var json_comments = new Array("

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 14, 2009 10:49 PM

Moderate | Flag for review

Walmart has been offering this service at least since July, my wife has been using the $30 package.

8 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:51 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: I could hardly believe it when I read, \"$30 package that includes 1000 minutes\". I have a T-Mobile pre-paid and I get a 1000 minutes for $100. It's a great deal for me because I can milk my minutes for up to six months,,,sometimes. but $30? I am changing as soon as it gets to my area. Will have to see what the \"fine print\" says though.

$\"user-pic\"$

Verucalise (Est.February2008)

October 15, 2009 4:16 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@LeChiffre: My friend has had this plan for months, and loves it. The phone choices are lacking but you get what you pay for I guess.

$\"user-pic\"$

lmarconi

October 15, 2009 1:07 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: This sounds like a fabulous deal for a single person like myself who has no option of a family plan. Anyone know whether the people who currently have it are satisfied? Since it uses Verizon's network, I assume the service is as good as the Verizon service I get now - not like a traditional go phone, which I've always associated with less than stellar service.

$\"user-pic\"$

Aphex242

October 14, 2009 10:50 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: In 234 stores. Now they're rolling it out nationwide to about 15 times more locations.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 14, 2009 10:58 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@aphex242: Ah, I see this now. Had not finished the entire article. Thanks for the clarification.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 14, 2009 10:56 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

It uses Verizon's cell towers, so the service is whatever you'd get with Verizon. No free mobile-to-mobile of course, and also no free nights/weekends which kind of sucks, but for $30 a month, 1000minutes and 1000 texts is a nice deal. We went with the cheapest phone ($30) and while it could be a little louder and is lacking some functionality (f.ex. bluetooth), it works pretty well.

$\"user-pic\"$

stranger than fiction

October 15, 2009 10:24 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: Verizon? I thought Tracfone used the Death Star's network?

$\"user-pic\"$

yasth

October 15, 2009 5:57 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@stranger than fiction: Tracfone uses lots of different networks.

Also I should note that There are many different levels of Verizon network, and that you may not get exactly the same level of coverage with this as a post paid verizon customer (mostly a few quasi roaming towers)

$\"user-pic\"$

YOXIM

October 14, 2009 10:50 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: Is it any good? $45 a month for unlimited everything sounds like a hell of a deal.

$\"user-pic\"$

bohemian

October 15, 2009 12:02 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@YOXIM: Hmm. For 3 phones the unlimited plan is the same price as we have been paying with Verizon for 700 minutes, a small pool of texts and no internet useage. If they offered an android phone as an option I might consider it. I am having a hard time swallowing the idea of giving Walmart money.

$\"user-pic\"$

frank64

October 15, 2009 1:46 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@bohemian: So I guess everyone has his price.(:

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

Heresy Of Truth

October 14, 2009 10:50 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Is there a downside, other than it being attached to Walmart? That unlimited plan is about half of what I pay.

4 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Heresy Of Truth: the downside is that this is actually tracfone's service. that means poor customer service, coverage is going to be limited & if it's anything like the other tracfone offerings, the potential to roam will be high (& expensive).

i would read some complaint boards about tracfone & straight talk before buying into this. that should set your expectations for service.

on the bright side, walmart has one of the most liberal return policies in the land, so if you have issues, they'll most likely take it back. good luck getting the same service somewhere else.

$\"user-pic\"$

yasth

October 15, 2009 5:58 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mac-phisto: It is not like other tracfone options. It is the only tracfone on Verizon's network.

$\"user-pic\"$

Heresy Of Truth

October 15, 2009 4:43 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mac-phisto: Thanks to both of you for answering my question. That clears it up.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 14, 2009 10:57 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Heresy Of Truth: As someone below stated (and my first post didn't really clarify), this isn't really attached to walmart, only sold there. It is run by Tracfone and uses Verizon's towers. The biggest limit in my opinion is the lack of phone options.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

CompyPaq

October 14, 2009 10:51 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

\"Today Walmart announced that it's launching its own wireless service, Straight Talk, on October 18th. The network will piggyback on TracFone's wireless network.\"

That whole statement is incorrect. TracFone is making its previously limited (by location) unlimited service that it distributes through WalMart into a nationwide service. It piggybacks off of Verizon.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:10 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@CompyPaq: Nuh-uh. Walmart had a pilot program, and now it's launching the service at over 3,000 stores. Yes this is basically the TracFone service, but it's branded and controlled by Walmart. From their press release (at the bottom of the linked article):

Straight Talk is an exclusive Walmart service developed with TracFone Wireless, Inc. TracFone Wireless currently sells TracFone and NET10 prepaid wireless phones and airtime at Walmart stores and online at www.walmart.com.

I'm not sure if that means TracFone and Net10 will continue to be sold at Walmart. I assume they will.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:11 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Chris Walters: Truce: I'll change the \"piggyback\" wording to make the sentence more accurate.

$\"user-pic\"$

yasth

October 15, 2009 6:01 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Chris Walters: It would be more accurate to change it to \"uses Verizon's Cellular network, and run by Tracfone.\" Tracfone owns no network, all they are using tracfone is for systems and support.

$\"user-pic\"$

tubedogg

October 15, 2009 1:46 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Chris Walters: What I'm really curious about is you say it's branded and controlled by Walmart, but the straighttalk.com website does not mention Walmart *at all*. There are two exceptions: the retailers page, where it states you can buy the service at Walmart (but again lacks the \"exclusive\" tag in that press release), and the FAQs, which again refer to Walmart simply as a place to buy the prepaid cards, not a partner or exclusive dealer.

Even the \"About Us\" page says

Straight Talk is a service of TracFone Wireless Inc.

And again completely fails to mention Walmart whatsoever. Not even \"exclusively sold at Walmart\" or \"developed in cooperation with Walmart\". Even the trademark for StraightTalk is listed as property of TracFone.

My gut tells me that TracFone developed it, piloted it in Walmart stores, and now is letting Walmart call it \"exclusive\" for some back-end deal on...something. I'm not sure what TracFone gets out of letting Walmart call it \"ours\" in a press release. Traditional cell provider-retailer relationships would seem to be more beneficial as I have to believe that Walmart is taking a bigger cut of profits in exchange for pushing the service.

I just don't see how else you have an entire website that fails to mention Walmart if Walmart truly controls this service. Even assuming the site hasn't been updated since the pilot, the pilot was...drumroll...also a Walmart \"exclusive\". So there should have been branding there already. There's not.

I just reread the press release. Reading what seems to be extremely careful wording to give the impression that Walmart owns it but not actually stating it (I don't believe they actually do, not even a joint-venture or partnership), I think this is a TracFone product and service that simply happens to have an exclusive retail partner.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

dohtem

October 14, 2009 10:52 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If only I could bring my own device to this plan.

There's no talk of roaming, so I'm assuming its not included. Anyone confirm/deny?

4 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:38 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: No roaming.

You get service anywhere Verizon has service. But you cannot roam on Sprint or MetroPCS or Alltel.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 14, 2009 10:59 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: I don't know what defines roaming anymore, but my wife's package works fine at least 120 miles away from the registered area. We have not yet tested further.

$\"user-pic\"$

dohtem

October 14, 2009 11:07 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Airjoe: Roaming is when you live in California but are stuck at JFK airport. You dial home to let them know you'll be late and the phone still works.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:42 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: That's not roaming.

Roaming has nothing to do with location. Roaming is when you use are with Cell company A and have to use Cell company B's network because your company doesn't have service where you are.

Example: If you are in a rural area and your Verizon phone has to get on Sprint or Alltel to make a call, that's roaming.

StraightTalk uses Verizon for service but StraightTalk does NOT offer roaming on Sprint or anyone else. They decided not to offer that feature.

$\"user-pic\"$

tubedogg

October 15, 2009 1:13 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@LastError: There are two types of roaming: on-network roaming (for plans that have a limited \"home coverage area\", i.e. something other than \"the U.S.\"; see MetroPCS or Revol) and off-network roaming, which is what you describe. In the first instance, it is precisely to do with location. Should you wander outside the \"home\" coverage area, you will start paying roaming charges to your provider, whether you are on their network or not. For off-net roaming, it only has to do with location insofar as you are in a location where your direct provider does not have coverage.

A good majority of folks with one of the four major national carriers would find it easy to not see a distinction here, since the vast majority of plans they offer today do not have a home coverage area in the traditional (read: 80s/90s) sense. In contrast they nearly universally offer nationwide calling and roaming with no additional per-minute fees. That said, many of the regional carriers and even some of the lessor nationals have limited home coverage areas.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 10:55 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: I thought tracfones only work within like a 50 mile radius of your current location

or is that MetroPCS?

","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 10:56 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

If they had an Android phone, I would move over to them in a heartbeat.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 22, 2011 10:38 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

They do now.... but it runs on Sprint's towers rather than Verizon. Essentially a slightly cheaper version of what you can already get on Boost.

$\"user-pic\"$

bohemian

October 15, 2009 12:07 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@fs2k2isfun: That was my stipulation also. An android phone or an un-hobbled windows mobile smart phone.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 10:58 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

$45 for unlimited.... every iPhones users dream

or atleast mine. sure beats the $129 price tag for that at AT&T. or is it $149?

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Oranges w/ Cheese

October 15, 2009 6:18 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@AppleAlex: Pity your iphone has a sim card :(

","","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

mommiest

October 14, 2009 11:13 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Plus \"Federal Wavelength Fees\" \"State Utility Access Charges\" and a long assortment of costs disguised to look like taxes? I'd like to know what the true cost of this is.

5 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

yasth

October 15, 2009 6:11 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@downwithmonstercable: Anywhere verizon has first party coverage (i.e. if they don't have native coverage you are SOL) still a pretty good deal, but means you can't roam on Sprint's network (though Verizon has been less keen on allowing this in general even post paid)

And there are such things as locked phones for CDMA (basically what that means is they will only bind with one carriers setup), the reason people think that there are no unlocked phones is because most CDMA carriers will only activate their own equipment, and most stuff they sell is locked, and since they control the backend they can be restrictive. Not that it matters as this is Tracfone and they insist that you use their phones even on GSM where true unlocked phones.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 15, 2009 3:43 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mommiest: We've been paying $32 and change for the $30 plan.

$\"user-pic\"$

dohtem

October 14, 2009 11:19 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mommiest: As with any cell phone provider in the US. Add between $8 to $12 to get the final amount.

If those surcharges and taxes piss you off (and they should), contact your Senator.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:07 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: Assuming this is a prepaid service (which it undoubtedly is), there are no additional taxes or surcharges involved. I've gone from Verizon to AT&T to T-Mobile prepaid MVNOs, and have never, ever received any fees on top of the advertised price (some have claimed a $0.99 monthly fee for E911, but I've never actually noticed it deducted from my account).

$\"user-pic\"$

tubedogg

October 15, 2009 1:18 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@supercereal: Note that at [www.straighttalk.com] it states in parentheses \"Plus applicable taxes and fees\". So, I guess this particular prepaid service DOES impose additional charges.

$\"user-pic\"$

mianne prays her parents outlive the TSA

October 15, 2009 6:37 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@tubedogg: Probably refers to the sales tax you will pay for the phone and the refill cards in most retail locations.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:54 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

Exactly.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:43 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@dohtem: Not true. Boost Mobile's unlimited $50 plan includes all the fees and taxes. It's $50 flat.

Not sure about StraightTalk or Net10.

$\"user-pic\"$

razremytuxbuddy

October 15, 2009 12:04 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@LastError: Liberty Wireless did the same thing. Quoted a price that was all inclusive. I miss them.

@mommiest: I'd call them taxes disguised as fees and funds.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:19 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@razremytuxbuddy: They're not paid to any government, so they're not taxes; what they are is an attempt to push portions of the regular cost of doing business to the customer without including those costs as part of any advertised price.

Slimy, sleazy, and altogether wrong.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:45 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Charles Duffy:

USF fees aren't paid to the government? Wow, you should tell Verizon, they could save themselves millions.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 16, 2009 2:35 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@NeverLetMeDown: Universal Service Fees are to the government. \"Regulatory Compliance\" fees are made up by the phone companies.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:20 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

How can I port this deal to my iPhone 3gs and still have working visual voicemail work and the same 3g bandwidth & coverage as using AT&T?

4 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 22, 2011 10:37 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

If you have a CDMA iPhone 4, there are some people who advertise on Craigslist and eBay who claim they can flash the ESN, replacing it with the serial number of an unused ST phone. Essentially it would trick Straight Talk's servers into thinking you're using one of their phones when you're actually not.

That being said, I don't endorse trying this: the ST TOS makes it very clear that devices not branded by them are not allowed on their network, I believe overwriting a phone's ESN (or IMEI for GSM handsets) is illegal in the United States, Canada, the UK, and other many European countries. That's why many of these fly-by-night flashing operations run out of places like Romania and the Ukraine.

$\"user-pic\"$

Sir Winston Thriller

October 15, 2009 1:10 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Quatre707: You have to use TracFone phones, so no Android, Pre, iPhone...

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 1:47 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Quatre707: It's a CDMA network. Impossible, visual voicemail wouldn't work (no servers for it).

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:44 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Quatre707: You can't.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:30 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

This business model is the one Virgin Mobile uses in Canada - they lease coverage from the telco and resell it.

6 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

mizike

October 15, 2009 2:03 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Julius Seizure. (the CANUCK one):
Actually, Virgin Mobile is owned 100% by Bell, no leasing or reselling involved. Each of the big three cell companies in Canada has one or more discount brands; Bell has Virgin and Solo, Rogers has Fido, Telus has Koodo.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 11:29 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@mizike: The sale was only completed recently - until about 4-6 weeks ago, Virgin Mobile Canada was a separate entity.

I'm waiting for the shoe to drop \"Oh, we looked at it and voicemail can't be free any longer and you really HAVE to sign a long term deal and ...\" Sigh.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:10 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Julius Seizure. (the CANUCK one): There are countless resellers here in the U.S. as well: [en.wikipedia.org] . Every major carrier has at least 1-2 resellers (and AT&T has upwards of 10).

$\"user-pic\"$

layton59

October 15, 2009 1:47 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@supercereal: Supercereal, thanks for the wiki link. I had no idea there are over 180 wireless providers in the USA. Now I just need a link showing who covers where, in particular Ohio coverage.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:35 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

The linked article has one major difference from the Wal*Mart website: the $45 plan is not unlimited data -- it's 30MB

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:46 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@crazymatt1: Either the Walmart page is out of date, or the StraightTalk website, because StraightTalk is saying the $45 includes unlimited data.

[www.straighttalk.com]

That's also what Walmart says in their press release, so I would assume the page you linked to is out of date. (Or will be starting October 18th.)

","","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 14, 2009 11:46 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

When is \"unlimited\" not unlimited? When it comes to mobile telecommunications. All of the vendors have \"unlimited\" plans until you read the fine print. On AT&T, \"unlimited\" means 5GB/month. No way will a domestic carrier allow an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator -- which is what WalMart is in this case as they don't have a network of their own) to sell a plan with the potential to cause their service to melt down.

Although in the case of Verizon that might be fun to watch. \"Can you hear me now? Good.\"

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Oranges w/ Cheese

October 15, 2009 6:19 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Paladin_11: It's only 5gb/month on the data cards. There isn't a limit on iphones. So it really is unlimited - and they don't sell an \"unlimited\" data card plan. I think you've been reading the wrong literature.

$\"user-pic\"$

October 16, 2009 12:00 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Oranges w/ Cheese needs guidance: It's not from reading the literature, it's from actually hitting the limit with my iPhone. They send you a warning when you do about being a data pig. Granted, they don't actually do anything at first. But they have that option to take action, as spelled out in the fine print of the contract.

","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

downwithmonstercable

October 15, 2009 12:13 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Couple questions for anyone who may know:

- Anywhere Verizon has coverage, this service has coverage?
- Do unlocked phones work on this service?

As much as I hate Wal-mart, we are getting jacked on our Tmobile service. $60 a month for two phones with minimal minutes, no data, and 400 texts per phone a month..

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 1:49 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

@downwithmonstercable: It's CDMA, so there are no unlocked phones.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

segfault, registered cat offender

October 15, 2009 12:19 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Great! How can I get it to work with my iPhone?

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:49 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@segfault: wait till next year and buy a verizon iphone.

$\"user-pic\"$

kabuk1

October 15, 2009 1:00 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

If it piggybacks off Verizon, you can't use a GSM phone with it. Verizon is CDMA.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

kabuk1

October 15, 2009 12:59 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Wow, this is actually a good deal. If I could find out if I could use my Sprint phone with this service I'd probably switch over. I know if I unlocked it I could TECHNICALLY use it, but would the company LET me?

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

Sir Winston Thriller

October 15, 2009 1:11 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@kabuk1: No. Tracfone doesn't let you bring your own. (That's what I was told when I went over to them from Veri$on.)

","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

speedwell (propagandist and secular snarkist)

October 15, 2009 1:24 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

30 dollars a month. Huh. I pay about 30 dollars every three months to top off my prepaid account, with an unlocked phone I like. Per minute, it's more, yeah, but I haven't heard anything yet about the Wal-Mart deal that attracts me. I guess I'm just not their target audience. Wake me up when cell service hits 30 a month, unlimited calls and data, inclusive of \"fees and charges\", GSM, and usable with my phone that I'm used to.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:56 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@speedwell, avatar of snark:

No, you're not the target market - you don't use your phone very much (I'd guess about 100 minutes a month?). For example, the average MetroPCS customer uses about 1,500 minutes and over 1,000 texts per month.

","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

flidget

October 15, 2009 2:02 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

The ToS is full of all the standard hedging about what they actually guarantee and the various excuses they can use to terminate your service. [Whoever guessed that the hidden cap on data was \"whenever Verizon thinks their network is being strained,\" you win!] The most interesting thing, though, is the part where StraightTalk splits from Net10 and TracFone: Refilling will blank-slate your account. Nothing rolls over. If you activate a 1000-minute/30-day card today, then activate another one on Saturday, your account will have a balance of 1000 minutes and 30 days.

Also, to settle the roaming discussion, according to the ToS the phones just won't do it.

1. Unlike Net10 and TracFone, StraightTalk minutes and service days do not accumulate. With N10 and TF, if you buy a 1000-minute/30-day card and only use 10 minutes, you keep those 990 minutes so long as you refill before the 30 days are up. With ST, your balance resets with each refill.

2. As you'd expect, about half the ToS is \"reasons we can use to cancel your service,\" specifically: \"We further reserve the right to take measures to protect the Carrier's networks and other users from harm, compromised capacity or degradation in performance. These measures may impact your Service, and we reserve the right to deny, modify or terminate Service, with or without notice, to anyone we believe is using data services in a manner that adversely impacts the Carrier's network.\" [Also, for whatever reason: International texting is automatically disabled, but if you ATTEMPT to send one they can cancel your service. Okay!]

3. No guarantees can be made about the availability of data services, and they reserve the right to yank data completely.

4. \"If the Straight Talk Mobile Web Services are unavailable, and you have opened your browser, you will be deducted Kilobyte usage, even though you will not be able to view the Mobile Web.\" I can't even begin to imagine how that works. What exactly would you be downloading that they could charge you for if the service is unavailable?

5. The phones flat-out won't roam.

6. \"Applicable taxes and fees may be added in certain areas. These are fees, charges, or surcharges imposed by law or by Straight Talk to recover costs of complying with regulations and E911 laws.\" Realistically, though, this is ass-covering just in case - you can't exactly attach fees to a $20 card that's being picked up at a store.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Scatter

October 15, 2009 2:12 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I hope this is a kick in the ass that causes some other carriers to offer compatible packages.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 2:20 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Coverage on Walmart's cell network will only be available within their store's parking lots.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Al Swearengen

October 15, 2009 2:54 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

So, when they say $30 a month is it actually $30 a month or is it $30 before taxes are added? I hate that. You could have a $30 service but after tax it could end up over $40.

2 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 22, 2011 10:21 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

You pay sales tax at the time purchasing the airtime - it's minimal.

$\"user-pic\"$

Airjoe

October 15, 2009 3:46 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

@Al Swearengen: I just noted above, but in case you don't see that, I've been paying just over $32 for the $30 a month plan. I can't remember which \"tax\" it is (maybe E911?) but it's nothing akin to what Verizon et al nail you for.

","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 5:46 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Notice nowhere on the www.StraightTalk.com is any mention of Wal-Mart.

If I wasn't in a contract with my current carrier, I'd certainly consider this option. They use Verizon's network so the coverage is great. Can't beat the price.

","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 7:27 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

If this brings down the cost of the other carriers I am game.

","

$\"user-pic\"$

Cyfun

October 15, 2009 8:12 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Does it mention anywhere how fast their data plan is?

","

$\"user-pic\"$

moore850

October 15, 2009 9:59 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

Yeah, but whose network is it on? 45/mo on verizon is incredible, 45/mo on boost, well good luck getting call connectivity.

1 replies

$\"user-pic\"$

October 15, 2009 12:57 PM

Moderate |Flag for review

It's on Verizon.

","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","

$\"user-pic\"$

October 22, 2011 10:41 AM

Moderate |Flag for review

I just realized this is a two year old thread. Shame on me :(

");