what price freedom?

Free Checking Accounts Are Vanishing And Consumers Are Letting It Happen

Free Checking Accounts Are Vanishing And Consumers Are Letting It Happen

U.S. consumers and businesses currently have $1.4 trillion stashed away in checking accounts and banks and credit unions around the country. That’s more than ever before, and most of that cash is being held in accounts that earn absolutely no interest. At the same time, financial institutions are continuing to cut down on the availability of unconditional free checking. [More]

Does $100 Moto G Shake Notion That Unsubsidized Smartphones Must Be Expensive?

Does $100 Moto G Shake Notion That Unsubsidized Smartphones Must Be Expensive?

The general line of thought in the wireless market is that prepaid customers are offered older and cheaper smartphones because most prepaid customers don’t also want to splash out the $500-800 for an unlocked, top-of-the-line device. Meanwhile, contract phone customers are pitched those pricier phones but at discounted rates (or monthly installment plans) that make the phones more affordable (and lock the customer into months or years of service). But does a good smartphone need to cost so much? Do phones for the prepaid market need to be so bad? Maybe not. [More]