500 MB boost bolsters T-Mobile US-powered Wal-Mart plans in face of increased competition
Wal-Mart’s Family Mobile service received a boost over the weekend as the big-box retailer increased the amount of LTE-based data access for two of its rate plans.
The $30-per-month plan now includes 1 gigabyte of LTE data access, while the $40-per-month plan now includes 3 GB of high-speed data. The boost is a modest 500 megabytes per month, but helps keep the Wal-Mart branded service competitive with recent moves in the prepaid space. Both plans throttle data speeds once the data limit is reached, and both also include unlimited domestic voice calling and text messaging. Customers who sign up for multiple lines receive a $5 discount for each additional line.
The Wal-Mart Family Mobile service was launched in 2010, and has run exclusively across T-Mobile US’ network. The service initially included just unlimited domestic voice and text messaging for $45 per month, with additional lines priced at $25 each. Wal-Mart added data access to the service in 2012.
The latest move keeps the service competitive against a slew of bolstered offerings and new entrants into the no-contract space. The space has become increasingly important for established operators that are moving away from service-based contracts as well as attempts to penetrate the relatively underpenetrated no-contract market.
Tracfone Wireless recently unveiled its Verizon Wireless-powered Total Wireless service exclusively through Wal-Mart locations offering single- and multiline accounts that tap into data bucket trends established by larger operators in which multiple lines of service can share data access from a single account. The service is limited to Verizon Wireless’ CDMA-based 3G network.
For a more direct comparison, T-Mobile US recently updated its prepaid offer under the Simply Prepaid brand, offering single-line service that begins at $35 per month for unlimited domestic calling and text messaging; $40 per month for 1 GB of high-speed data; a $50 plan with up to 3 GB of data; and a $60 plan with 5 GB of high-speed data. T-Mobile US’ plans allow customers to continue accessing slower-speed data services once they reach their data limit.
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