The LG Optimus V is Now Avaliable on Virgin Mobile

I still don't have an answer to my question "Why doesn't everybody use Virgin Mobile?" (see that post), but I do have further proof why everyone should use Virgin Mobile. First off, the LG Optimus V, a 3G+Wi-Fi smartphone with a 3.2" touchscreen running Android 2.2 is now avaliable on Virgin Mobile for only $149 with no contract. It was sold out, and currently out of stock (update: it is now in stock). Second, they've gave us HUGE deals on their phones. They lowered the price of the $249 Samsung Intercept to $199, the price of the $199 BlackBerry Curve to $149, the price of the $149 LG Rumor Touch to $99, and the price of the $89 LG Rumor2 to $49! Could somebody please tell me why everybody isn't using Virgin Mobile?

How to Save $930 on Cell Phone Service!

You're out shopping for a smartphone at a low price when you come across the Samsung Intercept, a 3G Android smartphone with a 3.2" touchscreen and a slide-out keyboard. And the price is only $100! So, you go ahead and buy that phone paired with the Sprint Everything Plan. After two years of service, you'll have spent a total of $1,780. Well, you've made a huge mistake. If you had got that same phone on Virgin Mobile without a contract, sure, it would've costed $250 upfront, but you would've saved 45 dollars per month on service. So if you got the Samsung Intercept on Virgin Mobile, after two years you would've only spent $850, and saved $930. So, the lesson is, next time you're out shopping for an inexpensive phone, don't look for the cheapest upfront price, look for the cheapest carrier. My recommendations for cheap carriers are Virgin Mobile (which offers 300 minutes and unlimited texting and data for $25/mo., and uses Sprint's 3G network), Metro PCS (which offers unlimited talk, text, and data for $40/mo.) and, if you rarely ever use your phone, Tracfone (which offers 100 minutes for $10/mo., and partners with many 2G networks.).

Why doesn't everybody use Virgin Mobile?

One mystery to me is why everybody doesn't use Virgin Mobile. Why would I say this? Well, because of the insanely cheap monthly costs. Consumer Reports recently found that the most complained about problem was price. After all, a plan with 400-ish minutes, a fair amount of texts and a little bit of data use costs about $60/mo on Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile. Comparison: 300 minutes, unlimited texts and unlimited data usage costs only $25/mo. using Virgin Mobile. And if you want more minutes, 1200 minutes paired with unlimited texting and data costs just $40/mo. Getting unlimited everything: talk, text and web is only $60/mo. Well, you think, there's gotta be a catch. How about their phones? They probably have really stinky phones! Incorrect. They offer many great phones, including the LG Rumor Touch, the BlackBerry Curve and the Samsung Intercept, an Android smartphone. How about their coverage? That's gotta really stink. Wrong again. Virgin Mobile has access to Sprint's 3G network. Maybe they have really long contracts? No. No contacts at all. Aha! So because they have no contract, the phones must be super-expensive! After all, the BlackBerry Torch costs $550 without a contract! Wrong a fourth time! The LG Rumor Touch costs just $150, the BlackBerry Curve $200, and the Samsung Intercept $250 without a contract. You can also get much cheaper phones like the LG Rumor2, or the Kyocera Loft for under $75. Ok... then why doesn't everybody use Virgin Mobile? That's my question.