Prepaid iPhones coming

Cricket and Virgin Mobile announced prepaid iPhones. While the phones are pricey at $500-$550, Virgin Mobile is offering service (including data and texting) at $30 per month. I call that a potential game changer in the cell phone industry.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/virgin-mobile-gets-prepaid-iphone-starting-at-549-for-phone-30-per-month-for-service/2012/06/07/gJQAGjuuKV_story.html

The article is a bit inaccruate when it states Sprint's 3G network the iPhone uses is slower than AT&T and Verizon's. The problem is the iPhone isn't a 4G phone, and Sprint's 3G network seems to be better in bigger cities than the larger wireless companies.

 

You're just getting that now? I've had a prepaid iPhone for almost a year with a similar plan.

 

The U.S. wireless industry is a bit of a mess.

 

I'm switching to the iPhone from a Droid. But I have to wait until September, so I'm not forced to pay a gazillion dollars for it. Love that!

 

I'll get one from Virgin Mobile in September. The $650 for the iPhone 4S is steep at first, but you save almost $800 over two years with the $30 plan. It only includes 300 minutes, but I can just download Talkatone or some other app that I can make free Wi-Fi calls with using my Google Voice account.

 

$650? I paid less than $200 for mine through AT&T.

 

Freqposter just drove to Barnes and Noble and doesn't know why

 

But your monthly plan cost would be much more than the Virgin Mobile $30/month cost.

 

How much do you think the price will drop by Sept?

P.S. Virgin coverage is great in the District. Your mileage may vary out in Fairfax.

 

Here's the math on why it's cheaper in the long run to go the prepaid route.

http://www.cultofmac.com/172046/why-your-next-iphone-should-be-prepaid-chart/

The $30/month Virgin plan for 300 minutes would save $1,000 compared with AT&T.

 

It's always cheaper to go the prepaid route. I can't believe some people still haven't figured it out. Another reason why it pisses me off to high heaven when shitty news reports don't hesitate to claim no-contract phones are aimed at those with "low incomes and poor credit." My income is certainly not low and my credit is excellent. I just don't like overpaying for a product nor being contractually obligated to anything, which is why I'm not married.

 

Nancy Sebring is wondering why she didn't get one.