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FTC says Straight Talk's promises of unlimited data were crooked
If you were seduced by offers of "unlimited" phone data on prepaid carriers like Straight Talk or Simple Mobile only to find your service unbearably slow after a certain point, the Federal Trade Commission has your back. The carriers' owner, TracFone, has agreed to pay the FTC $40 million to settle charges that it misled customers by advertising unlimited data that was really throttled into oblivion. In other words, Straight Talk was being... less than straight. Beyond the payout, TracFone has to avoid making sketchy claims in its ads and provide refunds to anyone who's been burned. The settlement won't affect a huge number of people, but it could serve as a warning sign to AT&T and other big carriers trying to avoid penalties for similarly shady throttling practices.
iPhone 5s and 5c come to Straight Talk and Net10 on December 13th
Cost-conscious iPhone 5s or 5c buyers will soon have a pair of fresh choices for prepaid service. Tracfone has announced that both Straight Talk and Net10 will sell Apple's latest smartphones through Walmart on December 13th. As with unlocked devices, you'll be paying at least $549 for an iPhone 5c or $649 for its 5s counterpart; the real savings come from the plans, which start at $45 per month for unlimited calls, (throttled) data and text. You'll still want to visit carriers like T-Mobile or Virgin for the cheapest possible rates, but the new Tracfone options may be ideal for iPhone fans who want full service without a full price.
iPhone 5s and 5c headed to Straight Talk Wireless and NET10 Wireless this month
If you've been hankering for a new iPhone 5s or 5c, but just can't bring yourself to sign on the dotted line of the big wireless carriers, you'll be pleased to know that Apple's newest handsets will be showing up at your local Walmart, sans contracts. Starting on December 13, pay-as-you-go customers can pick up the new smartphones on a variety of 30-day unlimited talk, text and data plans via Straight Talk Wireless and NET10 Wireless. Pricing for the phones will be as follows: iPhone 5s (16GB) in Space Gray, Silver or Gold -- US$649 iPhone 5c (16GB) in White, Blue, Green, Pink and Yellow -- $549 The iPhone 5c and 5s will be available on the following plans: $45 -- Straight Talk 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data. $60 -- Straight Talk 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, and unlimited international calling. $50 -- NET10 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, plus $40 for each additional line. $65 -- NET10 30-day unlimited US nationwide talk, text and data, and unlimited international calling.
Mobile Miscellany: week of August 12th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought leaks of a smartphone that tips the scales with a 6-inch screen, an alternate ego to the oft-leaked Sony 'Honami' and the return of unlimited data to a certain AT&T MVNO. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of August 12th, 2013.
Huawei Ascend W1 hits the FCC, may give Net10 a taste of Windows Phone 8
Let's face it: neither TracFone nor its Net10 badge are known for adventurous phone selections, let alone dipping into Windows Phone 8 devices. Color us surprised when Huawei's Ascend W1 not only surfaces at the FCC -- the phone maker said it planned a US launch -- but is explicitly labeled as coming to a TracFone brand, most likely the smartphone-friendly Net10. There's no shocks at support for the budget carrier's HSPA frequencies, then. While FCC filings don't clue us in as to prices or ship dates, the choice of network suggests the Ascend W1 won't cost much off-contract when it crosses the ocean.
Samsung Galaxy Discover coming to the US through Net10 and Straight Talk
Just weeks ago, Samsung slipped the entry-level Galaxy Discover into Canadian shops, with no word on whether or not it would ever cross the border. It has -- or rather, it will. The company has listed the Galaxy Discover as coming to the US through contract-free carriers Net10 and Straight Talk. Hardware-wise, the US version is the familiar starter smartphone with a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, an 800MHz processor and a 3-megapixel camera. The American model touts a slightly curvier frame, however. Its real stand-out remains the removal of TouchWiz in favor of pure Android 4.0; while not unique, it's still a rare break for a company that likes its custom UI layers. We don't have ship dates or prices when the phone hasn't yet been announced or listed for either network, but we'd venture that it will be one of the cheaper prepaid options when it arrives stateside.
iMobileMinutes for Android refills your prepaid's empty tank
For all you free-wheelers who prefer talking without commitment, iMobileMinutes is giving you one less excuse to go running to the gas station when it's time to top up your cellular account -- thanks to a free set of carrier-specific apps in the Android Market that perform the same function with considerably less effort. Now, you can purchase minutes directly (or get the necessary PIN), in the denomination of your choice, all from the comfort of your Google-powered smartphone. If this sounds appealing, there's support for Alltel, AT&T, Cricket, H2O, Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless, along with Airlink, Airvoice and Net 10. It's certainly a nifty alternative, but if you're not ready to cut ties with your favorite 7-Eleven clerk just yet, there's always Slurpees. Just don't blame us for the brain freeze, okay?
