Virgin Mobile has extended their promotion offering a full year of unlimited service for $1 for new customers who buy an iPhone and transfer their number, as well as current Virgin Mobile customers who upgrade to an iPhone. Auto-pay required. It has officially been extended through 8/31/17.
Virgin Mobile USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint and is thus on the Sprint network. Unlimited talk, text, and data with de-prioritization after 23 GB each month. Although taxes are technically not included, people report being charged only 8 cents per month, so apparently it’s not a concern. After the first year, the unlimited plan costs $50 a month including all taxes as this is a prepaid service.
The cost of the newest iPhones from Virgin Mobile is comparable to buying direct from Apple. For example, iPhone 7 32GB version is $649. However, there are discounts for older models: iPhone 6 32GB is $320. iPhone SE 32GB is $280.
Compare this offer with the Sprint Free Year of Unlimited offer. For the Sprint offer, you must bring your own eligible device and qualify via a hard credit check. If you don’t want an iPhone, you could buy a New Unlocked Moto E4 for $99 from Amazon. For this Virgin Mobile offer, you must buy a new iPhone for at least $280 but there is no credit check. Sprint includes mobile hotspot tethering, while Virgin charges an extra $10 a month.
Per this press release, Virgin will also throw in the following perks:
- A round-trip companion ticket to the United Kingdom on Virgin Atlantic
- One night’s stay at Virgin Hotels
- $170 savings on an introductory offer to Virgin Wines club
- Up to 20% off flights on Virgin America
- 20% off on the Virgin Sport San Francisco Festival of Fitness (Oct. 13-15)
If you wanted to buy an iPhone anyway (a new model is coming out soon) and are okay with the Sprint network, this can work out to a good deal. You could get a new iPhone 6 (which is still perfectly useable in my opinion) and a year of Unlimited talk/text/data service for $321. After the first year, you’ll still have the iPhone 6 which you can use on another network.
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The big issue is that Virgin Mobile is on the Sprint network. I wouldn’t switch to Sprint if it were free (which it is). They have terrible service in my area. Much better to be on a Verizon family plan.
Given 9 years of zero percent interest rates, the illusion of meaningless Fed rate hikes and the ongoing destruction of the entire US middle class…..I’ve been thinking about a new cell phone service company called: Downward Mobility. I was wondered if the cost conscious readers of this blog like the name and would be interested in Terrible Service At An Affordable Price along with VIP access to soup kitchens anywhere in the country, valet parking for your stolen supermarket shopping cart and a picture of Richard Branson pretending to be the poster boy for an exciting life and companies that don’t deliver on anything.
I’d go for the additional perks! This is a great promo for iPhones.
Is there a way to easily get a new number that can be ported to Virgin Mobile under this promotion? Can I get a prepaid plan that will work here?
T-Mobile? I believe you can get a SIM card and it even includes a bit of free prepaid time which gets you a portable number.