Whether or not Microsoft’s KIN handsets have GenUpload appeal or not, one thing just about everyone outside of Verizon agrees on is that the carrier has priced the featurephone’s data plans too highly. Ideal time for Sprint to leap in with some massively impressive prepaid offerings, using its Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile acquisitions to target the youth market, those looking for affordable, contract-free unlimited service, and even those wanting cheap BlackBerry BIS support (from $35 all-in, voice and text included).
The new “Beyond Talk” plans under the Virgin Mobile umbrella are those most likely to give AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon sleepless nights. Kicking off at $25 for unlimited messaging, email, data and web with 300 minutes of voice per month, you can also add in unlimited BlackBerry service for just $10 more. $40 and $60 plans boost talktime to 1,200 or unlimited minutes.
It’s all part of what Dan Schulman, president of Sprint’s prepaid group, calls “a continuing evolution in wireless consumer behavior – increased use of text and data services as a form of wireless communication over talk.” The three new plans will be available from May 12th 2010. To go with the plans, Virgin Mobile will offer the BlackBerry Curve 8530 ($299.99), the LG Rumor Touch ($149.99), the LG Rumor 2 ($89.99) and Kyocera Loft ($69.99).
Meanwhile Boost have added unlimited 411 calls, email and instant messaging to their $50 unlimited talk, text and web access plan, and there will be new handsets coming too: the Samsung Rant and the Sanyo Incognito, Mirro SCP3810 and Juno. Sprint also say they have another new brand expected to launch this month, which will target “budget-conscious customers who spend less than $30 per month and are focused on the value they pay per minute,” described as a “traditional no-frills prepaid” service for “basic communicators”.