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Walmart is proving themselves once again to be the low price leader, this time when it comes to cellphone plans. The retailer is partnering up with T-Mobile to offer one of the country’s lowest unlimited family plans to date. $45 a month will get you unlimited talk, text and web with NO contract and adding lines is only an additional $35 after that (a 1 time fee of $25 per line is also added).
If you’re thinking this plan is too good to be true, you’d be half right. If you remember, T-Mobile’s definition of “unlimited” comes with some fine print attached. Families can only enjoy up to 250MB of shared data with full 3G/4G speeds and once they hit their monthly allotment, it’s all Edge (2G) from there. But wait– those who sign up before March 16th will get a much more reasonable 5GB of data to share with the fam, making this sound like one heck of a deal but after March 31st, it will go down to the normal 250MB. Tease.
What do you guys think? 250MB sounds a bit skimpy for someone who likes to stream their entire music library using Google Music but if you’re mostly on WiFi and occasionally like to update your Facebook status on the go, it might work for some. Anyone thinking of taking advantage of Walmart’s “Family Mobile” plan?
Press release:
According to a recent Harris Interactive study, 65% of smartphone users said they use their smartphone’s picture sharing capability most when connecting with family and friends. That’s just one reason why T-Mobile and Walmart recently made their Walmart Family Mobile plan better than ever – adding Unlimited Web to their already great offer of Unlimited Talk and Text. Rolling onto shelves now, the new Walmart Family Mobile Unlimited Talk, Text and Web plan is only $45 per month for the first line and $35 per month for additional lines and is available at Walmart stores nationwide and on Walmart.com.
Additionally, 44% of first-time smartphone buyers in 2012 say the cost of the data plan associated with a smartphone is the most influential reason they have not purchased a smartphone before. For the first time, this monthly postpaid, no-annual contract plan is offering Unlimited Web service, providing full access to Web surfing, data and social media for all lines on the account and is one of the best value options available on any national carrier. Walmart Family Mobile was designed with families in mind, and offers the most affordable way to enjoy high-quality postpaid 3G service. To encourage families to get connected sooner, customers activating the new plan now until March 16th will enjoy the first 5GB per month per line at up to 3G speeds until March 31st. Customers activating after March 16th can enjoy the first 250MB per month per line at up to 3G speeds.
For more information about the Walmart Family Mobile Unlimited Talk, Text and Web plan, please visit www.walmartfamilymobile.com or www.myfamilymobile.com
[Walmart | Via CellPhoneSignal]
wow.. with the 5Gb you got a steal, with 250mb its a scam big difference in my opinion but worth looking at if its something a family is looking for
i could literally have three lines with the amount i pay each month for my cell phone bill. i think i need to look into this… seriously!
Says you get the 5gb of data until March 31st…. So if you get the plan before march 16th you get 5g, but after the 31st it’s brought back down to 250mb? Yeah, I’ll stick with my 5gb of 4g for $30.
Gaaaah! Fine print in the fine print. Updated post. Thanks!
pls see my other post – the 5GB or 250MB is at 3G speeds (not 3G/4G)
And here I was thinking you would get grandfathered into 5gb of 3g data by activating before march 16th… Oh well… not worth it…
Hey are you guys going to blackout today? Xda-developers are.
I have the 100 minute plan with unlimited text and “unlimited” data (2G after 5GB) for $30. It’s an absolute steal. I use Sipdroid with pbxes and my Google voice account to make VOIP calls over wifi at home. That adds 2000 free minutes while I’m at home where I make most of my calls anyway. It’s the best plan available on any carrier in the US in my opinion, at least for my use.
what carrier is this though? Could you give a link/details. I already use google voice so this sounds like a great alternative for the outrageous price I currently pay.
Tyler hit the link:
http://www.tmonews.com/2011/10/t-mobile-wal-mart-introduce-30-no-contract-plan-arrives-october-16th/
If T-Mobile has decent coverage in your area you’re ballin :)
He’s referring to the T-Mobile prepaid $30 a month 100 minutes, Unlimited Web & Text plan
Where is this press release from? It’s linked all over, but is no where to be found on Walmart or Family Mobile’s pages or press releases.
Hi, France has just meet its revolution in mobile contract rates. We have got the same (as mentioned here) but only for 19,99 euros including international calls. I complain your rates over there, sincerely. Not enough competitorship or I’d say actual cartelship I guess. Anyway, this is a step forward.
#Correction
From the article
“Families can only enjoy up to 250MB of shared data with full 3G/4G speeds and once they hit their monthly allotment, it’s all Edge (2G) from there. But wait– those who sign up before March 16th will get a much more reasonable 5GB of data to share with the fam,”
From T-mo’s press release
“customers activating the new plan now until March 16th will enjoy the first 5GB per month per line at up to 3G speeds until March 31st. Customers activating after March 16th can enjoy the first 250MB per month per line at up to 3G speeds.”
So, the 5GB (or 250MB) of data you get is really 3G speeds – not 3G/4G
250MB?! LOL that’s just ridiculous! I used more data than that just during my commute to work this morning…