wraggster
July 2nd, 2012, 00:06
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2012/06/bransonphone.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/29/virgin-mobile-prepay-iphone/)Virgin Mobile is offering the iPhone (http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/07/virgin-confirms-iphone-4-and-4s-coming-june-29th-pricing-reveal/) to its prepaid customers as of today. The Sprint-owned subsidiary is using the event to kickstart a new retail strategy that will see the company open branded retail stores in Chicago -- with a nationwide rollout dependent upon its success. Since all carriers have to make a minimum commitment to Apple in order to receive the handset, it's interesting to see that Virgin's allocation forms part of Sprint's $15.5 billion gamble (http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/sprint-iphone/) on the handset that's still yet to pay off (http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/sprint-q1-2012-financials/). The handset will set users back $650 for a 16GB iPhone 4S, while plans begin at $30 for 300 voice minutes, unlimited messages and data, but only if they commit to automatic monthly payments.
http://newsroom.virginmobileusa.com/press-release/handsets/virgin-mobile-usa-offer-iphone-june-29
http://newsroom.virginmobileusa.com/press-release/handsets/virgin-mobile-usa-offer-iphone-june-29