Virgin bites on Boost offer, lowers unlimited plan to $50

Boost Mobile unveiled its nationwide unlimited calling plan, many analysts believed that other carriers, particularly other prepaid carriers, would follow suit. We’re seeing that right now, as Virgin Mobile has announced a price reduction in their unlimited plan. This goes from the $80 plan they introduced last June to the $50 which Boost charges its customers. According to VM spokeswoman Jayne Wallace, this is “”definitely a response to the marketplace.” Pricing war, begin! The Associated Press report also mentions that Virgin will introduce texting-only monthly plans. They’re right around the level of the existing pay-as-you-go text packages, with unlimited texting for $20 and 1,000 messages for $15. Previously, $1,000 messages were $10 per month with a pay-as-you-go plan from Virgin. Voice calls are 10 cents per minute. The unlimited plan debuts on April 15, and it will not include text messaging or mobile Web, both of which still require add-ons. That still puts Virgin at tough odds with competitors. Their nationwide coverage on the Sprint network gives them an advantage, but adding texting and Web prices Virgin higher than Boost, which also provides nationwide coverage, and Cricket and Metro, which provide unlimited texting and Web in their $50 package. For those Virgin customers who are already on the $80 unlimited plan: make sure to call Virgin to change your plan. Apparently they won’t do it on their own, which is just wrong. They’re really going to let some customers continue paying an extra $30 per month just because they didn’t catch it and call? It seems a shame they can get away with that.]]>