Apple iPhone Now Available from Cricket with a Pre-Paid Plan

For the first time, a pre-paid Apple iPhone can be purchased in the United States. Cricket Wireless is the carrier responsible for this milestone.

The latest version of Apple's smartphone has been available since last fall, but only to those who have a post-paid wireless contract. This is the first time pre-pay customers can get it.

Cricket is offering the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S with a $55 per-month plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and data up to 2.3GB. It is selling the 16GB model of the iPhone 4 for $400 while offering the 16GB version of the iPhone 4S for $500.

Both versions are now available at Cricket company-owned stores and select dealers in about 60 markets around the U.S. They are also available online on Cricket's website.

More Options = Better

Virgin Mobile will also sell the iPhone 4 and 4S with a pre-paid plan. They will start offering the pre-paid Apple devices on June 29.

Offering its handset to pre-pay customers is thought to be part of Apple's strategy to better compete against devices running Google's Android OS, which have long been available with pre-pay plans.