Prepaid Virgin Mobile Strategy - June

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Virgin Mobile USA unveiled a third payment option for its mobile virtual network service that is similar to host network operator Sprint's Fair & Flexible postpaid offering. Virgin Mobile USA said its new Month2Month plan adjusts to a customer's usage each month without the need for a long-term contract. The plan starts at $30 per month for 150 anytime calling minutes and 150 night/weekend calling minutes with additional minutes billed at a fixed $10 rate depending on usage.

The first level of overage includes 150 anytime and 150 night/weekend minutes; the second level includes 100 anytime and 350 night/weekend minutes; while the third level includes another 100 anytime and 500 night/weekend calling minutes. Additional overages are charged at 20 cents per minute in $10 increments.

The new offering joins Virgin Mobile USA's original Minute2Minute prepaid plan, which charges customers 25 cents per minute for the first 10 minute of calls placed per day and 10 cents per minute for subsequent calls that day. Virgin Mobile USA also recently launched its Day2Day option, which charges customers 10 cents per minute for calls with 35-cent per day access fees.