Hy-Vee Selling Branded Phones, Minutes

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee here reported its launch of “Hy-Vee Mobile,” powered by Fusion Mobile, Austin, Texas, this week. Hy-Vee customers will now be able to purchase a Hy-Vee Mobile phone and plan cards with prepaid minutes in all Hy-Vee stores. Plans run from $20 to $125. Additionally, customers may purchase phones that can send three Picturemails for 18 cents a day, browse the wireless Web for 20 cents a day and be walkie-talkie capable for only 50 cents per day. Calls to Mexico are as low as 2.5 cents per minute. The Hy-Vee phones will be competitively priced from $50 to $200. “With today’s fast-pace lifestyles, cell phones quickly keep families, friends and businesses connected,” said Tom Watson, Hy-Vee vice president of general merchandising. “To keep things extremely simple, there are no credit checks, no long-term contracts and no hidden fees. Getting your phone and minutes at a Hy-Vee checkout line is about as easy as it gets.” In addition, Costco, Issaquah, Wash., will sell AT&T, San Antonio, Texas, wireless services at nearly 370 Costco locations nationwide, the companies said this week.

Read More of Today's Headlines