Cell Phone Plans: Can someone explain this to me?

[Fenixgoon]

Currently I have Verizon, and for ~450minute and unlimited text I pay $60/mo (71 after taxes and all).


Now, Virgin Mobile has ~300minutes talk, unlimited text, email, web, and data for $25/mo. Virgin Mobile uses Sprint towers for coverage.

Sprint itself offers the same service (as far as I can tell) for $70/mo.


Why is Virgin Mobile so much cheaper than the others? I'm seriously considering switching because that will save me a *ton* of money. Even with an ETF, I'd recoup the cost of switching to Virgin Mobile in under 12 months.


checking coverage, Spring (Virgin Mobile) has virtually nothing on the West Coast, while VZ covers basically the entire US. Data coverage for Spring is mostly limited (for me) to the DC/metro area. Again, VZ's network is much larger.

 

[zerocool84]

It`s prepay. All prepay from every carrier is always going to be cheaper. Prepay you have to pay for whatever phone in full and you don't get the latest phones either.

 

[s44]

Crappy phone selection and no bring your own. (Other prepay carriers allow the latter, but they aren't as cheap either.)

If you don't need a high-end Android and the reception works (Sprint prepaid is *just* Sprint's network -- regular Sprint also gets roaming on Verizon), then go for it.

Btw, Verizon pricing is only tolerable if you drop texting and use Google Voice.

 

[SunnyD]

They ride Sprint's towers... BUT... they do not ROAM on Sprint's partner networks (Verizon). Basically, if you're not covered by a Sprint tower, you get NO service.

 

[sivart]

Btw, Verizon pricing is only tolerable if you drop texting and use Google Voice.

Nah...you just have to call them and negotiate a deal. For $70 a month (before my corporate discount), I get 450 minutes, unlimited texting, unlimited data. After discount and taxes mine comes out to about $68 / month.

 

[SunnyD]

Nah...you just have to call them and negotiate a deal. For $70 a month (before my corporate discount), I get 450 minutes, unlimited texting, unlimited data. After discount and taxes mine comes out to about $68 / month.

So you saved a whole $2 by negotiating? Wow.

Personally, $44.99 for unlimited talk/text/web WITHOUT a contract is much better. No negotiating necessary. (Corr wireless)

 

[boomhower]

It's phone selection and coverage. I have Sprint and love them, but also love roaming on Verizon's towers. If the coverage and phone selection works for you then go for it.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

i believe that the data service you get with virgin mobile isnt 3g, which is why it is so much cheaper

 

[OBLAMA2009]

It's phone selection and coverage. I have Sprint and love them, but also love roaming on Verizon's towers. If the coverage and phone selection works for you then go for it.

correct me if im wrong, correct me if im wrong , but sprint customers dont get to roam on verizons 3g network...

 

[Axon]

No, I've heard Sprint customers roam on Verizon's net. At least in NYC. Sprint's plan is actually really good if you're a heavy user in a loaded city like New York. The price is lower, speed is solid and CDMA is so key in NYC. AT&T constantly drops calls on me, sends texts late, struggles over 3G, etc. Much improved upstate but horrible in my hometown.

 

[Pliablemoose]

i believe that the data service you get with virgin mobile isnt 3g, which is why it is so much cheaper

It's an earlier revision of 3G... A tad slower, but much faster than 2G.

And Sprint roams on Verizon's network...

 

[Fingolfin269]

So you saved a whole $2 by negotiating? Wow.

The $70 is pre-tax/fees so actually paying $68 is more like saving about $10-$15/month.

It's easy to look at the prices these companies offer and ignore the fees/taxes though.

 

[sivart]

The $70 is pre-tax/fees so actually paying $68 is more like saving about $10-$15/month.

It's easy to look at the prices these companies offer and ignore the fees/taxes though.

Thanks...that's exactly it.

In essence I saved $5 / month (before taxes/fees) and my text messages went from 250 to unlimited. $5 may not seem like much, but over the course of a year, that is nearly a free month.

 

[Fenixgoon]

ok, so just so i have this straight

sprint: sprint service, can roam on verizon towers

virgin mobile: sprint service ONLY, no roaming.

 

[Pliablemoose]

ok, so just so i have this straight

sprint: sprint service, can roam on verizon towers

virgin mobile: sprint service ONLY, no roaming.

Yep.

Also, the $25/month is just that, no fees or taxes.

There's a thread on Howard Forums about deals on the refill cards, best I've gotten is to pay $24 for the $25 refill cards.

 

[gsaldivar]

They ride Sprint's towers... BUT... they do not ROAM on Sprint's partner networks (Verizon). Basically, if you're not covered by a Sprint tower, you get NO service.

Correct.

Just because an MVNO like Virgin uses Sprint towers doesn't necessarily mean you can expect the same coverage and service availability that Sprint customers get.

In addition to the lack of roaming privileges, the towers can distinguish between Sprint and MVNO connections and will prioritize availability when the network is congested.

That means that in a busy area, Sprint calls may go through while Virgin calls may not. This is for callers that area connected to the same tower. There are additional differences in data speed as well.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Correct.

Just because an MVNO like Virgin uses Sprint towers doesn't necessarily mean you can expect the same coverage and service availability that Sprint customers get.

In addition to the lack of roaming privileges, the towers can distinguish between Sprint and MVNO connections and will prioritize availability when the network is congested.

That means that in a busy area, Sprint calls may go through while Virgin calls may not. This is for callers that area connected to the same tower. There are additional differences in data speed as well.

doh!

 

[Pliablemoose]

Justt a FYI, I've bought 3 Intercepts and they've had no problems thus far, calls always go through, data is fine, I do live in a solid coverage area.

It's good enough that 3 of my co-workers have purchased them after they used mine a bit, they're pretty happy as well.

For $25/month if you live in an area with good coverage it's a great deal.

 

[zerocool84]

Justt a FYI, I've bought 3 Intercepts and they've had no problems thus far, calls always go through, data is fine, I do live in a solid coverage area.

It's good enough that 3 of my co-workers have purchased them after they used mine a bit, they're pretty happy as well.

For $25/month if you live in an area with good coverage it's a great deal.

Yea $25/month is an insane deal.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Justt a FYI, I've bought 3 Intercepts and they've had no problems thus far, calls always go through, data is fine, I do live in a solid coverage area.

It's good enough that 3 of my co-workers have purchased them after they used mine a bit, they're pretty happy as well.

For $25/month if you live in an area with good coverage it's a great deal.

i live in maryland and the coverage map shows thnigs are quite good. most often i travel to philly/jersey. just concerned about travel for work. i may switch over anyway though. 25/mo is insane compared to my 71.

 

[Pliablemoose]

i live in maryland and the coverage map shows thnigs are quite good. most often i travel to philly/jersey. just concerned about travel for work. i may switch over anyway though. 25/mo is insane compared to my 71.

Buy one, the $178 from Virgin is a hell of a price, root it, and if you don't like it, get a nook color and tether it with root and Barnacle tether... throw in a custom rom to speed it up, and you're golden.

I like my super phones, and put my daughter and her BF on Virgin with Intercepts, with the $ I saved, I got an EVO for myself.

http://forum.sdx-developers.com/intercept-guides-and-tips/%28faq%29intercept-rooting-faq/

 

[hanoverphist]

i think im going to have my company fold my phone into the corp account and cancel my daughters phone, then get her the 25/mo virgin. the coverage here in phoenix area seems like its solid, and i cant really find many negative reviews on it so far. it will take my bill from 165 a month to 25 a month. id love that.

 

[Fenixgoon]

i think im going to have my company fold my phone into the corp account and cancel my daughters phone, then get her the 25/mo virgin. the coverage here in phoenix area seems like its solid, and i cant really find many negative reviews on it so far. it will take my bill from 165 a month to 25 a month. id love that.

damn!!!

 

[zerocool84]

damn!!!

Guess he hasn't heard of unlimited.

 

[Fenixgoon]

well i got my Intercept today and just called VM to get my phone number ported over. very excited!!! got the intercept for $180 from BestBuy (lists for $250 on VM's website)