Gizmodo readers might be getting the feeling their handset is more and more a data device and less and less a telephone. Virgin Mobile seems to be noticing that shift, too. The new Virgin Smart Caps, launched today, tip the voice/data balance firmly in favour of data. Starting at $29 per month, now offer unlimited SMS to any network plus 1GB of data included while giving a lesser focus to included voice value. And you can even get the Samsung Galaxy S on a $29 plan.
The $29 Smart Cap adds just $50 of included voice value, charged at 99c per minute, so it is a long way behind on included calls. But how many call dollars would you really use these days? We’re thinking a lot of people will be ready to make that trade off in exchange for unlimited SMS and 1GB of data.
Of course, you can go for a higher value plan as well.
$39 gets you 1.5GB data and $160 included calls.
$49 gets you 2GB data and $270 included calls.
$59, 2.5GB + $380.
$69, 3GB + $450.
$89, 3.5GB + $650.
$109, 4GB + $1,000.
More bonus call value if you BYO handset.
Other things to remember about Virgin are features that should be free elsewhere but are often not, like voicemail calls. Plus a nice feature I’d never heard before — if you fly Virgin Blue you’ll get 10% credit on your mobile account from the price of the flight. A clever way to use the power of their associated brands in interesting ways.
If you want that Samsung Galaxy S on the $29 Smart Cap, it’ll cost you $15 per month (or $5 per month for the Samsung Wave) in handset repayments over 24 months. UPDATE: Also on offer is the Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro, also at $5 per month.
So is Virgin tipping the voice/data balance in a direction you like? Is this style of Cap something you want?
Thomas Hambleton
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 5:43 PMWow, my hat is off to Virgin for moving this way.
Dilan
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 5:50 PMWhen do these new plans start? Nothing on their website yet.
Seamus Byrne
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 5:58 PMLaunched at lunchtime today… I updated above and added the direct link to the sub-section of their site. I imagine they’ll push this front and centre tomorrow.
Jamie Carl
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:14 PMThis is pretty good. I’ve been with Vodafone for 11 years and this is making me wish that I wasn’t still on my iPhone contract (despite ditching the iPhone for a Nexus One a year ago).
Steve M.
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:25 PMThis is perfect for me. I use data and send plenty of SMSes, but it’s very rare for me to spend more than even $20 a month on calls. If I can get on one of these plans with the iPhone 4, I’m sold on switching to Virgin.
Simon Reidy
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:44 PMThis is awesome. I’ve been with Virgin for nearly 2 years and while the Optus network they use is obviously well behind Telstra’s, I’ve still been happy with the coverage and their service overall.
When I get a handset that supports 900Mhz 3G things will be even sweeter, and as someone who uses far more data than voice, this is perfect for me.
Namarrgon
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:45 PMOr you could go with Exetel’s HSPA plan – nothing included, but data is only $0.015/MB + $5/month (so $29 would get you 1.6GB).
Perfect for VoIP over 3G (though calls aren’t that expensive anyway).
matt
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 9:33 PMso I could just BYO phone, like a galaxy S, then pay just $5 a month then by the MB/ by the minute for calls and data at reasonable rates? I’ll take eight!
Olt
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:05 PMNone of the Virgin sites mention the Samsung Galaxy S, just the Wave which is a different phone…..
Thomas Hambleton
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:26 PMLooking at the deals though, assuming you’re willing to make a 12 month commitment and there is reasonable 3 coverage in your area, the 3 $20 sim-only plan + $20 of data is a better deal.
mat
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:39 PMit says the Samsung Wave not the galaxy S at that link.
SueMe
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 7:44 PMThe site saying its a Samsung Wave not the Galaxy S, there’s a big difference between the two.
Marcos
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 8:56 PMI don’t see any mention on the website of the bonus call value with the cap if you bring your own phone?
Alex
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 2:44 AMWait until they officially launch the plans (most likely tomorrow), that is when all the ins and outs are exposed.
Being a customer for 9 years, I have worked out how Virgin introduce new plans, first the teaser, then the full details.
It may just be assumed about the bonus credit because the current “rollover” plans and previous “your caps” plans had this.
matt
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 9:29 PMholy crap THANK YOU! bout time! everything should be data! stop the rip-off complicated deals!
Galaxy S for $35 with 1 gig of data? thats all
I need to here!
Dean
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:20 PMExetel are now offering to their ADSL customers
No monthly ‘minimum usage’
100 mbytes down/uploads per month included
2 cents per megabyte – post paid
12 month contract
BYO USB modem or a USB E160 modem for $5.00 per month
PHuZy
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 11:38 PMYAY.. yes it’s about time Telco’s thought like that. I certainly want more Data than Voice…
(Virgin.. Get some Windows Phone 7 Devices as soon as they launch and I’ll be porting over for sure.
caska
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 12:43 AMSite has no mention of selling the samsung wave except on that webpage, well not that I can see, so maybe they’re coming out with the both of them?
David Anderton
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 2:09 AMthe Galaxy S is on the $89 cap but not sure about the $29 cap.
Don Ramesh
Friday, July 2, 2010 at 12:39 PMThis is really cool.. I am just finishing my 2 years Contract with Virgin… Hope they will have Nokia N8 or HTC Desire in the list!!!!??
Ash
Monday, July 5, 2010 at 11:12 AMI checked the Virgin Mobile website and the Samsung Galaxy S offer at $29+$15 is not to be seen anywhere. They do not have the phone listed on their website. Can you please confirm that these offers (especially the SGS offer) actually exists? My understanding was that Optus had exclusive rights to this phone for the first month after release.