Cricket Announces Release Date for First Prepaid Apple iPhone

By Josh Long

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Cricket Communications will offer the iPhone to its customers for the first time next month.

Customers with the $55-per-month unlimited talk, text and data plan can get the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 4 starting June 22.

Leap Wireless-owned Cricket claims it’s the first U.S. prepaid carrier to offer the iPhone to its customers.

Cricket said the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 will be available in its stores and select dealers in nearly 60 markets, online at www.cricket.com/iphone and over the phone at 800-853-7682. The iPhone 4S will be sold for $500 for the 16GB model and the iPhone 4 will be available for $400.

The iPhone once was exclusively sold in the U.S. by AT&T. No longer. Three of the four biggest carriers now sell Apple’s phone, plus a number of regional carriers offer it as well.