Sprint to Launch iPhone Through Prepaid Brand Virgin Mobile in Coming Weeks

[malman89]

I'm rocking an LG Optimus V on VM with the $40 (now $45) plan of 1200 minutes, unlimited text and data. I didn't even find the throttling that noticeable when I tethered my phone (for free) for a whole month last year when I was without a dedicated home internet provider. Might be different now on that front, not sure.

If I could stick with my same plan (or $45 since if you upgrade a phone now you get bumped up), I would think about doing it - especially since VM has no WP models (which I'd rather get next tbh).

People complaining about the upfront costs are either bad with numbers or have an amazing grandfathered plans and/or discounted plans -

VM:
iPhone 4s on VM, say $400
Monthly rate at $45/month
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $940
Year 2 cost: $540
Total 2 year cost: $1,480

AT&T:
iPhone 4s 16GB: $199.99
Nation 450 w/rollover (cheapest minute plan): $39.99/month
300MB data: $20.00/month
Unlimited messaging: $20.00/month
Monthly rate: $79.99
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $1,159.87
Year 2 cost: $959.88
Total 2 year cost: $2,119.75

You could counter with "but I use WiFi to text, so I don't need the plan" - k, down to $1,639.75. That's almost a draw if you must need AT&T or a GSM phone, but still a difference. VM uses Sprint and it has never failed me since I switched in early 2011 from VZW.

 

[andyx3x]

No way the $35 plan will be an option for the iPhone. I'm guessing it will be $50 a month.

P.S. I might make the switch. It's very tempting.

 

[Ryth]

It's because people in this day and age don't think about that. They just think about the short term.

Agreed. I had a HUGE argument at lunch the other day with a bunch of iPhone users and told them the only reason I didn't have an iPhone yet was because of the absurd plans and when they go to a PayGo/PrePaid, I'll get one.

They were like whats the big deal and I said $2000 over two years for a device that I can use mainly on WiFi the majority of the time is a big deal. That's just not worth it to me.

When I showed them the cost over 2 years, they had no idea they were paying that much..especially the unlimited users...which was almost $3000. I asked them if they really thought that was worth it and most clamored up.

Most don't even come close to their minutes..not by a mile.

I told them, when the iPhone comes to the other carriers, then I'll get one. $40-50 for a phone plan is a lot better then $75-$125. It adds up...a lot.

Our plans in the US are absurdly over-priced.

I'm pretty poor and had an iPhone when I was a teenager

I could care less what carrier or what people use the iPhone..

Maybe that's why you were poor. Did you really need an iPhone?

I find many people who are struggling or are 'poor' by $$ standards to have things they don't really don't need.

No way the $35 plan will be an option for the iPhone. I'm guessing it will be $50 a month.

P.S. I might make the switch. It's very tempting.

$50 is a bargain compared to other plans. The majority of the time...most don't need most of their data plans at all if they are near WiFi most of the time. Add in how much people barely talk now and talk plans are a waste of $$$

 

[BiggAW]

Don't believe it. Most of the places you need to go/be have coverage. Never have had an issue on most PayGo/Prepaid phones.

And lots of people who travel probably wouldn't use these plans...they are ideal for people who are local and don't need ridiculous price point plans for things they'll never use up.

I know for a fact that many places I have been in the last couple of years don't have native Sprint service. Some didn't have native Verizon and/or AT&T either. Pretty much everywhere had some sort of CDMA and GSM coverage through roaming agreements.

 

[Silverbird0000]

Have you forgotten that the iPhone has been sold at Wal-Mart under Steve's watch?

I did not disagree with the iPhone being sold at Walmart, because Walmart was just selling the device for basically the same price as all other vendors. But if you have an iPhone on a prepay service, you cheapen its features, and by doing that you have ignorant people complaining about how slow the iPhone is, spreading the word how they hate it, ect... then people stop buying it, when if said person had just gotten the iPhone on a major carrier in the first place, it would not have been crippled. Even an iPhone on Verizon is not as good as an iPhone on AT&T, if you live in an area that has both services with good reception. I am not just ranting, I kind of know what i'm talking about. I am a network/computer/software engineer.

 

[gjkiii]

[QUOTE

VM:
iPhone 4s on VM, say $400
Monthly rate at $45/month
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $940
Year 2 cost: $540
Total 2 year cost: $1,480

AT&T:
iPhone 4s 16GB: $199.99
Nation 450 w/rollover (cheapest minute plan): $39.99/month
300MB data: $20.00/month
Unlimited messaging: $20.00/month
Monthly rate: $79.99
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $1,159.87
Year 2 cost: $959.88
Total 2 year cost: $2,119.75

[/QUOTE]

That ATT quote is to low. VM gives you 2.5 gigs before throttling. So up the data to $30 per month and don't forget to add tax to the bill (which you can avoid on VM by buying top up cards). Figure $10 - $15 for tax. so thats another $22.50 per month (split the tax down the middle) which makes your 2 year cost $2659.75.

 

[KTF]

Agreed. I had a HUGE argument at lunch the other day with a bunch of iPhone users and told them the only reason I didn't have an iPhone yet was because of the absurd plans and when they go to a PayGo/PrePaid, I'll get one.

They were like whats the big deal and I said $2000 over two years for a device that I can use mainly on WiFi the majority of the time is a big deal. That's just not worth it to me.

When I showed them the cost over 2 years, they had no idea they were paying that much..especially the unlimited users...which was almost $3000. I asked them if they really thought that was worth it and most clamored up.

Most don't even come close to their minutes..not by a mile.

I told them, when the iPhone comes to the other carriers, then I'll get one. $40-50 for a phone plan is a lot better then $75-$125. It adds up...a lot.

Our plans in the US are absurdly over-priced.



Maybe that's why you were poor. Did you really need an iPhone?

I find many people who are struggling or are 'poor' by $$ standards to have things they don't really don't need.



$50 is a bargain compared to other plans. The majority of the time...most don't need most of their data plans at all if they are near WiFi most of the time. Add in how much people barely talk now and talk plans are a waste of $$$

"Poor" The Man Was Only Joking!

 

[Ryth]

I did not disagree with the iPhone being sold at Walmart, because Walmart was just selling the device for basically the same price as all other vendors. But if you have an iPhone on a prepay service, you cheapen its features, and by doing that you have ignorant people complaining about how slow the iPhone is, spreading the word how they hate it, ect... then people stop buying it, when if said person had just gotten the iPhone on a major carrier in the first place, it would not have been crippled. Even an iPhone on Verizon is not as good as an iPhone on AT&T, if you live in an area that has both services with good reception. I am not just ranting, I kind of know what i'm talking about. I am a network/computer/software engineer.

A device is cheapened by its hardware/software...not by where it's sold. A 'prepay' service does not cheapen it's features by any sort of means. And where are you getting it's going to be 'slow', etc...VM is fine for voice and data.

You kinda don't know what you are talking about.

I know for a fact that many places I have been in the last couple of years don't have native Sprint service. Some didn't have native Verizon and/or AT&T either. Pretty much everywhere had some sort of CDMA and GSM coverage through roaming agreements.

OK, so the VM might not work for you. It will work for MILLIONS and MILLIONS of others though and that's the point here.

You can stick with the major carriers for YOUR needs. Their are millions of people who easily can get by with VM or Cricket or any others and just be fine and pay a hell of a lot less then get ripped off by the major carriers.

 

[andyx3x]

The majority of the time...most don't need most of their data plans at all if they are near WiFi most of the time. Add in how much people barely talk now and talk plans are a waste of $$$

This is true.

The most talk minutes I use in a month is 100 and that's even getting rare for me.

As for data, I hate paying for 2gb's a month. It might take me a year to even use 2 gb's total. When I use my phone for the most part, I'm always near a wi-fi connection. If not, I just use it for something quick, like checking email or a web search. Nothing that uses a lot of data.

 

[Ryth]

This is true.

The most talk minutes I use in a month is 100 and that's even getting rare for me.

As for data, I hate paying for 2gb's a month. It might take me a year to even use 2 gb's total. When I use my phone for the most part, I'm always near a wi-fi connection. If not, I just use it for something quick, like checking email or a web search. Nothing that uses a lot of data.

Yep...there have even been some articles surfacing that mobile companies are trying to find ways to make up for the lost revenue that will be coming sooner rather then later when WiFi becomes the norm for most communication since it's popping up in most places now.

 

[earl310]

When did Virgin Mobile switch to SIM-Cards in the United States? I thought they only offered them in the UK.

Do Americans need everything done for them by the carriers?

You get a PAYG Virgin Mobile SIM-Card.

You buy an iPhone

You put the PAYG Virgin Mobile SIM-card in the iPhone.

It just works.

 

[taylortm]

I came around recently, too...

People complaining about the upfront costs are either bad with numbers or have an amazing grandfathered plans and/or discounted plans -

VM:
Total 2 year cost: $1,480

AT&T:
Total 2 year cost: $2,119.75

I, too, used to rationalize that postpaid w/ subsidy was about the same as prepaid w/out subsidy. Truth is, Malman's analysis is pretty darn spot-on. I'm a "light texter" so I only have 200 texts/month for $5. But, I'm also grandfathered in on AT&T's unlimited data (which I don't need or fully use) and could pay less and save another $5/month.

Bottom line: paying up front for the phone and then using somebody like VM or StraightTalk is FAR more cost-efficient. PLUS, Malman left out one other non-negligible fact: you have an unlocked phone that you can walk with or sell whenever you want. That's an even BIGGER value than the couple hundred dollars in savings.

I'm switching. But I'll be chicken and let some other people go first on this one.

 

[bayleaves]

Virgin Mobile Coverage Just Fine

I'm not surprised... they had to dump those iPhones somehow. Virgin Mobile has attractive prince points, but you will be without service when traveling a lot of the time, as it doesn't have Verizon roaming.

I've been on Virgin Mobile for the past year, and I have almost never been without coverage. I can only recall one time when I was hiking out in the middle of nowhere and I couldn't get service.

The only drawback I've found for Virgin Mobile was that I've been stuck with this miserable Android phone, but they are about to remedy that. I'm looking forward to going back to the iPhone. I'm only paying $25/month right now, but even if the monthly fee doubles, it's still a lot less than the $95/month I was paying on AT&T. And even buying an unsubsidized (but still discounted) iPhone will still be cheaper in the long run than going back to AT&T.

Sure, it would be cheaper to keep my Android phone and continue paying $25/month, but it's not worth how annoyed I am by my phone all the time.

 

[liavman]

No way the $35 plan will be an option for the iPhone. I'm guessing it will be $50 a month.

Why so pessimistic? Believe in something, man!

 

[Tiger8]

Excess inventory of 3G or 3GS units? I wonder how much inventory Apple has of these things. Still great phones though.

Neither one work on Sprint, or Verizon, or Virgin, or Cricket

 

[malman89]

VM:
iPhone 4s on VM, say $400
Monthly rate at $45/month
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $940
Year 2 cost: $540
Total 2 year cost: $1,480

AT&T:
iPhone 4s 16GB: $199.99
Nation 450 w/rollover (cheapest minute plan): $39.99/month
300MB data: $20.00/month
Unlimited messaging: $20.00/month
Monthly rate: $79.99
Year 1 cost (incl. phone): $1,159.87
Year 2 cost: $959.88
Total 2 year cost: $2,119.75

That ATT quote is to low. VM gives you 2.5 gigs before throttling. So up the data to $30 per month and don't forget to add tax to the bill (which you can avoid on VM by buying top up cards). Figure $10 - $15 for tax. so thats another $22.50 per month (split the tax down the middle) which makes your 2 year cost $2659.75.

Good point. I was trying to pick the cheapest AT&T options available to emphasize how much of a discrepancy in pricing there is over a 2 year team. I guess I could've matched my plan to AT&T's options as well (closest to 1200 minutes, 3GB data), but was doing it quickly and too lazy heh.

 

[djharris]

Yep...there have even been some articles surfacing that mobile companies are trying to find ways to make up for the lost revenue that will be coming sooner rather then later when WiFi becomes the norm for most communication since it's popping up in most places now.

I'd be interested to see those articles.

Another concern I have about using wi-fi everywhere is security. A lot of stuff we do on our phone is through apps, so how do we know if they are (or aren't) using HTTPS, so anyone can pick up usernames, passwords, data, etc.? At least in a web browser you can see.

Then again, you can subscribe to a VPN provider for about $5-7 a month, and hope they're not looking at your data.

 

[tStriss]

It would be great if the prepaid carriers sold the iPhone unlocked

 

[djharris]

It would be great if the prepaid carriers sold the iPhone unlocked

I want to be able to buy the iPhone 5 off contract (or... on contract) and use it on any GSM, CDMA, or LTE carrier, prepaid or not. As long as they have the right frequencies on the radios, that shouldn't be a problem, right?

 

[BiggAW]

OK, so the VM might not work for you. It will work for MILLIONS and MILLIONS of others though and that's the point here.

You can stick with the major carriers for YOUR needs. Their are millions of people who easily can get by with VM or Cricket or any others and just be fine and pay a hell of a lot less then get ripped off by the major carriers.

It doesn't meet the needs of anyone who travels and wants coverage while traveling. I recommended it to a friend who is happy with poor coverage and slow data speeds and now he's only paying $25/mo (grandfathered), and just doesn't want to pay more. For people like that it's good. He knows that it won't work outside of well populated areas. I'll stay with contract AT&T, and I would only ever consider Verizon to switch to.

It's not a rip off to have data that 5x the speed, cover that's 4x better or more, the ability to buy data packages to roam in 135 countries, etc, it's just a matter of whether you want to pay to get those features. Basically, do you want service all the time, or do you want cheap service? That's the choice.

The specific issue Sprint has is that they don't give Verizon roaming to some of their MVNOs, yet they deploy their network to be dependent on Verizon roaming when it is cheaper to do so. If Sprint was building in a relative vacuum like T-Mobile was for years until just recently when they got the AT&T roaming deal, they would have a lot more places covered. Sprint, however, has gotten lazy and mooches off Verizon a lot, which really sucks when you have an MVNO that can't mooch off of Verizon.

 

[purplesaber]

This is true.

The most talk minutes I use in a month is 100 and that's even getting rare for me.

As for data, I hate paying for 2gb's a month. It might take me a year to even use 2 gb's total. When I use my phone for the most part, I'm always near a wi-fi connection. If not, I just use it for something quick, like checking email or a web search. Nothing that uses a lot of data.

Exactly the same for me. The iPhone is a great device, but post-paid plans just make it the most over-priced device Apple sells. A two-year commitment costs about $2000 and the phone itself is $600 -- there is no way that I feel like I get $1400+ worth of value out of a contract with ATT/Verizon/Sprint.

I really like to feel that I pay for what I use. The Big 3 must make so much money off of people paying for minutes and buckets of data they never use. I was on Virgin Mobile prepaid with an Optimus V $25/mo for a long time (very nice little Android phone), but recently switched to Ting Mobile and a Samsung Galaxy S2. Ting is an MVNO of Sprint but they are prepaid and only charge for what you use (use more one month pay more, use less and pay less). That's the way I've always wanted it to be -- pay for the phone myself and the Cell company should be a just a pipe for minutes and data and I pay for what I actually use. If Virgin is getting the iPhone I'm hoping Ting will too (although the SGS2 is a very nice phone and I don't feel the need to switch, choice is always good)!

 

[Jasoco]

Virgin Mobile is great. I'm on them right now with an LG Optimus V at (grandfathered) $25 per month for unlimited data, unlimited text, and 300 minutes. And since mine was the first edition of the Optimus, I have free unrooted tethering as well (they disabled this really quickly in the next batch of Optimus's).

Wow, are you me? Because that's exactly my situation. I bought the Optimus V last Valentines week when it was on sale at Radio Shack and it was great for a while. No iPhone but it was Android and better than any prepaid I'd had yet. My previous phone was an LG Rumor Touch which was a terrible smartphone-wannabe. The Optimus was a breath of fresh air... but now it's slowed down and works so horribly. Always crashing. It's terrible. And the fact the phone has only like a small amount of internal space and most apps on the Play store require themselves to be installed internally meant I was always juggling apps and running out of space, even though I had a 2GB SD card which couldn't even be used for most of my apps! I can't wait to say goodbye to Android. Day 1 purchase for me.

I am ALSO grandfathered into the $25 fee because they upped it to $35 last year but for now people with the plan already get the older price. I have a feeling that will change. And I bet it won't be transferrable to a new model so whatever they end up charging will probably be what we have to pay even if we were grandfathered.

I was planning on getting the Cricket but made a vow. If Virgin announced the iPhone soon before Cricket opened pre-orders, I would stick with them. I am so glad to see it happened. Thank goodness. I'd rather stay with one company. It was bad enough when I switched to Virgin from Net10.

I'm not surprised... they had to dump those iPhones somehow. Virgin Mobile has attractive prince points, but you will be without service when traveling a lot of the time, as it doesn't have Verizon roaming.

I went down to South Carolina, 700 miles away, and up to New York, 100 miles away, and had no problems with service. At some points I actually had BETTER service. Even when I was in the boonies where my ex lived I still got some service. Sprint's network is pretty damn big. My Net10 phones had terrible coverage, but Virgin never gives me problems at all with service.

I WANT to believe Virgin would keep their prices the same and not charge an "iPhone fee" just to have it, especially since they literally just raised their Smartphone plan $10 last year to $35. If Virgin is smart, they won't apply the iPhone tax. Especially since it would undercut Cricket before they even release the thing on their own network. But if they did charge $55 or thereabouts, I will gladly pay it just to not be bound to a contract.

 

[BiggAW]

I went down to South Carolina, 700 miles away, and up to New York, 100 miles away, and had no problems with service. At some points I actually had BETTER service. Even when I was in the boonies where my ex lived I still got some service. Sprint's network is pretty damn big. My Net10 phones had terrible coverage, but Virgin never gives me problems at all with service.

Sprint's network is tiny. Even though they have the most sites (mostly due to duplicate Sprint PCS and Nextel sites), they have the worst coverage of any major carrier. AT&T's 3G network, which is about half of their footprint is larger than Sprint's entire network.

 

[doboy]

No way the $35 plan will be an option for the iPhone. I'm guessing it will be $50 a month.

P.S. I might make the switch. It's very tempting.

Why not if the iPhone is completely unsubsidized? VM already raise the price from $25 to $35 last year.

 

[btcutter]

To me...the best way to consume data..

To me the best way to consume data is reading on an iPad on 4G LTE. Reading articles and surfing on phone is just unsatisfying.
The best way to communicate is TEXT/email.

So personally I would get the VM or any cheap carrier for simple TEXT/Email.
Say that's $25 with VM or $35 if you aren't grandfathered in. Then get $30 5GB (4GB whatever they gives you) monthly for your iPad with Verizon or ATT.

Total $55 or $65 per month but you really get the best of both worlds. That's less than what most people pay with one smartphone now.