Virgin Mobile launches $30 iPhone plan

[haven]

Virgin Mobile, which buys its cell phone access from Sprint, has announced new iPhone plans that start at $30 a month. the plan requires you to buy the 16GB iPhone 4S from Virgin for $650, or an 8 GB iPhone 4 for $550. The plan starts June 19.

For $30, you get 300 voice minutes, unlimited texting, and unlimited data access. "Unlimited" data means your download speed slows down after 2.5GB. Upgrade to 1200 minute for $40 a month, or unlimited voice minutes for $50 a month. These prices include a $5 discount for signing up for an automatic credit card payment plan.

All Virgin Mobile plans are month-to-month, no long-term commitment. You can cancel anytime.

Compare the Virgin Mobile plan with AT&T's base iPhone plan, which requires a 2 year commitment.
Virgin ($650 for phone)+ ($30 * 24 months) = $1370
ATT. ($200 for phone ) + ($90 * 24 months) = $2360

Now for the bad news. Sprint's data service for the iPhone is CDMA, meaning it's quite slow compared to faster HSPA and LTE data services from other carriers.

If you're looking for faster data service, Virgin Mobile offers the HTC Evo V Android phone for $300. The Evo V has a radio that works with WiMax, which Sprint advertises as 4G. I've used WiMax, and it can be pretty fast. Buyer beware, however, because Sprint is planning to phase out WiMax in favor of LTE. Sprint (and its subsidiary Virgin Mobile) will sell WiMax phones for the next year or so.

[haven]

Here's a cost comparison of the Virgin Mobile iPhone with several 2 year contracts
http://www.pcworld.com/article/25721...son_chart.html

[BPMOU]

I have an AT&T iPhone 4 and while I get a 20% discount it's still right around 165 a month for two phones.

My brother works at sprint and I could be on his plan for 60 bucks a month and save about 25 a month but then I compared data speeds between his iPhone 4s and my iPhone 4 and it's noticeably slower on sprint. Until they unleash their 4g non WiMAX network AT&T will keep my business as their service has been great in almost every place that I have travelled.

It's a good thing for the market though. I family who use prepaid phones and they would love an iPhone.