Virgin Mobile USA launches prepaid Broadband2Go 3G service
By Laura June 
posted June 10th 2009 3:51PM
posted June 10th 2009 3:51PM
Virgin Mobile's just announced a prepaid 3G service under the Broadband2Go moniker, which will offer customers a contract-free internet option. The Novatel MC760 USB dongle -- which will be available exclusively at Best Buy -- will run $150, with fixed data rates of $10 for 100MB, $20 for 250MB, $40 for 600MB and $60 for 1GB. The $10 bundles will expire ten days after purchase, while the rest of them will expire after 30 days. Virgin's Broadband2Go will operate on Sprint's network in conjunction with Novatel Wireless. It's a tiny bit pricey if you ask us, but then -- most things with no strings attached are, right? The new service will be available starting late June.
[Via Electronista]
[Via Electronista]
This is definitely a game changer for some of my clients. They spend 9 months of the year in New York, where they have Cable based internet services. The other three months are spent in areas like Florida, Texas, and even California, where they don't want to have to sign up for the service. Unfortuantely, At&t, Verizon, and Sprint do not offer 3G broadband without a contract. Clearly this is not applicable for those who are heavy internet users, but if you just need to check your email while you're out of town, this is a good option.
The only gripe I have is the hardware cost. The dongle costs as much as Virgin's most expensive phone.
Looks great for people who might need a little bit of internet (read the news, check email, etc..) out in the middle of nowhere.
prepaid broadband2go are like prostitutes in a way.
"...fixed data rates of $10 for 100MB, $20 for 250MB, $40 for 600MB and $60 for 1GB"
100 megabytes per what? Per second? Per hour? Per month?
If it's a data rate, then it's per some-unit-of-time.
If they're selling you 100MB of data transferred ever, then that's not the data rate. So what is the data rate? How does it compare with (say) 6mbps cable modem?
C'mon, you're supposed to be a tech blog, at least know the difference between download speed and download size.
uh yes it is the "data rate", you seem to be confusing data rate with "download data rate", whereas from context its clearly not download data rate but charging data rate.
If it's "charging data rate" then simply say "price" or "cost", don't call it the data rate, a phrase which already has a different meaning when talking about modems. And tell us what the actual data rate is.
What a rip off
Ouch... not gonna be doing any torrenting from this.
seems pretty standard pricing, except i live in australia and thats american dollars...
150 U.S. dollars = 187.312687 Australian dollars
where as i can buy a stick for $149 AU.
data for $10 for 100mb AU
Maybe this means I can get better cell phone coverage. Verizon is the only one that reaches my area.
It's June! Nope. Verizon has Woodstock NY locked up!
This is perfect for me. On occasion, I need to transmit photos from someplace where I don't have any other means of connecting to the internet. Horrible price of the dongle aside, spending $10 for the ability to be able to transmit from anywhere I need to is a small, small expense.
Why do bean counters at these companies insist on expiration dates for this stuff. It stops almost every potential buyer dead in their tracks and does nothing to really increase revenue or lighten the BW load on their system. If there were no expiration date (and a cheaper price for the dongle) someone might consider buying one for emergencies, or if they are a very light user, or a host of other reasons you might want pay-as-you-go. Those units would most likely sit unused, so they only result in more income and use no resources. The expiration time kills this. One day some carrier will figure this out.
It's a ripoff compared to other places but oddly this price isn't so bad compared to some of the contract plans, lol.
That's appallingly priced. The UK's mobile broadband rates are well noted by other comments, I have Vodafone's offering- £15/GB and no expiry on top ups. It's perfect for the occasional surf in places with no free wi-fi. I've had it for three months and I still haven't used up the 1GB that came with it!
What a rip off and a waste. They should have offered an unlimited data plan.
This is great news! This market needs the attention as well as the competition to provide customers with more options. On my site I list the providers and their plan details. I've now added Virgin!
http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/prepaid-wireless-broadband-plans.html