Anyone use Boost Mobile or Virgin Mobile for inexpensive plans?

[nessz79]

Hi there- I was listening to the radio the other day and heard that either of the above companies have inexpensive data plans for the use of texting, internet, etc on cell phones (Blackberry being the most advanced/expensive and going down from there). We have heard mixed things about the plans. Someone told us that the service from either was unreliable.

Actually using phone calls is not a problem for us. We rarely call people on our cell phones, but often text and would like to be able to access the internet w/o WiFi.

Any advice or help? Thank you

 

[Gina]

My son (14 and your typical text-crazy teenager) has been with Virgin Mobile for a number of years. I just switched him to the new $25 plan, and it's perfect for us. Unlimited text, web, email, picture mail, and 300 talk minutes per month. No extra fees, no drama. As far as service goes, I generally love being with T-Mobile but DS often has better connectivity than my phone has.

And I have to say, Virgin Mobile's customer service is better than 99% of the companies I have dealt with. Just really, really nice.

 

[nessz79]

My son (14 and your typical text-crazy teenager) has been with Virgin Mobile for a number of years. I just switched him to the new $25 plan, and it's perfect for us. Unlimited text, web, email, picture mail, and 300 talk minutes per month. No extra fees, no drama. As far as service goes, I generally love being with T-Mobile but DS often has better connectivity than my phone has.

And I have to say, Virgin Mobile's customer service is better than 99% of the companies I have dealt with. Just really, really nice.

That's so good to hear! If I may ask, what kind of device does your son use and is compatible with Virgin Mobile? Thanks!

 

[goofy's_gurl]

I was with Virgin Mobile for years. But there phones dont last long and they give you the run around when you ask for a replacement phone. But my sis has Boost and it seems to be working for her

 

[disneylover1959]

I have had a phone with Boost Mobile for a year now. I don't text, and I use for phone very little. I have the plan for 10 cents a minute. For example, if I use 50 minutes per month, it only costs $5.00. No taxes, no fees - just $5.00. And I have no problems with reception at all. Great experience with them.

 

[nessz79]

Thank you! Bumping to see if there are any other reviews out there.

 

[Gina]

That's so good to hear! If I may ask, what kind of device does your son use and is compatible with Virgin Mobile? Thanks!

My son has the Slash. I think I got it for like $20 on sale? They're always having sales on their phones. It's a slide phone with a camera, has web access, and serves his teenage needs just fine. He wants a touch screen phone, of course, but that can wait until he's paying for it.

He has lost his phone twice, and both times customer service has made replacing it completely painless and WAY fast. Maybe I got lucky?? But they were seriously nice and helpful.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

Thank you! Bumping to see if there are any other reviews out there.

Hmm...wow your in Naples FL! Well since we are neighbors I might be able to help you with a little info.

They both run on the Sprint network. Some Boost run on the iDen side which is the old nextel(Walkie talkie). This data will be slow and likely won't be good enough for you. I did have Nextel before and tbh the coverage wasn't terrible around here. But this was before I used my phone as much as I do now with texting and net so take it for whats its worth.(Which isn't much)

Tbh I think all the data may be on the slow side. Idk if you have a phone with 3G data on T-Mo but it will be slower then that.

I currently have both T-Mo and Sprint because I was thinking of going to T-Mobile. Ofcoarse Sprint offered me a stupidly good offer to stay with them so I think I have to. But yea almost everywhere I go the 3G from T-Mo is twice the speed of Sprint.

So in summary I would say its a good price for what your getting. Since the service is cheap. The data may be slow but it very well could be possible to stream a youtube video or check out websites daily depending on where you travel to.

Good luck and if you end up doing it I would be interested to know how it is because I was considering jumping on that since they now have an Android phone.(Albeit a terrible one)

 

[memphismovin]

I have the Virgin mobile $25 plan and will never sign another contract. I had long running contracts with both Verizon and Tmobile, eventually canceling service due to the ridicuous overage charges that they were adding on with no real explanation. Now I pay $25/mo for truly unlimited text and web and have 300 min to use. If I run out of min before the month is over i can add cash to bridge the gap but never more than 10-20 bucks. Still WAY ahead of the $105/mo I had previously been paying for similar service. Yes the phones don't last as long but in my experience have been cheaper to start and just as nice for the duration that they work. I buy a new phone roughly every 6 months and it has never cost me more that $80-$100. Maybe not for everybody but if you add up the savings I don't care about the stigma of having a pre-paid phone because I know I'm making a better choice by not signing my life away to a contract. jmo

 

[Minnie J]

I have Boost mobile and love it. Unlimited everything and very cool choices for phones. Im upgrading to the Blackberry plan very soon for 60 a month.

 

[nessz79]

Thanks everyone! I'm not sure what we'll do. At this point, I have an iTouch, but that depends on Wi-fi. I have a separate phone through Net10 (only $15/ mo) for texting/calls. We will stick with this for now until we know more.

Oh, and hi neighbor- Johnny Duck!

 

[mum22girlz]

I have Virgin Mobile and love it. One thing to keep in mind, though . . . Virign Mobile WILL NOT roam. It runs on the Sprint Network, but you will not be able to use the phone if you run out of the coverage area. Make sure you check the map closely. I have the Rumor Touch and the $25 Beyond Talk Plan. They just released an Android phone . . . now I just need to save up some money to upgrade.

 

[hambirg]

I have Virgin Mobile and love it. One thing to keep in mind, though . . . Virign Mobile WILL NOT roam. It runs on the Sprint Network, but you will not be able to use the phone if you run out of the coverage area. Make sure you check the map closely. I have the Rumor Touch and the $25 Beyond Talk Plan. They just released an Android phone . . . now I just need to save up some money to upgrade.

How do you like the Rumor Touch? I sooo want to get this $25 dollar plan for my daughter. We have a family plan with Sprint now and they like to rack up charges for data. My DD had $70 worth of data charges in August! She's not surfing the web or IMing. . .I think it's just the way they have their picture mail set up. She is suppose to have unlimited text and pic messaging, but if you save an incoming pic to your phone or send a pic from your phone it charges you data.

Anyway, she has a Rumor 2 now. I was thinking of buying her the Touch and getting her on the VM plan, then switching my number to her Rumor2 (I need a new phone) and dropping my Sprint plan way down. I need to stay with Sprint another 8 months, but then I will switch to VM too if it works out well for her.

 

[Jonny_Duck]

How do you like the Rumor Touch? I sooo want to get this $25 dollar plan for my daughter. We have a family plan with Sprint now and they like to rack up charges for data. My DD had $70 worth of data charges in August! She's not surfing the web or IMing. . .I think it's just the way they have their picture mail set up. She is suppose to have unlimited text and pic messaging, but if you save an incoming pic to your phone or send a pic from your phone it charges you data.

Anyway, she has a Rumor 2 now. I was thinking of buying her the Touch and getting her on the VM plan, then switching my number to her Rumor2 (I need a new phone) and dropping my Sprint plan way down. I need to stay with Sprint another 8 months, but then I will switch to VM too if it works out well for her.

Yea that's how sprints pic mail is. You should call them and tell them you have unl picture mail and they will likely take some or all of those charges off.

Sprint is notorious for overcharging.

 

[torinsmom]

We have VM and it runs off Sprint. No problems here; I have better coverage than I did with AT&T. I have had overall good luck with CS as well. My son is using a phone he used for pay as you go several years ago, and I got a $20 Arc. I don't really use the web on my phone though.

I was with Virgin Mobile for years. But there phones dont last long and they give you the run around when you ask for a replacement phone. But my sis has Boost and it seems to be working for her

You are the only person I have ever heard this from and you post it on every VM thread. My son has had VM for years and although he has changed phones b/c he wanted more features, 3 of the 4 he has used still work. The only one that doesn't is the one he stepped on. The phones are not even made by VM anyway. Maybe you have just had bad luck with phones. I know DS has bad luck with laptops and he has had three different brands. What service do you use now?

 

[mum22girlz]

How do you like the Rumor Touch? I sooo want to get this $25 dollar plan for my daughter. We have a family plan with Sprint now and they like to rack up charges for data. My DD had $70 worth of data charges in August! She's not surfing the web or IMing. . .I think it's just the way they have their picture mail set up. She is suppose to have unlimited text and pic messaging, but if you save an incoming pic to your phone or send a pic from your phone it charges you data.

Anyway, she has a Rumor 2 now. I was thinking of buying her the Touch and getting her on the VM plan, then switching my number to her Rumor2 (I need a new phone) and dropping my Sprint plan way down. I need to stay with Sprint another 8 months, but then I will switch to VM too if it works out well for her.

I really like the Rumor Touch. I'm a very light user, though, and this is my first phone with web/texting capabilities, so I don't have anything to compare it to. I have heard it called a smart dumb-phone or a dumb smart-phone.

 

[kfeuer]

I have the Blackberry Curve with VM and I'm very pleased with it. I'm paying the extra $10/mth to have access to apps and email (so $35/mth total), but I may drop it. I haven't really gotten into their apps, I also have an iPod Touch and I already have lots of things I want on there. I got this phone because I wanted Internet access at work, and it's excellent for that. A co-worker has the same phone she got for "free" with a 2-year contract but is paying over $60/mth. I'll come out way ahead in the end.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Straight Talk from walmart. $45 a month - unlimited everything. Exceptional coverage (runs on verizon towers).

Will never sign another contract. I had sprint for years and had the same issue with the pic mail = hundreds of dollars a month in data charges. After 5 months of it I added the data plan for $20 a month just to stop it (smart marketing on sprints part) but they lost my business in the end.

I only did sprint because i got $150 in my upromise account from 3 phones. now I still have that $150 and am saving tons of money by using straight talk.