Thoughts On Virgin Mobile Cellphone Service?
 

Anyone use Virgin Mobile cellphone service?

I'm looking at getting a personal cellphone. I am provided with a cellphone through work, but given the way things are going at work, I want my own cellphone number that I can put on a CV and use for, ahem, calls "unrelated to my current job". The thing is that I won't be using the personal cellphone very much - a couple of hours a month, maybe. And after the work situation stabilizes, I will hardly use the personal cellphone at all (but I'll still keep it).

My wife's personal cellphone is with Verizon Wireless and I looked into adding a "second line" through their "family-share" plan, but it doesn't seem like a good deal. We'd pay $20/mo more and they'd require a 2-yr contract.

So I'm thinking about one of those pre-paid cellphones, for example Virgin Mobile. Supposedly you buy the phone (from $25 to $199), then pay by the minute (25 cents/min at the start of the day, then 10 cents/min), and the minimum spend is $20 every 90 days. The phones are ugly, but what can you do.

Does anyone have experience with Virgin Mobile? What do you think about the service, the reception, any nasty fine print?

I have virgin and I am in the process of switching to cingular. I have had virgin for 2 years now and I hate it. You burn through money so fast. I would use my phone everyday for a few minutes and I would go through a $20 top up card every week. One of the reasons that I am switching. Just not worth it anymore. I suggest you buy a cingular or sprint phone with a small plan.

What he said... I got a minimum plan where I get 300 minutes, no roaming, no (charge for) long distance, free weekend minutes, one year contract and a choice of free phones - $30 with T-mobile. (No plug intended)

I don't use the phone much either, however just one... uh... extended conversation with your significant other can run up a lot of minutes ($$$) ask me how I know.

I have sprint and love them. Great cell coverage also.

Well, I just went to Verizon and re-juggled our acccount, instead of starting a Virgin account.

Changed to a family plan, took the wife's data plan down to a lower level, bought a phone for myself. In the end our Verizon bill stays the same and I know my personal phone has the very good Verizon coverage.