 sonicmerlin
join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH | Lol Well considering you can get unlimited usage cards for $70 in Europe, I have to say... these are great deals!!! | |
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Chiyo
Save Me Konata-Chan
Premium
join:2003-02-20
Minneapolis, MN
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| Virgin Mobile for the idiots Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over by doing pre paid or have such a bad credit score or has had their checking account taken away from them that this is their only option.
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That was the wild boar.... Moo!
My podcast: The Banzai Beat »www.banzaibeat.com | |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
 ·Verizon Online DSL
 ·Skype
| Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots said by Chiyo  :Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over by doing pre paid or have such a bad credit score or has had their checking account taken away from them that this is their only option. Maybe these customers, by their financial mis-management, deserve fewer and more-expensive choices in their lives. But when it comes to a public resource, such as the frequency spectrum, is there a limit to what can reasonably be charged for access?
That said, Virgin Mobile's "screwed" pre-pay plan for 250 MB costs half of what Verizon Wireless charges monthly (non-prepaid) for 250 MB. That's an embarrassing tier at an embarrassing price, and I'm glad to see some market recognition of that fact!
What is most intriguing is that Virgin is selling access to the net in byte-sized increments rather than by time. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL | |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots said by tubbynet :if i didn't *need* the features a post-pay contract offers, i'd be prepay in a heartbeat. You are aware of how expensive it is, right? It isn't just a question of business model...
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL | |
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tubbynet
reminds me of the danse russe
Premium
join:2008-01-16
Chandler, AZ
·Cox HSI
·Callcentric
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·FrontierNet Intern..
| Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots said by funchords :said by tubbynet :if i didn't *need* the features a post-pay contract offers, i'd be prepay in a heartbeat. You are aware of how expensive it is, right? It isn't just a question of business model... i understand that, but i *really* don't like talking on the phone. ideally, i'd have a google voice number for voicemail (or some similar service) and then i'd only call people that i felt deserved a call.
~90% of my communication is done from my computer (email, skype, google chat, etc.). even though the costs of a pre-pay "plan" are higher than those of post-pay, i would end up spending less (as i already spend ~$56/month for 450 mins with unliminted "in" text/pix/vid from verizon).
q.
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"...if I in my north room dance naked, grotesquely before my mirror waving my shirt round my head and singing softly to myself..." | |
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sivran
Long Live The Suite
Premium
join:2003-09-15
Arlington, TX
clubs:
·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots Exactly. Pre-paid works out to be quite a bit cheaper for people who don't use their phone much. $100 gets you 1000 minutes that don't expire for a full year on T-Mo. Toss in a $20 phone, and you've got, essentially, cell phone service for 10/mo, albeit all paid up front.
I don't think there are any post-paid plans at 10/mo.
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The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon profitable cause... | |
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| | | hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | And you could do better? | |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots said by hottboiinnc :And you could do better? flame-bait ignored.
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL | |
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HotRodFoto
Premium
join:2003-04-19
Denver, CO
| said by funchords :said by tubbynet :if i didn't *need* the features a post-pay contract offers, i'd be prepay in a heartbeat. You are aware of how expensive it is, right? It isn't just a question of business model... Depends which provider, $50 a month unlimited here with Cricket or Boost, beats just about anyone else in town pretty much! Andddddd I don't have to give out my damn SSN# to anyone either! Gorgeous! 
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Capturing the images of Colorado
»jdebordphoto.com | |
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| kaila
join:2000-10-11
Lincolnshire, IL
clubs:
| said by Chiyo :Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over...... As a parent, I've found VM to be very useful. They have a decent selection of 'burner' phones so loss or breakage isn't that big of a deal. And I'd rather not have a family talk plan with an army of phones all under a contract.
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Jeff Howe
Jeff's Blog - »www.jeffhowe.net/Jeffhowe.net/Blog/Blog.html | |
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nightshade74
Yet another genxer
Premium
join:2004-11-06
Prattville, AL
·Knology
| said by Chiyo :Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over by doing pre paid or have such a bad credit score or has had their checking account taken away from them that this is their only option. I'm sure some poor souls are on prepaid because they have
to be. However it isnt everyone.
Light users come out better on prepaid. $20 gets you 200 minutes on
Virgin... Where are you going to get a post paid plan for $20?
When my brother shows up from Italy I can hand him my
old Verizon phone and activate it on Page Plus. For $2.49
/ Day he can talk as long as he wants. »www.pagepluscellular.com/Plans/U···ice.aspx
No contract -- just the $5 to activate it. | |
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| | hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots You pay $5 to activate it?
That must be their catch on living outside of Ohio. If you sign up in Ohio you don't pay that fee. We'll not suppose to at least. | |
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grydlok
join:2004-01-06
Richmond, VA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| I don't think my mom is an idiot. I bought her a virgin mobile phone. She only uses it very little. I load minutes on her phone for emergency's. You guys kill me with this Internet slick talk, but if you saw someone with a VM phone on the street you would be chicken to call them an idiot. | |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
3 edits | said by funchords :said by Chiyo :Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over by doing pre paid or have such a bad credit score or has had their checking account taken away from them that this is their only option. Maybe these customers, by their financial mis-management, deserve fewer and more-expensive choices in their lives. But when it comes to a public resource, such as the frequency spectrum, is there a limit to what can reasonably be charged for access? That said, Virgin Mobile's "screwed" pre-pay plan for 250 MB costs half of what Verizon Wireless charges monthly (non-prepaid) for 250 MB. That's an embarrassing tier at an embarrassing price, and I'm glad to see some market recognition of that fact! What is most intriguing is that Virgin is selling access to the net in byte-sized increments rather than by time. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Several people in my girlfrineds family only use Virgin mobil phones. They all own more than one house(all 400K to 800K in value)(with at least one 100% paid off), make in the six figures and also have no debt or credit problems.
They just don't use cell phones very much. (They are all between 55 and 70) Virgin mobil gives them the ability to make calls when they want at a low price without having to be on a monthly plan which would go to waste since they don't make many cell phone calls. | |
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Swingerhead
Premium
join:2004-04-06
Richmond, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| Re: Virgin Mobile for the idiots I agree. You dont end up having money by blowing it on things you dont need. I have plenty of disposable income but use Virgin because 90% of my day im within reach of a land line and broadband. 10 minute drive to work. The 25 cents a minute doesnt bother me at all and is well worth it when I have to call the wife from the grocery store because I cant remeber i she wanted salted or unsalted butter. | |
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dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast
1 edit | said by Chiyo :Anyone who uses Virgin Mobile is already screwing themselves over by doing pre paid or have such a bad credit score or has had their checking account taken away from them that this is their only option. Don't see the need for paying ~$40 per month for a service that I may not use over the course of a couple months.
Also, no need for a contract with an ETF.
Using VM, all I have to pay to keep the phone active is $20 every three months.
If you have needs beyond this - go for it!
Do the math:
$20 every three months...
$40 every month...
Who is getting screwed?
Pre-Paid data for a laptop - in a pinch it would be nice, but seeing as there are usually faster, FREE, WiFi places pretty much anywhere I go in The Bay Area... I will have to pass on this.
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Think outside the Fox... Opera | |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
1 edit | What speeds does the virgin mobil modem have?
I might pick up one so I can have access in places where there is not a wifi spot.
I just wish the days of use were triple what they are planning to offer. | |
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RDenis
@rr.com
 from:
dadkins
| Dumb comment. MY wife who does most of her conversations on her work phone,keeps a Virgin Mobile phone for emergencies. Costs her $7.00 a month. Great bargain. | |
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| kieranmullen
Premium
join:2005-12-12
Portland, OR
clubs: | Their prepaid plan is actually one of the better ones. $15 every 3 months and it rolls over never expires.
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KieranMullen »360oregon.com
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tlp95129
@sbcglobal.net
| What's your problem with prepaid mobile. Not all of us spend all our lives on the phone. Virgin Mobile works fine for me. I pay $5 per month and never run out of minutes. Hell, they even roll over my unused minutes. For someone who uses their cell infrequently, it makes perfect sense. | |
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battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000 | Re: backup plan... I see that as their biggest market. We get calls all the time from people who want to rent a card for the week while they go on vacation. At least now I have a suggestion for them. | |
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anjorusso
@speakeasy.net
thumbs down from:
GOLFnSUN
| wow so cheap! who cares about these greedy companies?
come on....within 3 years, mobile broadband will be ubiquitious and free!
so let the baby have its candy while it still can! | |
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nightdesigns
Gone missing, back soon
Premium
join:2002-05-31
AZ
·Cox HSI
| If the cards didn't expire so quickly... I could see a use for this. I don't need a regular use subscription for a wireless broadband system. However, I travel every few months and it'd be nice to just be able to have access wherever I go. This plan would have been interesting to me if the card didn't expire in a matter of days.
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This Space for Rent... | |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: If the cards didn't expire so quickly... said by nightdesigns :I could see a use for this. I don't need a regular use subscription for a wireless broadband system. However, I travel every few months and it'd be nice to just be able to have access wherever I go. This plan would have been interesting to me if the card didn't expire in a matter of days. Yes, that is the main weakness for pre-paid cards(voice or data). They all have expiration dates that are too short for the really occasional users.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast
| Re: If the cards didn't expire so quickly... said by funchords :said by nightdesigns :This plan would have been interesting to me if the card didn't expire in a matter of days. I wonder if the expiration is from the time of first use or from the time of purchase. The clock starts when activated on the phone - a process you have to go thru to use the minutes or bytes.
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My BLOG .. .. Internet News .. .. My Web Page | |
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| Re: If the cards didn't expire so quickly... said by GOLFnSUN :The clock starts when activated on the phone - a process you have to go thru to use the minutes or bytes. There is no phone. This is a USB service.
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL | |
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| | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA
·Advanced Stream
1 edit | Buy the USB equipment and sign up for the service.
When you are ready to use the service, you either use a Top UP card that you purchased earlier or use your credit or debit card to purchase the minutes.
The timer starts the immediately after you purchase the data minutes.
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum.
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funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype
| Re: If the cards didn't expire so quickly... said by TACSPEED :The timer starts the immediately after you purchase the data minutes. There are no data minutes. This is sold by the megabyte.
But if the answer is that, "The timer starts the immediately after you purchase the megabytes," then when is that moment of sale? At a cashregister? When you apply some "Top-up card" number to an online screen?
I'm not sure I'm communicating the question clearly, but the answer is important. As a traveller, can I buy 3-4 of these cards and carry them around as long as I don't apply a card number to my account until I'm ready to use it?
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Robb Topolski -= funchords.com =- District of Columbia -- KJ7RL | |
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| | | | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA
·Advanced Stream
1 edit | Re: If the cards didn't expire so quickly... quote:
As a traveller, can I buy 3-4 of these cards and carry them around as long as I don't apply a card number to my account until I'm ready to use it?
The way I read it is that there is no card out side of the Top Up cards that are already usable for cell phone service. This makes sense when you think about.
Walmart is not going to want to have an another row of Top Up cards just for data.
quote:
Broadband2Go Account Status
You may purchase your Broadband2Go plan using a credit or debit card or by using a Top-Up card. Your Broadband2Go account will remain active (the “Active Period”) for one year from your last Broadband2Go plan purchase. If you do not purchase a Broadband2Go plan within one year of your last Broadband2Go plan purchase, your Broadband2Go account will expire and we will deactivate your service. Virgin Mobile will assess you a termination charge equal to the value of the balance in your account
The way I'm reading this is, once the account is activated, you pay for data when you need it.
So until you enter the Top Up card number off the prepaid card that you bought at the store, or make a credit or debit card charge, the timer is not running.
The only question I have is: do you have to pay for data when the account is first activated.
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum.
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| iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Re: Um... Hmm, that's a *little bit* better. Might pick one of these up and use it when I'm away from home and don't want to use WMWiFiRouter on my phone.
Then again, Millenicom is 5+ GB for $60... | |
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| | TACSPEED
Premium
join:2001-04-14
Tacoma, WA
·Advanced Stream
| Re: Um... It doesn't appear from their web site, that there is any different card that you need to buy.
You simply buy the usb modem, sign up for the service, and then either buy one of the their regular Top Up cards at your local store, or use your credit or debit card to purchase data minutes as you need them.
The timer starts the immediately after purchase of the data minutes.
You have to buy data minutes once a year to keep the service activated.
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Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic Forum. | |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH
·Time Warner Cable
·buckeye cable
| Sprint doing something right. VM can't be that bad otherwise they wouldn't have the customers they have. After all PrePaid is Sprint's cash cow. They're pulling in the money from VM and Boost without a problem. It's about time they found a way to off set some of their debt.
And yes Virgin Mobile USA is a joint Venture between Sprint-Nextel and Virgin Mobile | |
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AlexNYC
join:2001-06-02
Edwards, CO | Not working on a Mac Not working on a Mac .... oooo that's too bad ....  | |
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babystars_13
join:2009-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN | :) Go Virgin Mobile!!
I consider this a slap to all the other providers who aren't doing something similar. I wonder if they (other providers) thought that if they dropped prices and dropped caps that they would have a influx of new users? | |
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Hctim
join:2004-09-12
Denver, CO | . People who use Virgin mobile are drug dealers so they cant be tracked. | |
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oldyorker
@comcast.net | Re: . what is the likely hood this could be used on a usb broadband router? | |
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greybeard
@twtelecom.net
| pre-paid, etc I use t-mobile to go. I have a great credit score, but my cell phone gets minimal use. I get by on $50 per year, and with a 'gold' level on my t-mobile account, $50 lasts for one full year. If the 1GB Virgin Broadband2Go would last one full year I would get it in a heartbeat. The fact that it times out in 30 days is a deal breaker, I'll still have to hunt for open WiFi. | |
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aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| I just picked up mu Broadband2go adapter It seems to work fine from what I've used for 30 minutes today. I've hit 1.2mbs down with only minimal signal strength. I'll try it later today in a moving vehicle to see how it works there. But it does work as advertised. Activation is very quick and they make topping up very easy by using a credit or debit card or purchasing a topup card at the store. | |
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Virgin Mobile USA Announces 'Broadband2Go'