AfterDawn: News

Wal-Mart starts own wireless plan

Wal-Mart has introduced their own wireless plan today, using Wal-Mart branding.

The Wal-Mart Family Mobile service will run on the T-Mobile USA network, with the giant retailer giving users unlimited calling and texts for $45 per month, and $25 for each additional line in the family.



Wal-Mart will begin offering the service next week in most of its stores.

Starting in 2009, the retailer began selling the Straight Talk and Common Cents services, which run through Verizon and Sprint. The difference, however, is both those services are prepaid plans.

Family Mobile is like a traditional "contract" cell plan, with families being billed at the end of each month, however there is no set amount of contract months.

The cheapest phone available for the service will be a Nokia for $35, with the most expensive being the Motorola Cliq XT, for $249.

Family Mobile users will only get a small amount of free Internet data, with each extra 1GB costing a massive $40.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Sep 2010 22:29

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• 3 comments

• KillerBug

  "Family Mobile is like a traditional "contract" cell plan, with families being billed at the end of each month, however there is no set amount of contract months.
  
  The cheapest phone available for the service will be a Nokia for $35, with the most expensive being the Motorola Cliq XT, for $249."
  
  ...So it is like a traditional contract plan without the contract, or in other words, it is not like a contract plan at all. That is like saying it is like a traditional glass of water, minus the water.
  
  Every company offers contract-free services like this...the difference is that they ALSO offer the contract plans, as a way of allowing for discounts on new phones. There are no such discounts on new phones with the new walmart plan; their $250 "top of the line" model is free on tmobile with a contract, and only $190 without. Considering the fact that this is just tmobile, with higher costs and fewer options, it is clear that many stupid people will buy into this, making it a huge success. There should really be more laws against inbreeding, WalMart's profits be damned.

  14.9.2010 04:51 #1

• attar

  To take part in this scam it's helpful if you have an extra Y chromosome and agree to be micro-chipped.

  14.9.2010 08:25 #2

• Semperfipal

  I've been a Straight Talk customer for 10 months now. Best cell phone and service I've ever had, and I have experience with them all. We utilize the $45 a month unlimited plan. Never had a dropped call, great texting, and no roaming charges. Downside is it only works in the U.S., including Alasaka, not sure about Hawaii. I have sons in Alaska, and I live in the lower 48 so I know it works. Mobil Web Browser sucks, is slow, but it does work. Best thing is no contract, auto billing to my credit card every month. I don't see how Walmart family plan can compete with this. Maybe the smart phone is hook, but not for me.

  14.9.2010 21:36 #3