Saw this bombshell on Fiercewireless. Tracfone is launching a new 1000 minute/1000 text/30 meg data plan for $30 prepaid on the Verizon network .

It is called Straight Talk and is already available in many major markets including Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, Denver and Phoenix. and others. It is a brand new Tracfone sub brand spinoff like Net10.
It is a DIRECT response to the vastly changed prepaid wireless markets caused by disruptive innovation like Boost Mobile's $50 unlimited , Metro and Cricket.

This is very similar to the Page Plus Talk n Text 1500 min/text plan that came out recently for 39.95. It has a proportionate price point, offers data and 411 calls at no extra charge and runs on the Verizon network.

You can buy at the aformentioned markets' Walmarts. Phones are also available online at Walmart online . A more extensive national rollout and a hard launch are expected to develop.
You can go to for more info.
http://straighttalk.com/
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...less/2009-06-03

They have three initial handsets, the Motorola W385, Razr V3A and the Lg 200. They range from 29.99 to 99.99.

Is $30 the new $50 for prepaid wireless?
Tracfone as the biggest mvno in the states is not standing still, and this compensates for Net10s unlimited being stuck at $80.

PLUS, they have DATA. The FIRST Tracfone brand to seriously offer it.

Again, phones are available at Walmart's website but not at Straight Talk's own site yet. (Special thanks to the Sweeper.)

Very interesting. the 1000 messages also include MMS. I don't think the V3A is EVDO capable, and I know the W385 is not.

Will be keeping an eye on this, that's for sure.

They can be bought straight from Wal Mart's website as well...

Hmm... Just a wild guess, but I think the web on these phones might also be limited. Anyway, I at least haven't seen anywhere yet that states you can go to other websites besides the standard old Tracfone pages.

Also noticed that there is no rollover. You either use them or lose them.

If they would just come out with unlimited texting, I'd be there in a heartbeat.

Originally, was Page Plus limited to a selection of its own slightly outdated handsets? I ask because I would hop on this deal instantly, but I'd rather bring my own phone. I'm wondering if at some point down the line, they'll open up to the flashing of phones onto their service.

I am wondering about this as well. Also wondering if they added some kind of 'airtime tank' like they do with Trac and Net10 phones. If so, we're SOL.

This is supposed to be on Verizon's network, but if you look at the coverage map, it sure doesn't look like it.

I wonder if "razr_fan" will be happy now??

The map might be pre-alltel verizon prepaid map. This might indicate that there is no roaming allowed.

I was wondering about that. what would be the point of offering unlimited data if all you can get is their website? and why is this on the verizon network?

As the service gets rolled out nationwide, they will do some adjusting. I don't doubt that in the near future, they may add voice only, text only, and web only cards. Although, I am having a hard time trying to figure out how buying just a text only card would change the due date, although they could make it so that any card bought pushes your due date back 30 days.

It does not look like the phones come with any airtime. There's nothing on the website to indicate one way or another right now.

That's really interesting , as this article on Marketwatch yesterday indicated Verizon was blowing off prepaid.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1533369


I think Boost's first quarter has everyone taking notice. As I said yesterday, price wars will ensue, I wouldn't be surprised to see a 30.00 or 40.00 all you can eat from Verizon or Tmobile or Tracfone soon.

so this is $30 with all fees except sales tax? Wow, this looks like a great deal!

Here's where we could see Tracfone Wireless Company's (in general) first QWERTY phone. This plan is looking better by the minute. Also, the back pic of the minutes card at Walmart.com confirms no rollover (which stinks).

On the StraightTalk site, there's a button thas says check your minutes. Maybe there will be no displayed "tank."

It's still early, but here is what is known so far (and yes, information is subject to revisement and change as it develops).

THE PHONES.

Phones can only be bought from the Walmart website or the Walmart stores in designated markets.
There are three models available. The Razr V3a, Moto W385 and LG C200 (cm).
The Motorolas both have 1xRtt internet. The LG C200cm is not web capable.
It is not known if these models are crippled/disabled in anyway which is typical of Tracfone practice on their other brands (Tracfone,Net10, Safelink).
This is the first Razr in any Tracfone brand.
Both Motorolas are fairly expensive by Tracfone standards thus discouraging phone traffickers (who love to buy and unlock Tracs and Net10s for resale).
This pricing point alone may be enough of a deterrent without having to disable things like bluetooth, usb which they usually do.
Whether regular Verizon phones or Verizon cdma network using Tracfone and Net10 cdma handsets will be able to be used on the network with or without modification is not known.
If Straight Talk is consistent with all previous Tracfone companies in policy, there will probably not be any ability to use any handsets but what Straight Talk/Tracfone themselves offer. It would be a nice option to be able to put a Verizon or Page Plus handset on the network, but this is a matter of conjecture at this point.
If any flasher/modder/hacker/phone tech gets their hands on a live Straight Talk phone and analyzes these points or gets a non Straight Talk phone running on their network, PLEASE share!
They do not come with any airtime. Except perhaps token startup time like the 20 minutes a Tracfone has built in. No exact word on it yet, but probably has a few starter minutes on it just to get the phone rolling.

THE PLAN.

This is very much targeted at a theoretical overall "heavy average user" with a one size fits all approach.
Their 1000 messages go toward either sms/texts or mms/pic messages. Your choice. Page plus Talk n' Text is only text, no mms.
Once the bank of any one of the three choices, talk/text/web are used up, there is no refill option but to refill the whole thing.
Once you refill, everything is returned to the full 1000 min/1000 text/30 meg web bank.
There is no rollover.
If you run out before the 30 day period of everything, you can top up again to accomodate your own need. If you run out in 24 days, just buy another card.
There are no international call options on this plan, unlike its Tracfone and Net10 siblings. This is probably intentional so as to not directly cannibalize their heavy immigrant user base. Oh, there is one exception to this, you can RECEIVE international calls.
The 30 meg web browsing sounds like it is more flexible and open then the Tracfone/Net10 "web" options, but may still be restricted somewhat compared to other prepaid wireless carriers. It is unknown at this time if it is anything like Opera Mini or similar where you have unlimited access choice. But 30 megs is a lot of data to restrict people to so hopefully that won't be the case. (According to Virgin Mobile, a meg typicially is about 100 page views when browsing. YMMV.)
Buying the topup from Walmart does not necessarily cover taxes. But the card itself once bought should have no additonal fees.

THE NETWORK.

The network coverage which Verizon offers is based on their older Pre Alltel merger map and has more blank areas then the current coverage offered by either Page Plus Cellular or Verizon Inpulse prepaid. There is no roaming, unlike Net10 or Tracfone which allows it. But it is still more extensive then Nextel, Sprint, Tmobile or any Mvnos running on their respective networks. It also appears more solid then Att Gophone's network.
Just like how Nextel has a three tier system on iden: 1)Govt/Business. 2)Nextel.
3)Boost. Looks like Vz/Trac/Straighttalk has a similar setup. 1)Verizon regular.
2)Verizon prepaid Inpulse/Some Mvnos, notably Page Plus. 3)Straight Talk (and possibly other mvnos). This is probably how Trac was able to get the wholesale rates they did from Vz. Then again, this could be just an outdated map (hopefully) but seeing how new this plan is , it is doubtful.

THE PRICE.

$30 may be the new $50. Tracfone is using this as a way to gain a greater share of the heavy (but not unlimited) users market. Seeing how Net10 Unlimited has stayed at $80 when Virgin Mobile dropped their Unlimited talk from that pricepoint to $50, this seems like an alternative strategy (Maybe they couldn't get a better rate from Att on the Unlimited Net10 deal).

This also couples with Verizon's desire to compete by not competing. By rolling out a brand new Tracfone entity which only uses their network, but with limitations (only one plan option, three phones, no international options except receiving calls, no roaming, pre merger network) it doesn't pose a full threat to their post paid regular base but keeps them in the prepaid game making them money whether people use Inpulse, Straight Talk , Page Plus or any of their other mvnos (Air Voice Express, Locus H20, etc).

Customer Service: On a Tracfone company? We're paying for the cheap price,not the Tmobile like customer service. Auto prompts and foreign ops are a given . Go straight to tech support, it's the only live CSR option they have. They farm it out to the Phillipines. But I wouldn't be surprised if they also have operators in South America and India too.

Tracfone, Verizon, Walmart. Each is the biggest contender in their respective fields (Mvnos, Full Wireless carrier, retail) Combining their forces, they can create some real waves together. This new Straight Talk, might be their Straight Talk back to the smaller (and up to now, generally more innovative) contenders like Metro, Cricket and Boost that they're not going to just sit back and let the little guys take their prepaid lunch.