The iPhone 5 hasn’t had the start Apple would have hoped for. The lack of revolutionary features on the new iPhone and a software bug are clearly tarnishing the image that Apple has carefully built since the first iPhone. Another curious question that has been lingering in many minds is in relation to the availability of iPhone 5 on Virgin Mobile. After Sprint’s prepaid MVNO Virgin Mobile began marketing the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4, questions on whether the carrier would offer the iPhone 5 were bound to come up.
However, the carrier has been surprisingly silent in responding to these questions, at least until today. MacRumours states that Apple has begun supplying Virgin-specific CDMA iPhone units. Just like every other iPhone, this will come in versions differentiated on the basis of colour and memory. However this is still a rumour as Virgin Mobile is yet to release an official statement.
There are several carriers that offer the iPhone 5 with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint being the prominent players. Despite the presence of these power houses, regional carriers are offering a $50 discount on the device to attract users away from the bigger carriers. MacRumours claim that a total of 16 official carriers will offer the iPhone 5 in the US with Virgin Mobile and Alaska Communications being the only two carriers yet to have any such plans. However, if Virgin were to launch the iPhone now, it will probably follow the same strategy that it adopted during the summer with regard to the iPhone 4S.
Virgin Mobile will probably end up offering the iPhone 5 with its Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans, which start at $35 on a monthly basis. However, since Virgin Mobile is a prepaid carrier, users will have to shell out a hefty amount to buy the iPhone 5 off-contract. With the iPhone 4S and 4 priced at $650 and $550 respectively, the iPhone 5 will be priced at least as much, or even a bit more. However, analysts caution that the appearance of the latest version of the iPhone on Virgin Mobile cannot be a certainty till the carrier releases an official confirmation. However, considering the fact that Virgin Mobile was one of the first carriers to begin offering the iPhone 4S contract-free with a prepaid plan, it is highly likely that the company will announce a release date quite soon.
October 5, 2012 at 9:32 am
I have Virgin Mobile & the reason I wouldn’t get a Iphone from them is if something happens to it you get a replacement of a android phone. Not very good insurance, so my first smart phone will be a android and much cheaper. Just saying…..
October 5, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I’ve owned over 10 phones over the course of 12 years and I’ve never lost any phone, destroyed any phone, never had any phone stolen from me and never purchased insurance. I think insurance is a waste of money. Case in point, friend of mine pays $5 a month to insure his HTC Evo from Sprint. Turns out he still need to pay a $100+ deductible to get his phone replaced. Oh yeah, by then, his Evo is already obsolete just like any other Android phone after being on the market for over 3 months. Sorry that some people are not responsible enough to take care of their own phones and need to submit to insurance scams.
October 6, 2012 at 8:55 am
I average about .4 MB/sec in NYC with my iPhone 4S. To Virgin I suggest: 1) Let’s fix the potholes before investing in the ferrari. 2) I’ll pay a little more for faster service. How about $50/month for 1-1.5MB/sec?
I can’t complain. I pay nothing….well, $30/month which is nothing by comparison. But the data speeds are lethargic. I have faith that Virgin understands, and will make the necessary upgrades.