T-Mobile G1 coming to Walmart for $148.88

Well, now isn't this something? Best Buy has its fancy little iPhone 3G, but it'll be Wally World offering up the G1 outside of official T-Mobile outlets. As we'd heard yesterday, 550 Walmart stores across the country will begin selling the Android-powered handset beginning tomorrow, and folks who opt to pick one up here versus a traditional T-Mob store will save $31.11. Yep -- according to company spokeswoman Melissa O'Brien, the new / upgrade-eligible customer price for a Walmart-sourced G1 will be just $148.88 with a 2-year agreement. Wait, what? You already purchased your G1 at the full price? They always said the early bird pays the premium... or something along those lines.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 28th 2008 4:42PM]

What the hell? I just got mine on Friday and they're already dropping the price?
I'm going to try calling customer service and see about talking them into a discount.

[blueskyv201 Posted Oct 28th 2008 8:02PM]

Does anyone have any info on when its coming to Canada? I asked people in a couple of cellphone stores, they've never even heard of android :(

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 28th 2008 5:57PM]

So far it looks like the G1 is lackluster at best. It's missing features that even cheap phones can do and is certainly no iphone killer.

[Ishcabible Posted Oct 28th 2008 10:01PM]

Excuse me for my ignorance, but those features would happen to be....

[Mr Blue Posted Oct 28th 2008 7:37PM]

Leave it to Wal Mart

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 28th 2008 9:35PM]

I would go to my local ghetto Walmart to save $30 just because Target is not carrying it.

Walmart buys their own G1 phones and receives a commission check from T-Mobile, so they don't care how much the sell it for as long as they make at least 3% and get customers to buy accessories for the phone while they are there.

[iofthestorm Posted Oct 28th 2008 9:31PM]

Anyone know if you have to get a data plan with these? Just curious, because I don't really need 3G since I'm in college and there's wifi everywhere on campus. Not that I'm actually in a position to get one of these though. Also, it would be cool if they had hotspot@home on these like they have on the Blackberry flip phone, that sounds like some pretty cool technology, especially with T-Mobile's sometimes less than perfect reception.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 10:22AM]

The G1 doesn't show up on their phones list when you search for HotSpot compatible phones, so I'm guessing that isn't an option. Apparently you can activate it using a prepaid SIM, so you could pick up a prepaid phone at the same time (for another $20) and use that to activate it.

[anebg Posted Oct 28th 2008 10:31PM]

I'm tied to AT&T... being part of a family.. you can't really do much.
I just hope Android gets some cool phones with AT&T

[brothaa Posted Oct 30th 2008 3:17AM]

as much as i want to get the Black Berry Bold

these cheap prices are making me want to reconsider...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 5:11AM]

So far there are no plans to bring it to canada. I was just wondering if I can download the android OS and use it on my Moto Q instead of using windows mobile? Does anyone know if that is possible?

[anonymouspimp Posted Oct 29th 2008 1:10PM]

God it is so tempting... my T-mobile contract is about up... I just know they are going to come out with a newer better version in 6 months and just piss me off... haha

[SeanR Posted Oct 29th 2008 3:02PM]

Anyone have a list of which Walmarts?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 29th 2008 5:46PM]

I spoke to my local Walmart here in San Diego where we are covered by 3G and said there was a big pow wow meeting and wont actually get the G1s til November 10th.

,Michael Martin
http://www.googleandblog.com/

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 1st 2008 9:57AM]

Does anyone know if it will be available at wally online??

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 9th 2008 4:02PM]

I just received my new T-Mo G1 and it looks pretty slick. I'm actually a manufacturers representative that pitches T-Mobile on accessories for their growing lineup of cell phones. Working so closely with T-Mo I hear about all the new phones and accessories long before they actually launch. One of the accessories that T-Mo will be offering to consumers for its G1, Behold (aka T919/Roxie) and the new T929 is a military grade film screen protector. It was developed by a company called eShields, LLC and their Patented product is called iShieldz. For those curious about their product their web address is: http://www.iShieldz.com

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 10th 2008 6:02PM]

The price of G1 at Walmart is the full $179.99 with a two year contract, but if purchased it there you recieve a $50 Walmart gift-card

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 16th 2008 10:28PM]

Great phone just got mine but the neglected to tell me that I wouldn't have service for 24hours so google could update my phone. So if you can't go without a phone for 24 hours than I suggest you try something else. Love the phone, it is very sturdy.

[superatim Posted Nov 23rd 2008 1:33AM]

To check the availability in a store near you visit:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10745553