Contract-free "prepaid" carriers, on the other hand, leave consumers to pay the full price of a phone.
The rest of the world knows differently and the carrier model sits alongside the contract-free option quite nicely.
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First is a series of contract-free Simple Choice plans, which are similar to those the company offered before.
Like cellphones, tablet plans fall into three main groups: prepaid, postpaid and contract-free.
Attractive prices and the option of contract-free plans could incentivize customers to buy connected devices, like laptops, at Best Buy.
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Besides all the tech specs that make it a fast device that is easy to use and intuitive, it comes unlocked and contract-free.
T-Mobile earlier this month rolled out an entirely new set of service plans that it says are contract-free as a way to lure carrier-wary users to its network.
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With today's LG Spirit 4G launch, MetroPCS continues to expand its LTE-at-a-bargain ideals, announcing a smartphone that carries some pretty decent specs for being contract-free and costing a mere 269 bucks.
The MVNO -- which leans on Sprint's network here in the US -- has just announced plans to sell contract-free Galaxy S IV "for around the full unlocked price" as soon as it can.
Our initial takeaway from the price tiers is that T-Mobile is doing what it can to drive its consumers away from the traditional and over to the non-traditional (for US, at least) Even More Plus plan, but hey, we're not gonna argue over a beneficial contract-free plan, even if monthly phone payments keep us paying the company for at least 20 months.
But does the government allowing the man to enter into this implicit contract make him less free?
Jan is out of contract - he is free to seek other employment and I'm pretty sure that's what he will be doing.
That is an elite crowd all under 31-years-old save A-Rod (you can add Carl Crawford to this list after he signs a massive free agent contract this winter).
An interesting piece in the New York Times weighs the performance vs. legacy value of Derek Jeter as he enters into free agent contract negotiations with the Yankees.
And Wells said that if they offer Price a massive contract when he hits free agency in 2015, there's no way he's turning it down over a facial hair rule.
One of his first orders of business after taking over for Ricciardi three years ago was trading pitcher Roy Halladay to Philadelphia rather than pay him a huge free agent contract.
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It looks like pricing will be announced closer to launch, but you might want to just start putting away the occasional dollar now, because this one ain't exactly going out the door free on contract if you catch our drift.
But it was actually Mr. Bonilla's second free-agent contract that led to his upcoming financial windfall.
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The Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a one-year free-agent contract Aug. 20, 2010.
He was 12 months away from free agency and contract negotiations had broken down: Arsenal had to sell or risk losing him for nothing.
The price excludes store deals such as free phone with contract.
When I signed a free-agent contract with Boston last July, I decided to commit myself to the Celtics and not let my personal life become a distraction.
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Now, the iPhone 4 is free with a contract.
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McClain told the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday that he is retiring from the NFL. McClain, 23, played three seasons with the Oakland Raiders before signing a one-year contract with Baltimore as a free agent April 12.
The outfielder is in the final year of his contract, and heading into free agency as a left fielder rather than a center fielder could hurt his value especially if he struggles to learn the new position.
Also, whereas Reyes was on the cusp of free agency a year ago, the option on Wright's contract effectively means he won't become a free agent until after next season.
Lampard will become a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the season.
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Iginla is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.
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