Virgin Mobile iPhone 4S pre-paid plans start from $30, all details here

3. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

*Disclaimer* I had posted an organized, well thought out (considering the time of day) and comprehensive comment, but somehow in the midst of adding another point for clarification, the whole thing got deleted. Here's a summary:

While $375 per year savings sounds great and all, there's a lot that one doesn't get for that price. This is 3G only, throttled after 2.5 GB, has a very high initial cost of activation, and no recourse if the service is less than satisfactory: you're stuck with a phone locked to one carrier that only another customer on that carrier would buy if trying to sell used. There's no 4G, unknown quality of customer service, unknown warranty or insurance options, iffy roaming options, I don't believe it's an international-capable phone (or one has to call or pay to have it unlocked), and it's still last year's model. On top of that, it's an iphone, and paying $650 for it seems less and less worthwhile when there are "better" (arguably, but let's not digress) phones available for equivalent or less money, even off contract. If I had to have an iphone (and I shudder at the thought... It feels repulsive looking at one, let alone holding or using one), I'd personally go with AT&T, because they've had it the longest, so they know how to deal with it, they're used to working with apple, they offer the fastest speeds for any version (especially the most recent) period, they offer service discounts for being employed with just about any large company, they have the best setup for 4G distribution and execution (even though the current iphone is using the tech that was introduced in early 2011), they're straightfoward with warranty and insurance options (and no deductible for warranty claims, which I've started seeing on some carriers), and, while their data plans are capped, they're the most generous for the money, and I wouldn't get up to those thresholds anyway. (continued)

17. ardent1 (Posts: 2000; Member since: 16 Apr 2011)

Most people will get the iPhone 4S for the $30 a month plan like myself. It's a no brainer that this is a great deal and I have no problems giving up my grandfathered $25 a month plan.

I monitored my data usage on my Moto Triumph for the past 11 months and I usually use less than 1.1 GB of data a month with a peak of 1.4 GB. If I want more data or 4G data, I can always up my data usage via my Verizon LTE hotspot.

As for web surfing, Steve Jobs was right, it is a better experience with the iPad. Most of my web surfing is done at home or at a place with Wifi such at Starbucks, McDonalds, Denny's, my local truck stop, etc. Even my local laundrymat has free wifi (download speeds of 6 Mbps). That means the only time I would use my Triumph or any 3G cellphone is when I am not connected to free wifi or at home.

22. taco50 (banned) (Posts: 5506; Member since: 08 Oct 2009)

Do you work for AT&T and something. In short this is a GOOD deal.

28. ApphoIe (banned) (Posts: 78; Member since: 31 May 2012)

LMFAO, you would think that.

WELCHER

23. remixfa (Posts: 14605; Member since: 19 Dec 2008)

honestly,
i have to agree with ardent on this one.

the money is very much in your favor on the virgin plan, for an iphone. If you dont like the cost of the phone... wait 2 months or so and u can pick one up used for probably like 500ish and save a few bux that way.

However, I wouldnt go with virgin. I dont need the minutes. If i were to go on a prepaid plain, it would be tmobile's $30, unlimted text, 5 gig 4g web, and 100 minute plan. Its on a larger carrier with the nations largest (and one of the fastest) 4g network.

For the way I use data, thats a much much better deal.

And besides, with Tmobile refarming their 1900 spectrum into HSPA+, all GSM iphones are/will be 3g compatible. So pick up any used iphone and get on that plan instead.

24. jenna_23 (Posts: 145; Member since: 02 Apr 2010)

remixfa we get it u love t-mobile i noticed u always bring in t-mobile in every single article i read in here. Besides it not up to u what people want to get if they want to spend 700 bucks on a cheap iphone 4s with sloow virgin 3G let them be i kno i would personally never do that im happy with at&t and verizon which are both faster than t-mobile and have more coverage.

31. lsutigers (Posts: 821; Member since: 08 Mar 2009)

Exactly Jenna, also there's that problem that most people don't want T-Mobile because their network is too small. Everyone I know with TMO is not satisfied with the coverage. While it may work well in some metro areas, everytime I have used it outide of interstates and major metros I have poor service or loose it all together. Virgin, running on Sprint's network, has much better coverage. Although I know speeds may be slow in some areas right now, by next year, their nationwide network will be fully upgraded and even 3G speeds will be very fast.

4. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

With respect to the author, while the article does offer some good points about cost comparisons, its outlook was too limited, I believe, and therefore a trifle misleading. For one, in fairness to prepaid carriers, it didn't factor in upgrade fees. It also didn't factor in taxes spent on equipment or monthly charges, especially as some states will charge significantly higher taxes depending on the cost of the item (I believe California, for instance, has a sliding "luxury tax" scale on any electronic item at $250, $500, 750, etc, I don't recall the exact thresholds, as I live in the midwest. If I did live there, I'd feel compelled to go to another state just to avoid that sort of thing) so a $650 iphone might cost $800 or something out of pocket, versus $250 for the subsidized cost (again, all depends on tax laws and such, this is just speculative). It also didn't factor in the typical upgrade period for phones on the 3 major carriers that offer the iphone, being typically between 12-20 (usually closer to 18-20 for smartphones on individual plans) months in between. So while a customer taking advantage of that would have to pay for another phone before the end of the 24-month agreement, as well as its upgrade fee (which I don't quite agree with), they're only paying the subsidized cost for it, whereas the prepaid customer is paying full price again. Thus, as an outlook over 2 years or more, prepaid is less and less of a cost saver, and can even be more expensive, depending on how often one purchases a new phone. This is again factored against the presumption there is only one phone every 2 years, with no inputs as for any warranty or insurance options. Say one's phone had something happen to it that warranted an insurance claim. On the major four carriers, simple process if they elected to pay the extra charges monthly (or initially when purchasing the phone, depending on where they got it). Pay deductible, new phone is in-hand within a business day or two (or three). The deductible I'm personally aware of for the iphone (and I haven't researched it on Verizon or Sprint, to be honest) is $199 on AT&T. So if one were on prepaid and their iphone needed replacement, they're looking at another $650, whereas the postpaid customer is only out about (not including taxes and such) $400 for their two phones. Yet again, prepaid appears a more risky choice.
(continued)

15. Roomaku (Posts: 278; Member since: 06 Feb 2012)

But Virgin has a phone insurance for 5$ a month, they will get you a new phone if it's damaged, lost, stolen, or water damaged in 24 hours in most cases. There is a deductable but it's been pretty reasonable over the years, and shouldn't be that high. So if you look at the cost you will be paying 35$ if you go with auto pay (30$ with 5$ discount, add 5$ insurance). It's a pretty good deal if you average it out even if you are only saving 400+ dollar over 2 years. Plus you can change your phone to an Android if you feel like it at anytime. So as far as warranty goes Virgin has you covered.

5. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

In short, while prepaid seems appealing from a monthly standpoint, in terms of total cost, customer satisfaction for service and replacement options, upgrades, and overall usage (again, just looking at the iphone, as 4G and LTE services widen the gap even futher in postpaid's favor, but super-cheap basic phones for those who need just a little usage widen it in prepaid's favor), it's hardly worth it, especially as pretty much everyone will have a phone for many years, and doing all the math beyond the initial 2 years doesn't come up in prepaid's favor.
That is all offset, however, if one buys cheaper, or used, or refurbished phones. It is also a bit different if using one of the major carriers' prepaid options (I believe AT&T offers unlimited everything with similar restrictions to other prepaid services for $50 per month, but I believe it limits what smartphones can be used on it, probably no iphones)

All that being said, I'll stick with T-Mobile and my Android and Windows Phones, thanks. I can pay full price on equipment if I want and save money monthly, or pay a subsidized rate and have an additional $10-25 per month added to my phone bill for it for less out-of-pocket starting costs, with insurance and warranty options easily within reach

25. -box- (Posts: 3991; Member since: 04 Jan 2012)

Read the whole long comment (took 3 posts to make it) first. I address all these points

18. Roomaku (Posts: 278; Member since: 06 Feb 2012)

Your totally right, Virgins new phones are coming with ICS 4.0 out of the box no waiting for it to be sent out, with a pretty much stock experience. Plus you save money, and with Straight Talk you can use any phone,change your phone anytime, and only pay 45$ a month, half of Verizon. In terms of data caps, the companies should reserve the right to limit data, but not terminate your service, but still advertise "unlimited data". Yeah prepaid is a better deal just some people think it's still for poor people and people with bad credit, when in reality it's for people who are smart or want to save 850$ a year :)

8. greathero1 (Posts: 576; Member since: 13 Jun 2008)

Lol! False! $649 to play ball for an iPhone when the Evo with ICS is $299. You might get a few people to bite but I am thinking most prepaid buyers will want to save that $350.

10. Mxyzptlk (unregistered)

There's no Evo with ICS for $299. I'd rather shell out $650 for a quality device than shell out $300 for a poorly made HTC device.

12. EclipseGSX (Posts: 1743; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)

Uh yea they do its called the EVO V 4G. You FAIL

19. Roomaku (Posts: 278; Member since: 06 Feb 2012)

Yeah Virgin has it, and all there new phones are shipping with ICS.

26. BREvenson (Posts: 240; Member since: 17 May 2012)

There is the EVO V 4G (their version of the EVO 3D), which has ICS for $299...and soon Virgin will have another HTC phone running ICS: they announced the One V is coming, and that one will cost $199...not as impressive of a phone, but easier on the wallet than the EVO V or the iPhone.

Leave it to you to turn this into an anti-Android argument without even getting your facts straight.

9. hepresearch (unregistered)

"Too long, didn't read."

I have to ask... mostly out of curiosity... how in the world did you survive reading assignments in high school?

11. Mxyzptlk (unregistered)

This isn't high school.

16. hepresearch (unregistered)

Okay, so when it comes to actual reading (as in more than three or four paragraphs at a time), you would describe yourself as "out-of-practice"?

I would have asked about college reading assignments, but I figured I had better start with a more simple threshold...

20. ardent1 (Posts: 2000; Member since: 16 Apr 2011)

You didn't answer the question. When someone ask you for the time, replying it's time to get a watch is generally frowned upon.

29. chrischau1308 (Posts: 53; Member since: 28 Feb 2012)

maybe English is his/her second language, I guess...
Anyway, I read :D :D !

13. EclipseGSX (Posts: 1743; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)

Haha nice I should :)

21. Roomaku (Posts: 278; Member since: 06 Feb 2012)

Yeah I mean what is Virgin supposed to do? It's not like they have that much control, the only reason they are getting the iPhone is because of Sprint. Sprint probably dictated the pricing, or apple, so they still see a profit on each iPhone sold. If you save money in the long run it's worth the initial cost of the phone, as long as you insure your purchase. Honestly Virgin and Prepaid all together is infringing on the way that people pay for service, It's just a better deal overall