Despite those hefty carrier subsidies that keep the iPhone affordable for smartphone buyers, many of those buyers are now choosing to pay full price for the iPhone and other top smartphones. NPD Group says that according to its latest Mobile Phone Track report, the iPhone is making big gains in the prepaid market, increasing its market share by 300% in the first quarter. Overall, 32% of first quarter U.S. smartphone sales were prepaid phones.
Today’s Mobile Minute:
Nvidia’s Shield is about to hit stores, and more smartphone users are choosing prepaid. First your phone news – NPD Group says almost one of every three smartphones purchased in the U.S. during the first quarter was bought without a contract. Prepaid smartphones sales doubled from the first quarter of last year; overall smartphone sales were up 42%. One of the biggest gainers in prepaid was the iPhone, but Samsung still dominates.
In other news, pre-orders are starting for the Nvidia Shield. The chipmaker is selling its first consumer device on its website as well as at Gamestop, Newegg, Microcenter and Canada computing. It’s expected to ship in June. The Shield is a mobile gaming console with an HD touchscreen and Android 4.2. But It’s thick enough to have a long-lasting battery and powerful speakers. Nvidia is selling it for $349.
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