Virgin Mobile USA: Unlimited at $80 per month

Mobile virtual network operator Virgin Mobile USA Inc. unveiled its new “Totally Unlimited” calling plan, which stands as a shot against the company’s larger rivals by undercutting their prices by $20.
Virgin’s new plan, available July 1, will provide customers with unlimited minutes across days, nights and weekends for $80 a month, and will be available on a month-by-month basis. The offering also includes roaming and long-distance services.
However, totally unlimited doesn’t include everything. Subscribers must pay an additional $10 each month for unlimited messaging.
Virgin Mobile’s announcement comes a few short months after all four of the nation’s top wireless carriers announced $100-per-month unlimited calling plans. By undercutting its rivals’ prices, Virgin is hoping to steal some of their thunder and customer additions.
“We’re competing against companies that are spending billions of dollars on marketing and we’re not doing that,” said Jayne Wallace, head of corporate communications for Virgin Mobile.
The new offering could prove to be a good move for Virgin Mobile, especially in a time when MVNOs are struggling. The recent layoffs at Kajeet, a tween-targeted MVNO, have the market’s remaining MVNOs fretting. Indeed, a number of such players have been forced to thrown in the towel over the past few years.
Wallace said Virgin – which recently entered positive financial territory – is in no danger of that.
“We’re at over 5 million [customers],” Wallace said. “[That] is what kept us going.”