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Wal-Mart is expanding its prepaid wireless service Straight Talk to include new phones that will work on AT&T’s network.
Straight Talk, operated by TracFone, currently resells Verizon Wireless service. Adding AT&T coverage expands service into parts of the country where Verizon signals don’t make it. AT&T’s network reaches larger parts of states like Wisconsin, West Virginia, and New Mexico than Verizon does.
Straight Talk phones that currently work with Verizon are not interchangeable with AT&T service, however. Verizon uses the CDMA standard for its network, while AT&T uses GSM. The two are not compatible.
Wal-Mart’s prepaid service is appealing to consumers who do not require the latest handsets and seek wireless service without a two year contract or expensive add-ons. Straight Talk delivers cheaper cell service than Verizon does, with both using Verizon’s network. The same will be true as AT&T service is added.
Straight Talk currently offers two service plans
Wholesale wireless service, typically sold to prepaid providers, delivers enhanced profits to big carriers like Verizon and AT&T without having to spend money on customer support. Many prepaid providers sell older, more basic handset models that may have been in excess supply, are reconditioned/used, or are inexpensive to provide consumers.
Other stories of interest:
- Verizon Wireless Introducing Prepaid Wireless Broadband, But Get Your Wallet: $15 A Day For 75 Megabytes
- Virgin Mobile Introduces Prepaid Broadband2Go At Prices2High
- Cell Phone Follies: AT&T Sues Verizon Over 3G Map, T-Mobile Suffers Second Nationwide Outage
- AT&T’s Data Caps Tell Customers You Just Can’t Trust AT&T’s Overburdened Network
- When Is A Price Cut Not A Price Cut? When It Comes From AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless
I’m glad they added straight talk onto at&t on its network. I recently switched my employees to straight talk from other contracted plans and I can’t even begin to tell you the amount of money I have saved. We were cutting costs everywhere but getting straight talk phones was literally cutting costs in half! The phones are exactly the same as they were using before.. we just pay half. I think a lot of companies are catching on to this as well.
Straight Talk had great coverage with just running on the Verizon Network, now by adding AT&T they’re just on an entirely different level! There coverage is just amazing. Its nice to know we can pay only $45 a month for unlimited talk, text, and web… but we’re definitely not skimping on the coverage because we run on Verizon AND AT&T. ..Pretty sweet.
I’m So freaking glad they aren’t making the WHOLE network AT&T. Because I’m pretty sure that AT&T doesn’t pick up in the Botetourt County area of Virginia. I, for one, don’t struggle with service problems. Straight talk(I have $45 unlimited everything/month) picks up every where. Even down in the middle of no where. But it’s good to know that there will be a back up service.