Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) will soon add AT&T Mobility (T) as a network option for its Straight Talk prepaid wireless service, giving the nation’s largest retailer a GSM option alongside its Verizon Wireless (VZ) CDMA network plan. The move is notable in that Tracfone Wireless Inc. is the reseller offering Straight Talk service. Tracfone is owned by America Movil (AMX), in which AT&T owns a stake.
BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk first broke the news, which was then picked up by various news outlets.
Wal-Mart has been offering Straight Talk service from Tracfone since since last fall, and this spring launched an advertising campaign saying customers could save up to $850 per year by choosing the service. While AT&T and Verizon Wireless for the most part are content staying on the sidelines of the prepaid business, Verizon Wireless added nearly 900,000 customers through third-party channels in its most recent earnings release.
Wal-Mart to add AT&T network to prepaid offerings
ABOUT AUTHOR
