The HTC First smart phone -- also known as the Facebook phone because it comes with Facebook Home installed -- has been in the news because AT&T dropped the price to 99 cents just a month after the phone debuted. And now there are reports that it likely will be discontinued. Considering that most new smart phones cost $200 and up when you agree to a two-year contract with a service provider (the cost is even higher without a contract), a 99-cent phone sounds pretty appealing.
However, you can find new smart phones -- ones that probably aren't at risk of being discontinued -- for even less than 99 cents. In fact, you can find plenty that are free if you sign up for a contract with a service provider. Here are 15 that won't cost you anything. Many of these are limited-time offers, so you'll need to act quickly if you are interested.
Apple iPhone 4. This $449.99 3G phone is free with a two-year Verizon contract. See details.
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Apple iPhone 4S. This $549.99 3G phone with Siri -- the voice-activated assistant -- is free when you open a new line with Sprint and sign up for a two-year contract. See details.
Droid Incredible by HTC. This $499.99 4G Android phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
HTC EVO. This $549.99 4G phone with an Android operating system is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
LG Lucid 2. This $349.99 4G Android phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
LG Optimus G. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
LG Viper. This $399.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line with Sprint or add a line to your account and sign up for a two-year contract. See details.
Motorola Photon Q. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
Nokia Lumia 822. This $449.99 4G Windows phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
Pantech Marauder. This $349.99 4G Android phone with a slide-out keyboard is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
Pantech Pocket. This $349.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year AT&T contract. See details.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay. This $369.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year T-Mobile contract. See details.
Samsung Galaxy II. This $499.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year Sprint contract and a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
Samsung Galaxy III. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
T-Mobile myTouch. This $259.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year T-Mobile contract. See details.
Note: Sprint is offering several other phones in addition to the ones listed here for free. Visit Sprint.com for a complete list.
If you don't like the idea of being tied into a two-year contract, you also can cut the cost of a smart phone by buying an unlocked phone (a phone that's not locked into a single carrier's network) and using a prepaid wireless provider. The phone will cost more, but you'll save big with a prepaid wireless plan. See Cut the Cost of an iPhone in Half to learn more.
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