no-contract

RadioShack Wireless today added another Android-based handset to its burgeoning roster of no-contract smartphones. Available just in time for the holiday shopping season, the HTC Desire C can now be yours for a cool $119.99.

While it's certainly not going to replace your existing Android experience, it's plenty for a first-time smartphone adopter. Those who want to dip their toes in the Android waters without breaking the bank will likely appreciate the device.

Powered by Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the Desire C features a 3.5-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera, a 600MHz processor, 512MB RAM, … Read more

By definition, the no-contract carrier model is designed to save you money over the two-year contract agreement that reigns supreme here in the U.S.

The question is: How much do you really gain by going prepaid, and what do you lose from the subscriber experience? Without a doubt, no-contract carriers like MetroPCS, Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, and Cricket Wireless can dramatically cut your monthly cell phone bill, but there are trade-offs.

I'm not going to dive into every carrier's pricing structure and phone offerings, so for the sake of comparison, I'm going to break down the … Read more

Leaked price plans for RadioShack's rumored foray into no contract wireless plans show smartphone plans starting at $50 for 3G service, Engaget posted today.

The gadget-focused blog posted rumors last week that RadioShack was getting into the no contract business with Cricket providing the service.

Cricket offers similar no-contract service at other retailers, but according to the previously leaked memo, RadioShack's service will offer "an exclusive 8GB SD memory card with all Muve Music phones."

Today's leak highlights several price plans. Smartphone plans come with unlimited voice, messaging, and the Muve Music downloads. $50 a … Read more

Feeling the smartphone blues? You know the kind I mean: the gloom of paying ungodly sums of money to your carrier for the duration of that inevitable two-year contract?

Maybe it's not so inevitable -- and maybe the sums aren't so ungodly. By opting for a no-contract phone from a carrier with decent monthly rates, you can banish those blues.

To wit: Virgin Mobile has the HTC Evo V 4G Android smartphone for $239.99 shipped (add it to your cart to get that price). It normally sells for $299.99, so right off the bat you're … Read more

Virgin Mobile USA has added another Android smartphone to its lineup, today unveiling the PCD Chaser. Priced at just $79.99 without a contract, the handset has plenty of hardware for folks ready to make the jump from a feature phone to a smartphone.

Powered by Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread, the Chaser has a 3.2-inch display, a 3-megapixel camera, and an 800MHz processor. There's also 512MB RAM and the same amount of ROM. In addition, the 3G smartphone features a 2GB microSD card (but it supports up to 32GB), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. It has a 1,450mAh battery and comes with an assortment of preloaded applications, such as Virgin Mobile Live, Virgin Mobile ID Packs, Facebook, and Twitter.… Read more

It's time to pony up for prepaid iPhones, avoid password scams and drop that mayor obsession:

The iPhone is coming to Virgin Mobile at the end of June. But you'll have to drop a hefty $650 to get the iPhone 4S, since there's no two-year contract. Plans start at $30 a month. It's cheaper in the long run to go prepaid with this plan instead of spending $200 upfront and paying for a more expensive monthly bill for two years (but you'll be limited with talk minutes). Virgin is on the Sprint network.

If Android … Read more

We're dropping down from space, getting touchy with Windows 8 and leaping over a new iPhone carrier:

The iPhone has taken a leap into the prepaid, no-contract world. Beginning in late June, the prepaid carrier Leap Wireless will sell Apple's iPhone under the Cricket service. This makes it the first carrier to sell the iPhone without a contract. But don't expect the iPhone to come cheap. The 16 GB iPhone 4s will be priced at $500 dollars.

So that leaves T-Mobile in the corner, just tapping its foot waiting for its turn to dance with Apple. With … Read more

When I first encountered the Virgin Mobile Motorola Triumph last July, I called it the best no-contract phone you could buy. And that was when it was priced at $299.99.

Right now, Wal-Mart has the Motorola Triumph prepaid Android phone for $188, plus $2.97 for shipping (unless you opt for site-to-store, which is free). Sales tax also applies.

Unlike a lot of prepaid Android phones, the Triumph pulls no punches in the features department. Granted, specs alone don't tell the whole tale, but they tell a lot. The Triumph features a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 32GB of onboard … Read more

Virgin Mobile has begun taking preorders for its next smartphone, the Gingerbread-powered PCD Venture.

The Venture is an affordable option for customers looking to scoop up their first Android device; it features a 2.8-inch display, a 600MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, and microSD expansion slot (for cards up to a 2GB). Taking a peek at the user manual reveals that the internal storage is 512MB and the digital camera 2 megapixels. While seasoned users might not get excited over the hardware, I suspect that both will matter little to the target user base.

Additional details for the Venture include … Read more