Virtual operator Straight Talk has quietly announced that it will launch its first Android smartphone in the Samsung M828C, which it will brand as the Samsung Galaxy Precedent. The phone is identical to the Prevail currently sold on Boost Mobile with a 3.2 inch capacitive display at WVGA resolution, 800MHz processor with 384MB of RAM, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi, 2.0 megapixel camera with video capture and microSD slot. The phone will also usher in a new deal with Sprint to offer service for the phone after its previous agreement with Verizon has been scaled back to entry level phones. The phone will retail for $149.99 and will be limited to Straight Talk’s online sales portal.
Straight Talk Announces Samsung Galaxy Prevail as Precedent, Ushers in New Sprint Deal
Humberto Saabedra
Humberto Saabedra is the Editor-in-Chief of AnimeNews.biz, PhoneNews.com and an occasional columnist for Ani.me. He can also be found musing on things at @AnimeNewsdotbiz
why not a verizon droid
Because verizon is too greedy. I’m still trying to figure out why anyone would pay so much for service. Prepay is the only way to go.
Verizon is one of the most greedy ist companies I’ve ever used in my opinion. When Alltel was bought out, that screwed the whole thing for me!! Straight Talk is ok but, only with smartphones. Their regular phones won’t do well on mobile internet. Their customer service really, really sucks! “Sand Dollar’s” can’t be understood nor do they know crap about their jobs! It took me 8 calls including Walmart calling them plus a BBB complaint to get a replacement smartphone. I have to send mine back first and then they suppose to send the replacement E71 to me. I have to do without a phone til then!! Sucks they don’t trust!
I’m sooo excited to FINALLY see this phone is real and will be available in the near future on the Straight Talk line of phone offerings. I’m with the first guy up there…I would LOVE it to be on the Verizon network, because I get the best “tower” service with them. I currently have a Nokia E71, which works great where I live, but not so well everywhere I travel. As you know the Nokia E71 works on the At&t network. Since I switched from my older Samsung T40something er other which was on the Verizon network, I’ve experienced dropped calls (sometimes periodically, and always in a few places when driving), and certain places I travel I have NO service. I absolutely loved when the phone I was using I was on the Verizon network. I’m not sure how service will be on the Sprint network in the places I travel, as I’m certain it will work fine where I live since it’s a bigger metroplex area. Perhaps I should look up a Sprint coverage map so I can check out the coverage area…because I don’t want to pay $149.99 for a phone I can’t use in all or most areas I travel. After all, I paid $199.99 for a phone I already can’t use in all or most areas…LOL
What remains to be seen is how much data usage Sprint is giving Straight Talk customers before throttling will kick in.
ST should try to get a deal on Sprint’s 4G next.
So even though StraightTalk uses Verizon’s network too, does this mean they won’t allow roaming? They have one of the cheapest unlimited options, have an android now, but are being limited by the networks they use-kind of means they will never be able to truly compete if they are still governed by the big carriers, regardless of how great a deal they are prepared to offer.
Jen, no virtual operator is allowed to roam on other carrier’s networks. The network access agreements that are signed usually do not include roaming access, typically for reasons of increased cost.
If its on Sprint system and don’t roam the Droid will be totally useless in most markets so why bother?? The first phones on cdma (the old Alltel towers worked the best. It was the old “B” scan on bag phones so to speak. Next they’ll screw us on talk and or texting. They still have text pagers folks unlimited at $24.95 a month. No web though. Google bought Motorola so now you’ll see some real bs! God help us.
@Humberto To the best of my knowledge, Tracfone does offer roaming at no extra charge. I know my dad’s SVC (Tracfone’s cheap senior offering) advertises no roaming charges. I have no idea which of the carriers that they use, this applies to-possibly only certain carriers have agreed to this with them- and not necessarily Sprint and Verizon, as you were discussing. But just thought I’d point out that TF does offer roaming on other carrier’s networks. Otherwise, thanks for your informative articles.
Why not just get the real thing… the prevail , makes sense right ? me honestly I like the samsung prevail this here just look like a off spring .. n plus im a fan of boost mobile anyway since they had their chirps n the plan is great n reasonable .. Verizon needs to lower their unlimited plans who in their right mind paying 99.00 $ ?? … T- mobile also needs to bring it down a notch …. At&t trying to be like boostmobile with the 50$ plan but its not happening because on At&t u got to pay for data as well with T-mobile Smh at these greedy companies.
Thanks for posting this informative article about the new Straight Talk Android offering. Do you have a press release or some other source with additional details on the agreement between Straight Talk and verizon?
I just spoke with a StraightTalk rep and she told that the Precendent is a Sprint ONLY phone so it will work only under Sprint’s CDMA-S (Android) coverage. She also admitted that under this plan urban coverage will be almost excellent but rural coverage can be next to none.
I also asked what happens if -say- a year from now if I want to take this phone back to my country (I’m a foreign student). Anyone know if this phone can be unlocked, hopefully legally, with a code (even for a fee) from StraightTalk?
Also can someone confirm that the Precedent is EXACTLY the same as the Prevail?
Thank you!
I HAVE THE SAMSUNG PREVAIL AND I AM COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH IT. IT IS A BOOST PHONE BUT THE COVERAGE IS AWESOME AND MY PLAN WITH BOOST IS AWESOME. $ 50 BUCKS A MONTH FOR UNLIMITED TXT, WEB ( FULL WEB BROWSING THAT IS LOL ) EMAIL AND LOTS OF PRACTICAL BUT FREE APPS.PLUS I HAVE UNLIMITED WITH SHRINKAGE WHICK MEANS MY PHONE BILL WILL EVENTUALLY BE $35 BUCKS A MONTH FOR EVERYTHING …WHAT MORE COULD I WANT ?
Sprint prepaid or post paid sucks unless you are in or near a big city or Interstate! Try going on or living on a back road and using sprint!! Boost, Virgin, Straight Talk, whoever!
when i push the screen unlock/power button my screen won’t light up i have not got it wet!
why is it doing this?