StraightTalk vending machines coming to airports
 

(and also malls as well) - looks nearly identical to the "BestBuy Express" kiosks that sell iPods and Bose QC15's and from the sounds of it you'll be able to buy SIM cards, top-up PIN's, and even a respectable range of ST branded smartphones.

I saw a similar concept (although it resembled a more conventional snack machine, took cash, and didn't sell devices) in the arrivals area at LHR a few weeks ago. Purchased a Vodafone SIM with £10 calling credit for £20, slipped it in my phone and I was making calls by the time I made it to the Heathrow Express platform.

Think visitors to the US will spring for this?

http://consumerist.com/2013/03/28/co...ding-machines/

Seems like a good idea. If I remember correctly, Straight Talk only has monthly plans. If they came out with a pay by the minute option, it'd be great for travelers who are only here for a week or two. But then again, $45 for unlimited everything is a pretty good deal already.

Location map here

http://www.straighttalkblog.com/2013...ail-shops.html

DFW Terminal E, JFK Terminal 2, MSP, OAK (DL Gates) ... seem to be targeting Delta passengers with these machines.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like they're selling new AT&. compatible SIM cards anymore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TracFon...#Straight_Talk

Just saw a Straight Talk vending machine in the food court of Colonie Center Mall in Albany, NY. Looked brand new and wasn't fully loaded yet. I think we're going to see a lot of these.

Not at our mall yet.... but if you want to get rid of your cell phone, we do have an EcoATM

Hallelujah! Will be visiting NY this summer so I'll try to look for a kiosk at JFK.

Only Terminal 2 (Delta) has one of the machines (actually if you look at my earlier post it seems that all the airport installations as of yet are exclusively targeting DL pax - I'm guessing that this will eventually expand if the machines are popular.)

Several shopping centers in the NY/NJ area are going to get the machines as well, so try the mall if there's no love at the airport.

Ah I see, thanks for the heads up!

Semi-relevant question: is StraightTalk's unlimited plans truly unlimited? It just came to my attention that some unlimited plans in the US aren't really unlimited, as there are limits imposed, ie: your speed will be throttled after you hit a certain limit. I'm not from the US, so I'm unaware about these things.

Depends on which network (ST sells phones an SIM cards that operate on Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and until recently AT&T). T-Mobile and Sprint don't seem to care as long as you're not using your phone to download torrents, Verizon would start throttling around 2GB. Problem was with the AT&T based service, who would constantly call customers and threaten to shut them off for excessive use, and by their definition pretty much any use over a few MB per day was considered excessive... I think that's part of the reason ST doesn't resell AT&T service anymore.