As more attention is put on iOS and its need to change, the iPhone keeps popping up on new carriers. There has to be some irony in that. Or, perhaps it makes sense. With even more popularity and availability, people can’t stop seeing an iOS that looks like the iOS they saw back in 2007, when the phone was restricted to AT&T. In any event, it is good to see that the iPhone isn’t locked down to one carrier anymore. And for those of you who have wanted to get an iPhone but have chosen the pre-paid route, here comes another option.
Earlier this week, Straight Talk officially announced that they would be carrying both the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 5 beginning January 11.
As you can imagine, there’s nothing changing in these new options. You’ll get to choose an iPhone 4 in its 8GB version, and in black or white. The iPhone 5 will offer you 16GB of storage, and also come in white or black. The iPhone 4 will run you $449 without the contract. The iPhone 5, not surprisingly, will cost you $649 to make yours for however long you want it.
As any other pre-paid carrier, Straight Talk doesn’t offer you contracts. They do have plans, though. The pair you can choose from look like this: $45 a month for unlimited talk, text, and data. If you enjoy international calling, though, the $60 a month option is better suited for you. It, too, offers up unlimited text, data and talk, but it throws in unlimited international calling to over 1,000 locations around the globe.
I meant it when I said that it’s great that the iPhone is landing on more carriers. More options for consumers is never a bad thing. Sure, people will see the price of both phones and probably suffer a little from sticker shock, but full-price phones on pre-paid carriers shouldn’t be all that surprising anymore. It’s the way of the road for pre-paid carriers, because that subsidy doesn’t exist courtesy of a contract. T-Mobile thinks it’s a good idea, and even the other major carriers are kicking around the idea. Maybe. If it works out. We’ll see.
While it is great for the iPhone and Apple, I think the Cupertino-based company’s phone landing on more pre-paid carriers is a bigger sign for pre-paid. As I outlined back in August of last year, I think this particular option is proving to be a viable one for many consumers, even those who have traditionally turned their nose up at the idea. It’s hard to argue that $45 per month, if you don’t need international calling, for unlimited talk, text and data isn’t impressive. Then again, if you have T-Mobile USA or Sprint, you aren’t missing unlimited data like many AT&T and Verizon customers are (like this customer right here).
With iOS 6 being admonished for its lack of change compared to previous versions of the mobile platform, I am very curious to know if the new iPhone 5, or even the iPhone 4 with its cheaper price tag, will be “hot sellers” for Straight Talk after it goes on sale tomorrow. It’ll be available on Walmart’s website, as well as in 2,000 Walmart locations across the country, so it won’t be hindered by poor availability, that’s for sure.
So tell me, Dear Reader. Are you going to pick up an iPhone 4 or an iPhone 5 for Straight Talk? Is that something you’d even be remotely interested in? Are you thinking about picking up another phone? Or do you not plan on going to a pre-paid plan anytime soon?
