Target to launch Brightspot mobile service this weekend

[Shawn Knight]

Target is planning to launch a branded pre-paid mobile phone service that will compete with a similar service from rival Walmart. It’s called Brightspot and it’ll be launching on T-Mobile’s nationwide network starting October 6 according to a recent post on Target’s official blog.

As of Sunday, shoppers will be able to get unlimited talk and text for just $35 per month. If you need data, Target will add a 1GB bundle of high-speed data to your plan for $15 extra.

As an added incentive, the company will give you a $25 gift card for each six months of service which equates to a free month of service each year if you select the $50 plan. Furthermore, Target REDcard holders will receive a five percent discount per month on service – or an extra $30 per year with the more expensive plan.

Target will offer a “robust” selection of phones from flip-phones to more advanced smartphones. Specific brands and handsets weren’t mentioned but if that isn’t an option, you can bring your existing compatible device to the network and pick up a SIM kit to use the phone on Brightspot.

Comparatively, Walmart’s Straight Talk offers service starting at $30 per month for 1,000 minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of data. You can bump up to unlimited everything (2.5GB of high-speed data per month – speeds throttle after that) for just $45 per month and if you want to pay for service in advance, there are some nice discounts worked in.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/54220-target-to-launch-brightspot-mobile-service-this-weekend.html

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

Ok, so Target is offering 1GB plans for $50 on T-mobile's network. T-mobile offers 1GB for $70 on the same network with no contract. What's to stop current T-mobile customers from switching over to Target's plan? Perhaps any equipment plans would have to paid off... but that's about it I think.

And I wonder if T-mobile is a little upset about getting undercut by the company they're leasing their network to.

 

[nubwaxer]

"And I wonder if T-mobile is a little upset about getting undercut by the company they're leasing their network to." they are not.
if you have a t-mobile compatible gsm phone you can get 100 minutes, unlimited data and text for $30/month. if you just talk talk talk all the time you can use your data connection for a voip service or a wifi connection. there is nothing else close to this.