The post-paid plans only rollover for the month after they are due to expire, so you can’t stockpile a heap of minutes and then spend a week on the phone to your Nanna in Brazil. The rolled over minutes are also only used if you happen to exceed that months quota, meaning that you should hopefully always have enough time for talking and texting.

There are rollover options for data as wellThe plans don’t actually let you roll over your data allowance, although they do include international calls and texting. And if you’re an iPhone user, there are a couple of dedicated rollover plans for you.

Check out Virgin’s site for a complete run down on the different plans.

[Virgin Rollover Cap plans]

The Mobile Wi-Fi modem runs off a rechargeable Lithium battery, and allows three different devices to connect to it over 802.11b/g. It has a range of about 15 metres, and weighs 90 grams. There’s also a MicroSD slot to offer up to 32GB of storage. It runs on both Optus’ 900MHz and 2100MHz bands.

Starter packs for the Wi-Fi modem will run at $199 from Dick Smith, which includes the modem and 1GB, although apparently that data is only for a limited time. It’ll hit other major retailers in December.

I went along for a sneak peek and was most impressed with the store itself. It’s a small—but well utilised—space, with a dozen or so interactive touchscreens which enable you to browse and compare handset features. It’s not a new concept by any means, but it’s certainly the most user-friendly and has a well thought-out design. The best part — live handsets. You can experience each phone’s features and UI quirks first hand and know exactly what you’re in for. The combination of these two together makes Virgin Mobile’s offerings just that little bit sweeter. Nobody, until now, has been able to pull this off right.

The new campaign will also highlight their new website and “Member’s Lounge” which offers unique benefits for customers that you would actually want to use, like 10% off Virgin Blue flights, free beers on Friday, free voicemail, unlimited free mobile talk and text, and VIP access to exclusive gigs.

Look out for the new TVC this coming Sunday, October 4.

Starting today, all of Virgin Mobile’s subscription plans have automatically been enrolled in “Pink Slip Protection.” UPDATE: Actually, existing subscribers need to GO HERE to enroll. If a customer loses a job they’ve had for over two months (and is eligible for unemployment), they can have all mobile phone fees including taxes and surcharges waived for up to three months. (We’re guessing that exceeding your minutes may still lead to charges.)

Virgin’s offering isn’t enough to solve the economic crisis, but it’s a kind gesture worth a bit of good PR, and hopefully it will put some pressure on other service providers to follow suit. (AU: I haven’t heard anything about this locally, so I’d expect it’s US-only) [Reuters]

The Helio Ocean was an amazing phone in its day, so we were excited to see all the cool updates hitting Virgin Mobile’s Helio-branded Ocean 2. Turns out, there’s not much cool to be found.

They don’t have many details, but you can head over to see lots and lots of photos of it in the open and splayed positions. [MobileCrunch]

Also, it looks like Virgin Mobile is using Britney Spears’ tour to help launch the device. Wha?

In conjunction with sponsorship of the “Circus” tour, Virgin Mobile USA plans to launch its new Ocean 2 multimedia device. Select fans at the private show will be given an Ocean 2 to chronicle the event. This “Ocean 2 Camera Crew” can blog, IM, email, post to social networking sites and send photos from this one mobile phone to share with friends and fans.

Thanks Luis!

Yes, sending text messages to nobody in particular, allowing them to travel out in some random direction and end up in space, is the hot new thing. You know, because aliens will know exactly how to interpret “r u coming here aliens? Gtfo.” The texts cost the standard rate to send, at least, but $15 for a certificate of confirmation for a text sent to nowhere is kind of crazy.

But hey, you’ve got to hand it to Virgin Mobile for figuring out a way to collect $US15 from people for mailing out a piece of paper. I mean, that’s pure profit right there. Good for you, Virgin Mobile. [Virgin Mobile via Pocket Lint]

WARREN, N.J. Sept. 10- Video and web entertainment on a cell phone without the hassle of a contract just got a whole lot faster. Virgin Mobile USA and Personal Communications Devices, LLC [PCD] are launching the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA’s first EV-DO handset, designed with high performance for data and content in mind. Available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com as of September 28, the Shuttle ushers in a new era of performance for consumers who demand the flexibility of monthly plans with no contract but also feel the ‘need for speed.’

Following Virgin Mobile USA’s recent acquisition of Helio, the Shuttle will be the first handset enabled to integrate several features from the Helio portfolio. This will include improved access to social networking communities and other mobile internet sites through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook*, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo! and more.

The Shuttle is also slated to feature Virgin Mobile’s first location-based services from uLocate including:

· Buddy Beacon®, the popular ‘friend-finder’ solution which allows customers to find friends in a crowded city and show where they are and what they’re doing; and

· Where™, the application that delivers local information to easily discover nearby places and things of interest such as locating the lowest gas prices, finding local events, and getting restaurant recommendations.

According to Bob Stohrer, Virgin Mobile USA’s Chief Marketing Officer, the time has arrived for Virgin Mobile USA to make the 3G leap. “With the Helio acquisition and the new Shuttle, we’ve made a strong move into 3G, satisfying our customers who want the speed and affordability, while greatly enhancing our handset line-up just in time for the holidays,” Stohrer said.

Jam-packed with features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2” screen; video capture, playback and messaging, integrated media player that supports both streaming and sideloaded music, stereo Bluetooth** wireless technology, and SD card support, while sporting a stylish S-curve design in a compact slider form factor.

“Virgin Mobile USA is a natural fit for the handset, especially considering their game-changing commitment to innovation, service and value,” said Philip Christopher, President, PCD. “The Shuttle is the latest in a long line of PCD offerings that deliver on that commitment, a tremendous and affordable device that will surprise and delight discerning Virgin Mobile USA consumers, just in time for the holidays.”

New Virgin Mobile USA Mobile Web Offer

With the new Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA is also introducing its first Mobile Web data packs as add-ons to calling plans, as more and more customers access the mobile web and other mobile data services. “Data is the centre of growth in wireless. This handset is a perfect fit for our new Mobile Web, heavily discounted for customers who purchase a monthly voice plan, and a big benefit for users looking to take advantage of the fast web-browsing abilities,” said Stohrer.

For Monthly Plans: $us 5.00 – 20 MB Surf the Web, Unlimited VirginXL [WAP deck]

$10.00 – 50 MB and Unlimited VXL

For Pay As You Go: $us 5.00 – 5 MB Surf the Web

$10.00 – 20 MB, Unlimited VXL

$20.00 – 50 MB, Unlimited VXL

The new Shuttle adds a cost-effective and attractive product to Virgin Mobile USA’s lineup, as customers have access to a host of calling and messaging plans without annual contracts, including the $79.99 Totally Unlimited voice plan that provides unlimited calling without roaming charges, activation fees or a two-year commitment. Here are highlights of the Shuttle handset:

· Sleek and small, this slider measures 3.9″ x 1.9″ x 0.7″ – all at just a shade over 3 ounces and about the size of half a candy bar, the phone fits perfectly in a pocket or the palm of a hand.

· EV-DO 3G-capable data speeds for browsing mobile internet and downloading content.

· Boasts a 1.3 megapixel camera, 2″ screen, video capture and video messaging, a music player, stereo Bluetooth*, and SD card support.

· Comes preloaded with an array of playful games, along with downloadable animated and Real Music ringtones.

· More than 235 minutes of talk time and nearly 2 weeks of standby time on a single charge

· Room for 500 contacts that accommodate 5 numbers, 2 email addresses, 2 IM handles and 1 website slot for each contact.

· Has Virgin Mobile USA’s Contact Vault, which allows customers to store, retrieve, delete and transfer their wireless phone’s personal contacts list online in the event the phone is lost, stolen, damaged or upgraded.