Cricket gets first prepaid iPhone in US

[ComicalMoodyDan]

Cricket gets first prepaid iPhone in mainland US; starts at $400 for iPhone 4, for $55/month
By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, May 31, 10:16 AM

NEW YORK — Leap Wireless, the parent of the Cricket cellphone service, says it will be the first mainland U.S. phone company to sell the iPhone on a prepaid, no-contract basis.

Starting June 22, Leap will start selling the iPhone 4S starting at $500 and the iPhone 4 starting at $400. Service will cost $55 per month for unlimited calls, texting and data.

Leap Wireless International Inc., which is based in San Diego, focuses on selling no-contract service to low-income households. Its own network is limited to some cities. Elsewhere, it uses Sprint’s network.

Larger carriers also sell the iPhone on a no-contract basis. But those phones cost more, and service costs the same as when on-contract.

Open Mobile started selling iPhones on a prepaid, no-contract basis in Puerto Rico on May 18.

Cricket gets first prepaid iPhone in mainland US; starts at $400 for iPhone 4, for $55/month - The Washington Post

[Irish Rose]

Not bad if the person gets good service. However, like was mentioned in that article, given that the service is prepaid the price of those iPhones might be a bit much for those who are using PP service due to budget constraints.


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[Quint101]

That is steep but I think a few folks will bite, especially if they are tired of cheap POS Samsung and Huawei phones that break if you look at it too hard.

[budney]

That is steep but I think a few folks will bite, especially if they are tired of cheap POS Samsung and Huawei phones that break if you look at it too hard.

I agree for that very reason. Also I see a lot of Cricket and iPhone users on the bus here in Eugene. I could see a few iPhone users moving over to save money. Most people care more about the price of their plan then coverage as most people do not travel very far from the city.

[Irish Rose]

Most people care more about the price of their plan then coverage as most people do not travel very far from the city.

It's great to save money on a plan, but to me "coverage" should always be first. Those minutes that you save money on are of no use to you if you can't use them due to poor coverage, right?


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[Quint101]

I was reading that the iPhone will only be sold in older markets that were launched with PCS, as the iPhone is only compatible with EVDO and PCS. So newer areas with only AWS are out of luck for iPhone. So these new users will have less native Cricket coverage and will be roaming. I suppose they don't want users permanently roaming in their own markets.

sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX!

[M in LA]

$400 and $500 respectively? I guess some Cricket customers will be willing to shell out that much (on a value carrier, no less) to have an iPhone with their Cricket service...

[budney]

It's great to save money on a plan, but to me "coverage" should always be first. Those minutes that you save money on are of no use to you if you can't use them due to poor coverage, right?


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"Me" is the key word in your post. I agree with you 100%, but we are far more advance cellphone users then most people. My mom is a perfect example. We are on Sprint and she needs a Airave at her place to have any type of usable service, so when her FIOS goes down she is SOL. We can go to AT&T and pay at the most $10 more a month each, and have a plan that fits and have better coverage. You would think she would want to switch once she is out of contract (this October). But she would rather keep what she has now because of the price. I had to plead with her not to upgrade and keep the option to switch open.

[cheddar]

"Me" is the key word in your post. I agree with you 100%, but we are far more advance cellphone users then most people. My mom is a perfect example. We are on Sprint and she needs a Airave at her place to have any type of usable service, so when her FIOS goes down she is SOL. We can go to AT&T and pay at the most $10 more a month each, and have a plan that fits and have better coverage. You would think she would want to switch once she is out of contract (this October). But she would rather keep what she has now because of the price. I had to plead with her not to upgrade and keep the option to switch open.

How often does her FIOS go down? If its not that often the $120 extra a year probably isn't worth it.

[budney]

How often does her FIOS go down? If its not that often the $120 extra a year probably isn't worth it.

Not sure, but it was down for almost a day and a half while I was there. But the Airave it self is not the ideal solution. Not having to use one to me is worth the extra cost.