# Smart Phone Question - What's the deal here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722 "2013-01-19T17:19:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/1 "2013-01-19T17:19:35Z")
Yesterday’s WSJ has a full page Wal Mart ad for an iPhone 5. It does not quote a price for the phone itself. W/regard to service, and with some minor/logical fine print it says, " Unlimited Nationwide Talk, Text, Data $45.00/mo." Elsewhere it states, “Nationwide coverage on America’s best and most dependable networks.” I’ve been considering entering the 21st century with a smart phone (even though I don’t really need one), but the monthly cost has kept me away. So, notwithstanding the cost of the phone, is this a good deal? The service appears to be provided by “Straight Talk Wireless.” I assume they purchase service from the big guys and re-sell it. I don’t know how for long this $45.00/mo. service is offered, but a flat rate of $45.00 seems pretty good. All this said, am I missing something here? Is this not a good deal? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/2 "2013-01-19T17:24:17Z")
It’s a fine deal, but I’ll bet that the phone is unsubsidized. So that you’ll have to pay upfront for it; perhaps $600. Edited to add, [here](http://www.walmart.com/cp/Apple-iPhone-Now-on-Straight-Talk/1101612?povid=cat542371-env203289-moduleB011113-lLinkThumbnail1iPhoneStraightTalk)’s the webpage for the deal. The cost is actually $650, $750 or $850, depending on the amount of memory in the phone. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/3 "2013-01-19T17:27:08Z")
Well, if that price is honest, then it’s a good deal. I have the “grandfathered” ATT unlimited data plan, with 450 minutes of talk time per month, and 200 texts, and I pay around $80/month. Of course, this also includes a pretty substantial iPhone price subsidy (I only paid $199 to upgrade my phone). ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/4 "2013-01-19T17:37:07Z")
Not a bad deal - I pay $40 a month for unlimited everything on a 4G phone through [MetroPCS](http://www.metropcs.com/metro/). Had it for over two years and am quite happy with it. But as noted, you’ll have to pay full price for the phone and you won’t get any upgrades. So it’s only worth it if you plan to stick with the service and will actually use the features that come with it. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/5 "2013-01-19T17:39:08Z")
Supposedly they throttle you after 2GB. > **[TechRadar | The source for tech buying advice](https://www.techradar.com/)** > > The latest technology news and reviews, covering computing, home entertainment systems, gadgets and more [http://www.tuaw.com/2013/01/17/why-walmarts-straight-talk-unlimited-iphone-5-plan-may-not-be-s/](http://www.tuaw.com/2013/01/17/why-walmarts-straight-talk-unlimited-iphone-5-plan-may-not-be-s/) I guess it depends on how you use your phone. My data usage is mostly WiFi. I only switch to 3G when WiFi isn’t available, and I don’t really use my phone for streaming, so something like this might make sense for someone like me if they’re able to put out the upfront cost for the phone. Then again, what’s the point of paying for an iPhone if you’re not going to use much data? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/6 "2013-01-19T17:51:29Z")
StraightTalk is a joint business between WalMart and Tracfone. They buy minutes/data on the AT&T network. After 2GB/month they impose a lower speed (most do these days). I hear it it is as good as AT&T coverage wise. Buy a used smartphone and it is even a better deal. (I have from a friend who upgraded) T-Mobile also has attractive [plans](http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/monthly-4g-plans). I bought a used iPhone 4 and pay $30/month for 100 minutes voice, unlimited text and 5GB of fast data, slower after that. ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/7 "2013-01-19T21:36:10Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Well, if that price is honest, then it’s a good deal. > > I have the “grandfathered” ATT unlimited data plan, with 450 minutes of talk time per month, and 200 texts, and I pay around $80/month. Of course, this also includes a pretty substantial iPhone price subsidy (I only paid $199 to upgrade my phone). Holy crap, phones are expensive in the US! I pay 40 euro a month for a contract with unlimited data, 350 flex units (1 unit = 1 minute or 2 texts) and I got the phone for free, which was a galaxy s2 back when they were brand new. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/8 "2013-01-19T21:40:42Z")
> [@Scathach](#): > > Holy crap, phones are expensive in the US! > > I pay 40 euro a month for a contract with unlimited data, 350 flex units (1 unit = 1 minute or 2 texts) and I got the phone for free, which was a galaxy s2 back when they were brand new. You should see what we pay for Internet and TV! The power of regional monopoly is impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/9 "2013-01-20T20:14:41Z")
One note, if the iPhone 5 is on AT&T’s network, you will likely not get 4G LTE, since Straight Talk does not have an agreement to use that service. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/10 "2013-01-20T20:24:13Z")
I looked at it, but StraightTalk has an abysmal record for customer service. Which is really saying something in the Phone business! I know T-Mobile isn’t much better, but for all I use the phone I’m looking at either the pre-paid bundle ($100 for 1000 minutes for a year) or if I decide to get a smart phone and root it to avoid their $15 a month hotspot charge (ouch), I may go with the $30 a month plan that is unlimited text and data but only 100 minutes of talk per month. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-phone-question-whats-the-deal-here/647722/11 "2013-01-20T23:25:24Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I know T-Mobile isn’t much better, but for all I use the phone I’m looking at either the pre-paid bundle ($100 for 1000 minutes for a year) or if I decide to get a smart phone and root it to avoid their $15 a month hotspot charge (ouch), I may go with the $30 a month plan that is unlimited text and data but only 100 minutes of talk per month. Not all phones require rooting to be able to use wifi-hotspot and/or tethering without having to pay the extra fee. My completely stock, unrooted phone (Tmobile G2) does it natively. As for newer phones, I know that the Nexus4 will also do it natively. Other phones, that don’t do it natively, can still do it without rooting through the purchase of the proper app available in the Play store. But, if you plan on using wifi-hotspot/tethering frequently, whether it’s rooted or not, Tmobile will crack down on you if you go overboard without paying for the extra service. (Unless you really go through the pains and precautions to mask it.) So, it’s best just to use it sparingly, and only when you need it. I know it’s come in handy many times for me!