I Got My First Virgin

Skimmer

Today I got my first Virgin Mobile cell phone. (What, were you thinking of something else?) And I must say that it's an improvement over the general experience I've had during the last ten years of various plans from a traditional, big-name provider and the three crappy big-name cell phones that they sold to me.

The phone is an Qualcomm/Vox 8610 and the plan is prepaid: US$0.25 per minute (first 10 minutes per day), then US$0.10 thereafter. No charge for roaming. No charge for long distance. No charge for receiving text. No charge for voicemail, caller ID, etc. Plus a number of other features for which I haven't much use like downloads of music, ringtones, games, jokes, and so forth.

I will save at least US$25 per month with Virgin Mobile vs. the old company which shall remain nameless. (Hint: Who has the most annoying television advertisements?)

The only drawback is that all the print in the manual and on the pre-pay card is rather small and I needed a magnifier to read some of it. Part of this is because of my personal visual disability, and part of it is likely because the target age demographic for Virgin Mobile are those too young to remember Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, or even Freddie "Master Chronologist" Franz.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/

Double Edge

Is that such a good deal? If you only use your 10 minutes a day, that cost alone would be $75.00 per month (300 minutes). I guess if you're not much of a talker, it would be ok..... and also for emergencies.

Sassy

I had that phone myself for a long time..

It worked well for me because I really at the time wasn't using a cell phone very much and it allowed me to have one handy for emergencies. You only need to make sure to 'top up' $20 every ninety days.. so for someone who doesn't use a cell phone nearly at all, but wants it for those crisis moments, it is one of the cheapest ones out there..

I recently switched to a regular cell phone plan (not prepaid).. I sent my virgin mobile to my son so that when he flew to me, he had something with him in case he missed a flight enroute.. now when his brother comes to visit, he will also bring it with..

Skimmer

For a worst case usage example as you've posted, it might not be such a great deal.

But my typical usage is much different; I often go for several days without using the phone, and then use it relatively heavily on a single day. And my usage tends to be long distance and during peak calling days and times.

I'm weary of having to worry about unused airtime, cheap vs. expensive calling times, roaming charges, minimal monthly payments, and ever more confusing plan contracts. And I paid less for my new phone than what the old provider was going to charge me for a new battery.

Sassy

the really nice thing about the Virgin Mobile Network, is I rarely have been any where in the US, where it did not have good reception.. so you can travel with it, and pretty much count on a good connection..

candidlynuts

i have the virgin too.. it works when you travel only on major interstates.. once i'm out of my state it wont work on secondary roads even if your parked under a cell tower

Skimmer

Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint USA network in those places where they don't have service of their own. My housemate has a Sprint cell phone and she hasn't had a coverage problem in the past year or so.

Undoubtably there are plenty of places in the upper half of New England that are still free from cell towers, but I suspect that most towns with at least a couple of thousand people (or have a decent through highway) will have coverage. We shall see.

Virgin Mobile does require at least US$20 every three months and at least one call every sixty days. As long as these are met, the prepaid time is never lost. That US$20 buys airtime minutes; from eighty up to two hundred depending on calling distribution.

My new phone has a nice bright color screen that can display pictures. It doesn't have a camera, though; so I can't send anyone a picture of my handsome smiling face. Hey, maybe some of the phones at Bethel can get incoming pictures! I could always exchange my cell phone for one with a camera and try it out. I could send a picture to the governing body letting them know, close up, how I put WTBTS literature to good use in the smallest room in my house.

Country Girl

I also have the Virgin cell phone. Got it last year, right before an Apostofest.. heheh. I love it, but only use it when I am in the truck. Otherwise, it pretty much just stays there as I am home most of the time and use the land line.

Country Girl

Parliament

I have to laugh at this subject. Today I was with my boss when he got a call from our cell provider saying that the bill hadn't been paid (our office help is outta town). He asks if he can pay with a creidt card, and they say yes. He asks how much, and thats when the doodoo starts to fly. HOW MUCH!!!HOW MUCH!!! 2 cell phones his and mine, 1 month...$958.00. Our 2 plans together are only supposed to be $198.00 per month. His plan is 1400 mins and free nights and weekends, mine is 900 min and free nights and weekends. He went over by 1200 mins, mine went over 700 mins. And those overages were only at $0.40 per minuite. I'll do the math for you ( 1900 x .40 = $760.00). Well needless to say, I was on the landline phone within an hour, and our new nextels are on the way. I went to the office to see if I could find the bill from the last month, so I could look at it. I didn't find it but, I did find the most current bill that was delivered yesterday. He was only over by 1000 mins, and I was only over by 400 mins. So at least this bill wont be so bad.... $758.00... OUCH. It's nice not to be the boss once in a while.

Skimmer

Yes, that wonderful feeling one gets upon opening a cellphone bill and seeing a balance five or ten times larger than anticipated. Happened to me more than once, I admit.

Casinos rarely have wall clocks as they don't want the patrons to easily know how much time has passed; keeping the players at the tables means more cash for the proprietors. It's the same way with traditional cellular service plans. If a cellphone users could easily (e. g., one button press) find out their balance, they would be much less likely to overspend.

I Got My First Virgin

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