Normally we don’t post complete press releases on PhoneNews.com, but with the recent increase in questions and speculation following the initial reports on the Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk plan  changes, I feel it best to post Virgin Mobile’s complete PR regarding the changes to hopefully put the issues to rest once and for all. Hit the Continue Reading link for the full release.
Virgin Mobile New Beyond Talk Plans Offer Unlimited Data Plan With No Contract
Hot New Android Device and Unlimited Data are Best Value at $35/Month[1]
—No Caps or Overage on Data Usage—
Also Unlimited Data, Messaging and Voice at $55
WARREN, N.J. – July 13, 2011 – Changes to pricing and data usage costs are a familiar topic in the wireless industry these days, and customers are beginning to understand that the dramatic increase of smartphone usage and mobile internet access, now and in the future, means many carriers are making adjustments to their plans.
According to Nielsen’s May 2011 survey of mobile consumers in the United States, 38 percent now own smartphones. Of those consumers, 38 percent own an Android™-powered device. Further, 55 percent of those who purchased a new handset in the past three months reported buying a smartphone, up from 34 percent just a year ago.[2]
Virgin Mobile successfully repositioned itself last year with its Beyond Talk plans, catering to the growing number of savvy connectors who want unlimited data. With the brand moving from inexpensive pay-as-you-go and feature phones to a more smartphone-focused lineup, Virgin Mobile will change the current Beyond Talk pricing plans effective July 20, along with the introduction of the Motorola Triumphâ„¢, a powerful, exclusive Android device with a 4.1-inch WVGA touchscreen.
New Beyond Talk Plans
New Virgin Mobile plans lower the monthly price of unlimited data, text and voice to only $55 and offer the still unbeatable2 value of unlimited data and 300 voice minutes at $35 per month on smartphones without a contract.
Effective July 20, the Virgin Mobile new Beyond Talk plans will be:
| Current Beyond Talk Rate | New Beyond Talk Rate | Messaging/Data Rates | Anytime Minutes | Current BlackBerry Add-On | New BlackBerry Add-on After July 19th |
| $25 | $35 | Unlimited | 300 | $10 | Included |
| $40 | $45 | Unlimited | 1200 | $10 | Included |
| $60 | $55 | Unlimited | Unlimited | $10 | Included |
Existing Beyond Talk Virgin Mobile customers as of July 19 can keep their current plan pricing as long as they don’t let their account expire, and they can upgrade to new devices without incurring additional costs.
“Smartphone adoption has grown significantly with mobile data traffic increasing to match,†said David Trimble, vice president for Virgin Mobile USA. “Adjusting these rates ensures that our Beyond Talk customers can continue to enjoy the best value overall in the market for Android devices with unlimited data and messaging. In fact, I challenge you to find a better monthly unlimited data plan for Android devices than the Beyond Talk at $35.
“And offering unlimited data, messaging and voice usage for only $55 – $5 per month less than the current plan – combined with our impressive smartphone line up is also a great option for customers looking for totally unlimited connectivity.â€
Data Speeds
Last week, Verizon pulled its unlimited data plan; T-Mobile and AT&T have also moved away from unlimited data usage. At this time, only Sprint, which owns Virgin Mobile USA, has truly unlimited postpaid mobile data plans in place.
Beginning in October 2011, Virgin Mobile will also move to reduce data speeds when a customer’s data usage exceeds 2.5GB in a month but still provide unlimited 3G access without a contract, usage cap, overage or activation fees. Based on current usage patterns, fewer than 3 percent of Virgin Mobile USA customers use more than 2.5GB of data usage per month. After reaching this level, this minority of customers may experience slower page loads, file downloads and streaming media. When a customer’s next month begins, the data usage meter starts back at zero with unlimited 3G speeds.
According to Roger Entner, analyst and founder at Recon Analytics, “The unrelenting data tsunami is challenging all carriers. So that every subscriber receives their fair share of affordable bandwidth, new policies are being introduced such as speed throttling for the heaviest users. Such policies help to ensure that a small minority does not prevent the vast majority from enjoying the wireless internet in the palm of their hand.â€
“We are all facing the same situation and this is the best way for Virgin Mobile to maintain the best network experience as data usage explodes,†said Trimble. “Our no-contract and postpaid competitors like Cricket, MetroPCS and T-Mobile have either implemented more stringent constraints and/or don’t disclose slower speeds and data caps. We believe this adjustment – with no hard cap or overage charges for more usage – gives the most value to the largest group of consumers. It’s important to Sprint and the Virgin brand that we be as up-front as possible with our customers.â€
For more information about the new Beyond Talk plans, please visit our website Media Room. On July 20, the new rate structure and the Motorola Triumph will appear on the Virgin Mobile USA website home page.
[…] This morning Sprint representative Jayne Wallace confirmed the forthcoming Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk and PayLo plan changes first reported here on PhoneNews.com last week. The statement given by Wallace also matches the one being given to customers via email in response to inquiries about the forthcoming changes. Read more about how to lock in the current rates at the continue reading link. Update: Virgin Mobile Issues Official PR on Beyond Talk Changes […]
“Existing Beyond Talk Virgin Mobile customers as of July 19 can keep their current plan pricing as long as they don’t let their account expire, and they can upgrade to new devices without incurring additional costs.”
Does this mean if I open a plan with VM before the 19th I will be able to keep that pricing? Or do I need to have so many months with them already?
Yes, the pricing is tied to the account and what plans were available at the time. Grandfathering on Virgin Mobile doesn’t require a minimum length of time the account is open to qualify.
I contacted VM about the subject and they told me the same thing. Also, I pre-purchased the TRIUMPH from bestbuy and the rep I was talking to told me that I was put on a list to be able to get the old plan pricing since it is changing before I will receive my phone. I can’t really say this with full confidence because the rep was hard to understand. I will let you know as soon as they get back to me from the e-mail I sent them in questioning them about the phone call.
I just ordered a VM phone off of eBay for 20 bucks so I can lock in the $25 rate before the 20th.. Crossing my fingers that I can keep the rate once I get the Triumph.
Adam Young- see if you can cancel that purchase. VM actually has a $9.99 phone call TNT! that can be used for that phone plan as well! Or give VM a call and ask them about the list that I think they talked to me about.