Walmart to Offer Unlimited, No Contract $45 Smartphone Plan

By Wolfgang Gruener
published

If you are aiming to cut down your smartphone cost, there may be an interesting new alternative at Walmart.

The retailer and Straight Talk are offering an all-you-can-eat voice and data plan for $45 per month. For $60, the companies offer included international calling to countries such as Mexico, Canada, and India. There is no contract required and the offer can now be applied to iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 models.

The catch: the plan does not include subsidies for a new phone. Customers will have to buy either a 16 GB iPhone 5 for $649 or an 8 GB iPhone 4 for $449. Walmart is offering free financing for both phones as long as customers own a Walmart credit card. The financing fee is $25 per month until the balance is paid in full. It will take a customer about 26 months to pay the phone off.

The bottom line is a $70 payment for the iPhone 5 for a little over two years, which is not as attractive anymore as $45, but you save yourself the $199 upfront device cost and you could pay only $45 per month after 26 months.

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Wolfgang Gruener
29 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ss202sl
    A $25 financing fee per month is a lot of money just in fees.
    Reply
  • cknobman
    ss202sl, you misread (although at first I did too, article is not clearly written).

    25*26 = $650 which is the cost of the phone (16GB). So the $25 is not fees .
    Reply
  • velosteraptor
    ss202slA $25 financing fee per month is a lot of money just in fees.
    the 25$ per month is the payment on the phone itself.. so after the 26 months you will have paid $650 for the phone. No interest. A pretty good deal in my mind.

    I think this is a pretty cool thing for walmart to do, as it will undoubtedly get more people onto the pay as you go scenario.

    I currently use straight talk, and i think its great. The one thing to mention though, it isnt really unlimited data. After 2GB, you will get a msg from them warning you to cut down on the data, and at a certain point they will severely throttle you down.


    Reply
  • guerrero
    I have Straight Talk and $45 for unlimited everything is B.A, Straight Talk uses Verizon towers so you get Verizon service
    Reply
  • ben850
    Anyone know why they list the iPhone 4 and 5 but not the 4s? This plan seems very attractive assuming they offer HSPA+ in my area.
    Reply
  • nebun
    such stupidity
    Reply
  • ta152h
    I'd consider it, but I don't want an iPhone, at all. Even if it were the best phone, which I think most people would agree it is not, the stigma of being an Apple Zombie would prevent me ever getting one of these phones.

    Much like I wouldn't wear a dress, I can't see myself getting an iPhone. It would involve self-loathing, sexual identity problems, lack of purpose in life, and possibly demonic possession. No thanks.

    Now, if it were $30 a month ...
    Reply
  • stratplaya
    This is going to cause headaches for the big carriers. Straight talk will allow you to swap out SIM cards thus bypassing the need for a new phone.
    Reply
  • sliem
    Get LG nexus4 and go with t-mobile $30/mo unlimited web.
    Only 100 minutes a mo but get groove ip pro ($5 one time fee) and it's free call using data.
    Total cost: $300 + tax + $5 (groove ip pro) and then $30 per month
    Cheaper than this.
    Reply
  • whiteodian
    I have been using StraightTalk since August on my old iPhone 3GS. I love. They use either TMo or ATT towers in my area. Unlimited everything. Good service here. I picked up the Nexus 4 recently. Here is the run down. ATT phone $200 + $2160 (2 years service @ $89 a month, I think I was paying closer to $100) = $2360. Nexus 4 @ $400 (taxes and shipping) + $1080 (2 years service @ $45 a month) = $1480. The savings... $880. Sticking it to the big carries for their gouging... priceless.
    Reply