm not a walmart employee.
    Then again, I guess you probably wouldn't consider someone a slave who lives in a "dorm" in China, and is forced to work 16 hour days to feed themselves a slave.

    20.10.2009 01:16 #15

  • MNMCT

    I can't help that China's labor laws aren't as cushy as the US. Where do you shop that does not carry items made in China? I posted my comments to inform people that were considering purchasing this plan trying to be helpful. I don't think a handful of people boycotting Wal-Mart is going to put them out of business. I shop there for convenience and because the Walton's are friends of my family. My cell phone from my previous provider was a Nokia. The one before that was a Samsung. My guess is those were not made in the US. How do we know that these aren't made in sweat shops? What brand are the electronics in your home? In your car? Your clothing & shoes? Your dishes & appliances? Just because you purchase somewhere else doesn't mean it wasn't made in a sweat shop.

    20.10.2009 07:21 #16

  • inagasake

    I'm still using one of those cheap pre-paid plans since I don't use my cell much but this seems like it could be a sweet deal for most cell users. Wal-Mart is evil but the same can be said for most corporations out there. Publicly-traded corporations are pretty much evil by default since the shareholders want greater and greater returns no matter the human cost. Joe stockholder (who may very well be a middle-class member of society) doesn't care if X multi-national corporation uses child sweat shop labor or even slaves. He just wants his stocks to go up so he can send his kids to college. Capitalism by default is evil and we're all part of the problem because we're not willing to get rid of our greed, materialism, etc. for the common good. A nihilistic way of looking at things but it's the truth.

    20.10.2009 17:51 #17

  • phoneman2

    Personally i think walmart is doing a really good thing for the rest of us. This plan is amazing. $45 for unlimited everything, to complain about this would be idiotic. the service is great the network is great. Either start saving or start falling behind the rest of us.

    tan man

    31.10.2009 13:18 #18

  • david87

    Went to WalMart and signed up for Straight Talk. I've been using the service for several months now, and I am extremely pleased. I never have coverage issues, and my phone's great. Typically I could tell which people had prepaid phones and those who didn't but these phones are so mainstream that you can't even differentiate anymore. I have the $45/mo. unlimited plan which in my opinion is a bargain. The lack of a binding contract keeps me assured that I can cancel my service at any time if I have a problem. But so far so good, and I absolutely recommend!

    30.1.2010 22:47 #19

  • georgiafaith (unverified)

    I love the phone service its great. thank you

    26.9.2010 10:00 #20

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