The Nokia Lumia 620, which we rate as one of the best value for money Windows Phone devices, is now available in select locations in the US, through AT&T's new prepaid subsidiary Aio Wireless. With Aio Wireless there are no subsidies or long term contracts, so the handset price is approximately the same as if it were bought SIM-free. This model of buying a phone outright, and matching it with a SIM-only month-to-month contract, is relatively new in the US (on major carriers), but is more common place outside the US.

The Lumia 620 is available on Aio Wireless for $179.99 (£116). The device can be paired with one of two price plans: Aio Smart ($55 per month) and Aio Pro ($70 per month). Both plans have unlimited talk, messaging and data; the Smart plan includes 2GB of high speed data, the Pro plan includes 7GB of high speed data. High speed data is HSDPA speeds (3.5G), with data dropping down to lower speeds (2G), if you use up your high speed data allowance.

In a nod to the customisation options available with the Lumia 620 all devices bought through Aio Wireless will come with a cyan shell, but customers can exchange it for a violet, yellow, or green shell, at Aio retail locations, for no additional cost. 

For Nokia the rise of these prepaid / contract-free business models represent an opportunity for it to sell its lower cost Windows Phone devices in the US market, although it will face fierce competition from a large number of Android devices in the sub $200 price segment, and it remains to be seen whether the prepaid / contract-free business models can break into the market in a major way.

AT&T see Aio Wireless as way of reach cost conscious users, who do not want to sign up to an annual contract. Jennifer Van Buskirk, president of Aio Wireless, said:

“We talked with no-annual-contract customers and created our service around what they want.  They want simple, easy plan choices with unlimited offers; first-class service at affordable prices; great devices; nationwide voice and data coverage; and no annual contracts. Today’s wireless customers don't want to compromise. We are set up to win over value-conscious customers who are increasingly moving towards smartphones and mobile broadband.” 

As Matt Miller, writing on ZDNet, explains Aio Wireless does the same thing for AT&T that Ultra Mobile does for T-Mobile and Virgin Mobile does for Sprint. Customers can buy a device through Aio Wireless, or can opt to bring their own GSM phone buy buying a SIM for $9.99. Initially Aio Wireless is only available in Houston, Orlando, and Tampa, but there are plans to roll out the service in the rest of the country over the next year.

The Nokia Lumia 620 is one of a number of smartphones being ranged on Aio Wireless. Other devices include the Samsung Galaxy Express ($249.99), Apple iPhone 4S ($549.99), Apple iPhone 5 ($649.99), Samsung Galaxy Amp ($99.99), and the ZTE Prelude ($49.99)

Via: ZDNet