Virgin Mobile has announced changes in its Beyond Talk Plans which was launched last year. The Wireless industry has been abuzz with talk of price changes and data usage costs for a while now. The increase in smartphone usage and internet access through mobile phones will soon lead carriers to make modifications in their existing plans.
As per Nielsen’s survey of mobile consumers in the US in May this year, 38 percent of the population possesses smartphones out of which 38 percent owned Android based ones. Also 55 percent of those who bought a new handset in the past three months had reportedly purchased smartphones. The percentage has risen dramatically from only 34 percent a year ago.
To meet the increasing demand of unlimited data, Virgin Mobile had released its Beyond Talk plans last year. However, from July 20 the company has decided to modify its current pricing plans.
“Smartphone adoption has grown significantly with mobile data traffic increasing to match. Adjusting these rates ensures that our Beyond Talk customers can continue to enjoy the best value overall in the market for Android devices with unlimited data and messaging. In fact, I challenge you to find a better monthly unlimited data plan for Android devices than the Beyond Talk at $35. And offering unlimited data, messaging and voice usage for only $55 – $5 per month less than the current plan – combined with our impressive smartphone line up is also a great option for customers looking for totally unlimited connectivity,” stated David Trimble, vice president for Virgin Mobile USA.
While the cost of unlimited data, text and voice has been reduced to $55 per month, the monthly price of unlimited data with 300 minutes talk time for smartphones has risen from $25 to $35. Current subscribers of Beyond Talk plans can move on to newer devices without incurring extra costs and retain their existing cost plan as long as their accounts don’t expire.
Roger Entner, analyst and founder at Recon Analytics commented, “The unrelenting data tsunami is challenging all carriers. So that every subscriber receives their fair share of affordable bandwidth, new policies are being introduced such as speed throttling for the heaviest users. Such policies help to ensure that a small minority does not prevent the vast majority from enjoying the wireless internet in the palm of their hand.”
The Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk plans is scheduled to decrease monthly data speeds of customers exceeding the 2.5GB mark, from October this year. However customers would still be allowed access to limitless 3G without any activation fees, usage cap, overage or contract. Apparently those who utilize more than 2.5GB of data per month comprise less than 3 percent of all customers.