Wal-Mart to offer no-contract cellphone service

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is launching a no-contract wireless service called Straight Talk. The service offers a $30 or a $45 prepaid monthly plan and will be exclusively available at more than 3,200 Wal-Mart stores nationwide starting Sunday.

The $30 monthly plan includes 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts, 30MB of mobile Web access, nationwide coverage and 411 calls at no extra charge. The average U.S. adult spends $78 a month for 1,000 minutes, according to Wal-Mart, and this plan would save him or her more than $500 a year.

The $45 monthly plan includes unlimited minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited mobile Web access, nationwide coverage and unlimited 411 calls.

Straight Talk was developed with TracFone Wireless, and a pilot program was launched last summer in 234 Wal-Mart stores. "In light of the savings customers continue to need, we have worked very quickly to extend this offering to all of our Wal-Mart customers nationwide, and just before the holidays," said Greg Hall, Wal-Mart vice president of Media Services.

Consumers can buy plans and refill their monthly balances at Wal-Mart or online at www.walmart.com or www.StraightTalk.com.

-- Melissa Rohlin

Comments

[Joanna]

This is incredible news. A marriage of retail and wireless. I've had StraightTalk since shortly after it came out on the market and I'm very happy with the service which is so good I suppose because it runs on the Verizon network. What I'm interested in learning is whether I'll be able to still buy minutes online now that Walmart is running the show.

[Onecoat]

Finally, a prepaid plan that makes sense. For the longest time I've had prepaid, but the fact that the minutes were so limited was realy a trun off. The unlimited plan offered by Straight Talk will surely take prepaid to a whole new level. And the fact that it's offered at Wal Mart is the icing on the cake! Economy is horrible, uemployment worse than ever. Not much hope for the coming years. At least is reasuring to know that companies, like TracFone are doing everything in their power to really help consumers. This sounds like an awesome plan, specially since they have Verizon as a partner to power the signal. Unlimited calls, unlimited text, data, the most reliable network and all at WalMart for just $45 a month, trully an unbeatable plan.

[Sammy]

"What I'm interested in learning is whether I'll be able to still buy minutes online now that Walmart is running the show."

Hi Joanna
Yes, you will be able to buy minutes online, in fact you can also buy your Straight Talk phone online if you feel like it. I also have a Straight Talk phone and it's great.

[Gabriela]

I was a little hesitant at first, but I've only heard good things from friends that switched to StraighTalk so I finally made the switch. I must say, this is the best cell phone plan I've had. Makes sense financially - the phone is attractive and has great coverage.