What we missed in prepaid: Virgin Mobile, ZTE Merit, Samsung Appeal, Voyager Mobile, GameStop, Page Plus
May 29, 2012/
- Page Plus reduced the price of its Power Text Unlimited plan from $19.95 to $15. That means pay-as-you-go users can add unlimited text messaging at a $5 discount. Sounds good. [Howard Forums]
- Video game retailer GameStop has been expanding its horizons lately. They’ve been taking Apple devices as trade-ins, and are now selling them in-store. They’re also selling Android tablets. Now they’re apparently getting into the MVNO business. They launched the service about 10 days ago, but apparently took down the online portal. It will be a SIM-only service when it officially goes live. [PhoneNews.com
- They were supposed to launch earlier in May, but due to a malicious web attack the Voyager Mobile debut was delayed. But now they’ve officially launched their service, which offers unlimited talk and text for $19 per month, with unlimited data added for $39 per month. I’m still skeptical, but it’s worth watching. [FierceWireless]
- Virgin Mobile announced a new payLo plan: unlimited minutes, messages, and 50MB of data for $40 per month. You can’t use a smartphone with payLo, but for those who don’t need one there are some good plans there. [Phone Scoop]
- AT&T GoPhone landed the Samsung Appeal, a QWERTY slider Android device. It’s on the lower end of modern Android devices, though it’s mid-range for a prepaid smartphone. That is, it’s nothing special; just another option for slider-loving prepaid users. They didn’t set a price to it yet, but it will be available at Walmart on June 5th, and then all other GoPhone channels on July 15th. [Phone Scoop]
- And finally, Straight Talk has launched the ZTE Merit, a low-end Android handset. It’s a GSM handset running on the AT&T network. Again, this is nothing special, though it gives customers in AT&T coverage areas a new option. Hopefully this merely kickstarts the GSM Android lineup at Straight Talk. It is available now for $129.99 at Straight Talk’s website. [PhoneNews.com]
Posted in Prepaid Services
Regarding the $19 Voyager Mobile plan, who would have thought we would be able to get unlimited min/txts that cheap just a few years ago. Nice to see progress.
I’m very surprised that Straight Talk, and more so maybe Tracfone, have only now introduced a ZTE phone to their line up. Correct me if I’m wrong, but ZTE is the biggest phone manufacturer in the world – by some distance. And serves the more budget minded peoples of the world as well. Now in my mind, a ZTE phone that get’s made in China, is of the same built quality as the iPhone in the factory down the road. And Tracfone being the cellphone champion of the low-income market should be doing well to introduce maybe more ZTE’s to their budget options.
Oh no, ZTE isn’t even close. Samsung is the largest in the world, followed by Nokia and Apple.
Your last StraightTalk bullet brings to mind a question I’m guessing you may know the answer to. A friend of mine mentioned to me that there is now an android available from ST using Verizon’s network. I checked out their site, and the Samsung Proclaim is there, but nowhere does it say it’s on Vzn’s network. After doing a search, I’m coming up with contradictory stories. I’ve been using Tracfone for years(haven’t needed many minutes), but for business purposes am switching to ST, but don’t want an android that runs off Sprint. Please could you advise! Tx
Yes, Sue, the Proclaim runs on the Verizon network.
I have a Motorola Citris Android and am looking to lower my bill and am considering a unlimited prepaid – but understand I have to buy a new phone. What are the advantages and disadvantages?? Are these phones they’re trying to get rid of?? Also heard that Blackberry technology is being phased out (not knowing what the technology actually is!) — is this true??
I saw the new ZTE Merit phone on sale at Wal-Mart in a small SW GA town where family members live. When I returned to Atlanta and tried to buy the phone, it was not available at three of the Wal-Marts I visited. ST is trying to hock the Sprint connected phones in the larger city Wal-Marts. I dont want a Spring connected phone that does not work most rural areas.