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Apple and Virgin Mobile USA Planning to Launch iPhone 5, But Timeframe Unknown

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While the three major U.S iPhone carriers launched the iPhone 5 on September 21 and prepaid carrier Cricket and a number of regional carriers followed suit on September 28, one U.S. brand has been curiously silent about its plans for the iPhone 5: Sprint's prepaid Virgin Mobile unit. Virgin launched the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 in late June, offering prepaid plans for as low as $30 per month to customers willing to pay full retail price for their iPhones.

But while no official iPhone 5 announcement has been made, MacRumors has confirmed that Apple does indeed have Virgin-specific CDMA iPhone 5 units lined up and ready to go. The full suite of Virgin Mobile USA iPhone 5 model numbers includes:

Black
- MD250LL/A: 16 GB
- MD489LL/A: 32 GB
- MD574LL/A: 64 GB

White
- MD355LL/A: 16 GB
- MD566LL/A: 32 GB
- MD591LL/A: 64 GB

A timeframe for an iPhone 5 launch on Virgin Mobile USA is currently unknown, and it is unclear why the carrier did not introduce the iPhone 5 last week alongside competitor Cricket. Among the sixteen official iPhone carriers in the United States, only Virgin Mobile and regional carrier Alaska Communications have yet to introduce the iPhone 5. When asked about Virgin Mobile's iPhone 5 plans last week, a representative simply told MacRumors that the carrier has "made no announcements about this".

Article Link: Apple and Virgin Mobile USA Planning to Launch iPhone 5, But Timeframe Unknown
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/10/01/apple-and-virgin-mobile-usa-planning-to-launch-iphone-5-but-timeframe-unknown/
S

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
713
great news. I can't bring myself to signing a contract with the us bloodsuckers.
 
D

darkslide29

macrumors 68000
Oct 5, 2011
1,861
886
San Francisco, California
rcjh22 said:
What about T-Mobile? :(
Click to expand...

Buy a GSM unlocked (when available) phone directly from Apple and take it to T-Mobile, they will provide you with a SIM.

You won't get LTE obviously, but some markets (including the San Francisco Bay Area) are getting 3G HSPA+ compatibility with the same frequency band that AT&T uses, so that you aren't stuck on Edge speeds.

In the long term, T-Mobile should start rolling out LTE sometime in 2013, but I wouldn't necessarily be counting on it.
 
iParis

iParis

macrumors 68040
Jul 29, 2008
3,671
31
New Mexico
Yep! Hell, I could have submitted this rumor. When I got my iPhone swapped at the genius bar it wan an unactivated model. It didn't have a sim card in it so when I set it up it asked me the carrier. It gave me Verizon, Sprint, and Virgin Mobile as options. It gave me two warnings saying it will be locked to that carrier before letting me continue.
 
DCstewieG

DCstewieG

macrumors regular
Jun 30, 2008
105
275
U.S.A.
This could be my next (and first) iPhone. But I don't think it's a secret why it's not available yet. Sprint - owners of Virgin in the U.S. - would rather sell you...well, Sprint service. As long as iPhones are supply-constrained, why would they offer their cheap option?

Very good to see they'll have more than just the 16GB version.
 
jimi78

jimi78

macrumors regular
Jun 15, 2010
216
39
Carlsbad, CA
If Sprint sucks for data speeds in the States why would anyone pick this phone up for Virgin? Virgin is constrained to the same horrible speeds that Sprint has right? This news seems like moot in my opinion.
 
ktappe

ktappe

macrumors regular
Oct 10, 2003
114
18
Wilmington, DE
Saves $

If you assume most iPhone users pay $75/month, a $30 plan would save them $45/month. That means the initial monetary outlay for the iPhone 5 would be made up in 14-18 months, depending on which model you buy. After that it's all money in the bank. You'd be a minimum of $270 ahead after two years.

Of course, this all assumes that the $30/month quote includes both voice and data. (Since iMessage came about, I don't think we need include texting in calculations anymore.)
 
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nickn

macrumors 6502
Jun 17, 2011
386
0
jimi78 said:
If Sprint sucks for data speeds in the States why would anyone pick this phone up for Virgin? Virgin is constrained to the same horrible speeds that Sprint has right? This news seems like moot in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Sprint's CDMA network is no star, as it typically deliveres around 1mbps down, but NO company can beat the price. VM offers 300 minutes, and unlimited DATA and text for just $30 a month off contract. I think that vast majority of people would take a speed cut for what they are charging.

STiNG Operation said:
I'm really curious to see how good their service is. Do you have any idea?
Click to expand...
It is run off the Sprint Network. I live in the Chicago area, and the service is excellent. Data speeds over the 3G CDMA network aren't exactly the best, as I manage around 1mbps down, but it always works, which is important for me.

AustinIllini said:
I think it's based on Sprint's network. If I'm right, that's not good, but the price is awesome.
Click to expand...
Yes, VM is a subsidiary of Sprint and as such they use the same network. I have been all across the country and Sprint through my VM phone worked fine. I drove From Chicago to Atlanta last year and me and the other occupants of the car used my phone for about 10 hours total. Not once did we ever find a dead spot...
 
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lwapps

lwapps

macrumors regular
Sep 3, 2012
109
0
DCstewieG said:
This could be my next (and first) iPhone. But I don't think it's a secret why it's not available yet. Sprint - owners of Virgin in the U.S. - would rather sell you...well, Sprint service. As long as iPhones are supply-constrained, why would they offer their cheap option?

Very good to see they'll have more than just the 16GB version.
Click to expand...

I don't see how more network providers can be anything but a good thing!
 
S

snebes

macrumors 6502a
Apr 20, 2008
810
713
STiNG Operation said:
I'm really curious to see how good their service is. Do you have any idea?
Click to expand...

AustinIllini said:
I think it's based on Sprint's network. If I'm right, that's not good, but the price is awesome.
Click to expand...

nickn said:
Sprint's CDMA network is no star, as it typically deliveres around 1mbps down, but NO company can beat the price. VM offers 300 minutes, and unlimited text AND UNLIMITEDDATA for just $30 a month off contract. I think that vast majority of people would take a speed cut for what they are charging. If you get the EVO 3D, with WiMAX support, you get around 10-15mbps down at the same price, meaning VM itself is a great company.
Click to expand...

Sprint offers LTE in come areas. Chicago (where I am) being one of them.

http://www.sprint.com/landings/lte/index.html?ECID=vanity:4GLTE

This list is somewhat out of date, but still promising.
 
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nickn

macrumors 6502
Jun 17, 2011
386
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Ryth

macrumors 68000
Apr 21, 2011
1,591
157
They probably haven't announced it to let the main carriers get their sales first. The unlocked iPhone 5 hasn't even appeared yet at Apple stores..usually appears a month later.

The issue with the VM one is that you won't be able to use it overseas and pop a SIM in it since its CDMA. Doesn't matter for most but for some, the GSM one is the way to go.

Five of the top seven carriers in the U.S. use CDMA: Verizon Wireless, Sprint, MetroPCS, Cricket, and U.S. Cellular.

AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.
 
iParis

iParis

macrumors 68040
Jul 29, 2008
3,671
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New Mexico
Ryth said:
They probably haven't announced it to let the main carriers get their sales first. The unlocked iPhone 5 hasn't even appeared yet at Apple stores..usually appears a month later.

The issue with the VM one is that you won't be able to use it overseas and pop a SIM in it since its CDMA. Doesn't matter for most but for some, the GSM one is the way to go.

Five of the top seven carriers in the U.S. use CDMA: Verizon Wireless, Sprint, MetroPCS, Cricket, and U.S. Cellular.

AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM.
Click to expand...

The iPhone 5 uses sim cards no matter the carrier. When I got mine swapped I had to transfer the sim card that, yes, said Verizon on it. Verizon iPhone's come with their sim card slot unlocked, I don't think Sprint does yet. Though when I set mine up it was unactivated so it asked me the carrier. It gave me the options of Verizon, Sprint, or Virgin Mobile. I bet I could have selected Sprint or Virgin Mobile to be one of the few with an unlocked sim slot!
 
nburwell

nburwell

macrumors 603
May 6, 2008
5,448
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I didn't last a full month on VM when I bought the iPhone 4S. I would be sure to avoid the iPhone 5 on it too.
 
I

Ichabod.

macrumors regular
Oct 1, 2012
122
1
nickn said:
Sprint's CDMA network is no star, as it typically deliveres around 1mbps down, but NO company can beat the price. VM offers 300 minutes, and unlimited DATA and text for just $30 a month off contract. I think that vast majority of people would take a speed cut for what they are charging.
Click to expand...

Their website says that they do throttle after 2.5 GB/month (3.5 GB/month if $15/month hotspot is purchased), but when your whole plan costs the same as just the data of competitors, it's worth considering if the coverage is up to snuff in your area.
 
iParis

iParis

macrumors 68040
Jul 29, 2008
3,671
31
New Mexico
nburwell said:
I didn't last a full month on VM when I bought the iPhone 4S. I would be sure to avoid the iPhone 5 on it too.
Click to expand...

Why's that?

Ichabod. said:
Their website says that they do throttle after 2.5 GB/month (3.5 GB/month if $15/month hotspot is purchased), but when your whole plan costs the same as just the data of competitors, it's worth considering if the coverage is up to snuff in your area.
Click to expand...

Geeze. Throttling on already the slowest network? Dial-up status.
 
S

segfaultdotorg

macrumors 65816
Jan 25, 2007
1,118
1,320
Dangit! I just ported my number to Straight Talk due to the unavailability of the iPhone 5 with VMo. On the other hand, VMo's coverage in my area looks pretty spotty.
 
iParis

iParis

macrumors 68040
Jul 29, 2008
3,671
31
New Mexico
segfaultdotorg said:
Dangit! I just ported my number to Straight Talk due to the unavailability of the iPhone 5 with VMo. On the other hand, VMo's coverage in my area looks pretty spotty.
Click to expand...

You could have gone to Virgin Mobile.. When I got my iPhone swapped at the genius bar it wan an unactivated model. It didn't have a sim card in it so when I set it up it asked me the carrier. It gave me Verizon, Sprint, and Virgin Mobile as options. It gave me two warnings saying it will be locked to that carrier before letting me continue. Then again, I don't know if they'd support you or give you a nano sim, though it would be stupid if they didn't since after that it's locked to Virgin Mobile.
 
T

Tiger8

macrumors 68020
May 23, 2011
2,479
649
segfaultdotorg said:
Dangit! I just ported my number to Straight Talk due to the unavailability of the iPhone 5 with VMo. On the other hand, VMo's coverage in my area looks pretty spotty.
Click to expand...

Does Straighttalk have a nano sim yet? I thought they are holding off??

Very interested in Straight talk, you are not missing much on Virgin Mobile. Great phone, horrible data.

I used to be Sprint's biggest advocate on this board (check my older posts), we had an awsome first 10 months, but the past two months have been absolutely horrendous, and with the iPhone 5 launch I decided to break my contract and go prepaid with an iPhone 5 (and sell the 4s)
 
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