Why is Prepaid such a dirt word?

Posted by: Yossarian Norman June 10, 2011 in Cell Phones, Opinion

I often find myself checking out other sites when a new phone is announced. So yesterday after Sprint and Motorola announced the Photon 4G and Triumph I looked to see other sites thoughts about these devices. Mainly, I wanted to see what they said about the Triumph. Don’t get me wrong, the Photon 4G looks good. The idea of a 4G World Phone is great. And the fact that is dual-core and works with the laptop and multimedia dock like the Atrix 4G makes it even better. But if you have read my “Where are the high-end prepaid smartphones?” article – and if you haven’t you should – you know that I am a fan of prepaid devices but wondered when one like the Triumph would be released. To say that I was angry about some of the remarks I saw would be an understatement.

To some people it may seem weird that I would be angry about other people’s thoughts on prepaid devices. And I know everyone is welcome to their own opinion and I would never want anyone to feel like that couldn’t voice it. But at the same time, the amount of people saying things like “it’s good for a prepaid phone” or it ONLY have a 1 GHz processor, it’s not the best thing out but its good enough for a prepaid customer” somehow really gets to me.

I mean, the Triumph has the same processor as the Thunderbolt and same clock speed as many of the devices people consider high-end. So why is it now that there is a prepaid phone coming to the market with specs like this , is it not good enough? The same people who would call the HTC Droid Incredible 2 or LG Revolution a high-end device are the ones saying these things. And then it hit me, it’s because it’s a prepaid phone.

In many ways it is like when a teenage does something amazing and people are say “its great, for a teenager”. We relegate all of the accomplishments of prepaid carriers as something that is good for what it is. Well I think it’s just good. Prepaid should not be such a dirty word. We have carriers like MetroPCS offering 4G service and Visual Voicemail, Virgin Mobile offering unlimited text and data on all of their plan starting at only $25 a month, and Simple Mobile offering you that ability to get whatever GSM device you want. How can you think anything other than this is great. On a prepaid carrier, there are no Early Termination Fees, no two-year contracts, and you get all of the important features that you get on a postpaid account.

Times have changed. Years ago, if you had a prepaid phone you got the cheapest phone the carrier could get and didn’t get the same services or features as postpaid customers. It also meant you weren’t in a position to sign a contract. That is went the stigma of prepaid started. But in the last 8 years or so, this has changed drastically.Now you can get some great phones, features and services. And many people are deciding to go prepaid just because the cost benefits. Maybe I was wrong to question the lack of “higher-end” devices in the market. Maybe I am just adding to the stigma that prepaid. But my questioning was not to say that what off-contract carriers were offering was not good. I guess It was just the American lust for more, or to be more accurate, bigger while still keeping that lost monthly cost balance. Well, Virgin Mobile is doing that now. The Triumph has the same; if not better; specs and features than what is considered high-end on a postpaid carrier. If a phone with a 4.1 inch screen, 1 GHz processor, HDMI out, a 5 megapixel HD camera, a VGA front-facing camera, EV-DO Rev A data(that means it runs on the highest end of Sprint’s 3G)and a no contract monthly plan that has unlimited text and data for $25 a month is not just all around good, then we really need to reevaluate what we consider good.

Rydn_black

I agree with your conclusion that “prepaid” is a term that has become associated with “poor credit” in the same way as the term “renter”.

In the end, it should always come down to the services you receive for your money.
I would ask that you not shout so loudly about the features and phones that are coming on the market for the “prepaid” folks or the carriers may start upping the prices for “those poor folks” that can’t afford to be fleeced each month by their contract.

Rydn_black
http://www.ryanstake.net RyansTake

I agree with you, but some of it has to do with the fact that there’s a whole, giant slate of new phones coming out in the next generation of “tier one” phones coming out soon that outclass this. But, this phone’s specs are definitely up there with pretty much any of the current generation, as that generation reaches its last phase — and that, for a no-contract phone, really is an impressive thing.

The Optimus V, which I use and is Virgin Mobile’s best phone, does its job… but it’s not anything remotely close to an EVO or Galaxy or iPhone…. but the Triumph will be, even if it won’t be for too much longer after it comes out. And that’s still a victory, and bodes well for the future. I don’t think it will be too much longer before Metro PCS, Virgin Mobile and others realize we no-contract plebeians like nice phones, too, and are willing to pay for them if they’re available… we just hate the stupid contracts that come with the major carriers. The fact that these companies can barely stock the non-atrocious smart phones they do offer means we’ll continue to see nicer and nicer phones, quicker and quicker, like the Triumph.
- http://www.boymeetsphone.com Yossarian Norman
  
  That is true. With devices with dual and quad-cores coming to the market soon, if you are looking for a super fast device then this will seem old. But at the some time, with the slew of laptops available with dual-core or better processors there is still a huge market for those with single cores. I feel like for the smartphone to do everything that average person would need and want it to do, a single core device will work. So it will always have a place in the market.
  
  With companies like Simple Mobile and their fast growth I think other prepaid carriers are really going to start to realize that yes, people who choose prepaid are willing to pay for better devices. I think that they were too slow to react to the fact that the prepaid market has been growing so quickly because people became sick of contracts. But at the same time; in the US at least; carrier do all they can to make the best devices unavailable on prepaid carrier. In almost every single country that Virgin Mobile operates in they have the option of getting some great devices on prepaid; including the iPhone, Galaxy S, and HTC Desire S. But with US carrier signing exclusive deals with companies to ensure that they are the only one with the device. With very few of them have a viable prepaid option, it makes it that much harder for prepaid carriers to get good devices.
  
  I really hope that the Triumph is just the first of many phones of its caliber coming to Sprint’s prepaid carriers. And I hope its a sign that there is a renewed resolve for these carriers to offer a range of smartphone; from budget-friendly to high-end “superphones”.