StraightTalk To Add Verizon-Powered LG Enlighten Android Smartphone

Not one to rest on its laurels, StraightTalk will be adding another Verizon-powered Android smartphone to its lineup in the coming weeks with the stealth confirmation that it will launch the LG Enlighten entry-level Android smartphone within the next few weeks. This will be the prepaid operator’s second Verizon-powered smartphone following the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim last month two weeks after the Verizon launch.

The Enlighten as launched on Verizon last year features Android Gingerbread, a 3.5 inch display and a sliding hardware QWERTY keyboard underpinned by an 800MHz Qualcomm Scorpion processor based off of the higher-end Snapdragon core with full support for Flash 10 despite Adobe abandoning further development for mobile devices.

With the Samsung Proclaim experiencing unexpected levels of popularity to the point that the phone is currently sold out online, StraightTalk may be looking to diversify its Android lineup and take full advantage of its newly revived agreement with Verizon Wireless, as its current $45 unlimited service rate greatly undercuts the carrier’s own $80 rate for smartphones on prepaid while offering a higher data allowance per month at 4GB with the same level of coverage, since Verizon restricts prepaid smartphones to its own native coverage footprint and 1GB of data per month.

With the LG Enlighten, StraightTalk may also be moving away from relying on Sprint for new devices and network support, as the provider previously signed an agreement with the carrier to provide Android smartphones, beginning with the rebranded Samsung Precedent, then expanding to the LG Optimus Q and Black, on account of Sprint being the only carrier at the time to allow smartphones unlimited data access without any restrictions at all levels, including wholesale access.

However, StraightTalk has since endured complaints of poor service with Sprint Android smartphones on account of that carrier’s overloaded network and smaller coverage area compared to Verizon, with many of the complaints centering on the desire for smartphones powered by Verizon despite releasing more Sprint-powered devices in recent months with the Huawei Ascend II and the planned future launch of the currently Virgin Mobile exclusive Alcatel One Touch Flex Android smartphone.

Now with the popularity of the Proclaim, StraightTalk may be looking to diversify its smartphone lineup with more Verizon models in its lineup in addition to current Sprint models in order to satisfy all of its current customers while working to draw in new customers to its increasingly popular service.

[LG User Guide (PDF)]