Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) is known to target young people who are usually on a budget when it comes to mobile phone purchases. Hence, most of their phones are somewhere in the low-to-mid range.

Lately, they’ve added a new device to support heavy SMS users on their network – Kyocera (NYSE: KYO) Wireless’ Wild Card. Although we found it’s far from a “superior handset” their release is stating, the Wild Card DOES pack some interesting features for only $99.99. Aside from the full QWERTY keyboard that is probably THE raison d’être of this device, the Kyocera’s handset also packs Bluetooth connectivity, dual screens (internal is 128×160 pixel), 1.3 MP camera with 3x digital zoom, integrated speakerphone, and WAP 2.0 Web browser.

Interested? You can already grab it at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Target and Wal-Mart; or wait for Wednesday (October 24) and get it from Virgin Mobile USA’s website.

Canadian arm of Virgin Mobile just entered a bit more expensive waters with the addition of Motorola KRZR phone. Priced at $299 CAD, the dual-band CDMA-based KRZR brings its users the built-in music player, Bluetooth, stereo headphones, 1.3 MP camera, and of course the microSD memory slot along with the 512MB card that comes in the box… I’ll stop here, as KRZR isn’t actually the hot news these days. Still, it’s nice to see Virgin Mobile expanding its offering in Canada.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

Virgin Mobile USA, the joint venture between Sprint (NYSE: S) and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, has managed to raise $412, about $50 million less than they’ve hoped for. Despite the fact that Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) is doing well, the market is still cautious on the virtual carriers. The shares were priced at $15 (the low-end of its $15-$17 range) and after the first day of trading we saw them moving slightly up, at one point hitting $16.63, before settling around $15.50.
Following the IPO, Sprint Nextel kept a reduced stake of around 17.2%, while Virgin Group got about 35.7% of the company. Roughly 44% of the MVNO was floated…

[Via: paidContent.org]

Virgin Mobile, known for their decent phones and even better pre-paid service, is dropping a couple bombs on our neighbors to the North. Virgin Mobile Canada will be picking up the Samsung m300 flip-phone to no one’s excitement. With a feature set that boasts 1xRTT data, VGA camera, digital voice recorder, it’s hard to get excited for the Samsung m300.

But, that’s not all. Virgin Mobile Canada has announced that it will be carrying the Samsung M510 flipper and will offer an unlimited data package. The “Tidal Wave” unlimited data package will run $10 and is only offered with the Samsung m510. It looks like Virgin Mobile wants to really push their Samsung m510, which makes sense given the Samsung m510’s EVDO connection. And with a 1.3 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, built-in MP3 player, and microSD card slot, it makes sense for Virgin Mobile to promote their multi-media powerhouse Samsung m510 – the priciest handset in Virgin Mobile lineup ($199).

Virgin Mobile fans in Canada won’t be able to make use of the “Tidal Wave” unlimited data plan for any laptop tethering, so they’ll just have to make do with unlimited mobile web surfing on the baddest handset that Virgin Mobile offers. Not a bad deal, we say – if you gotta go the pre-paid route that is.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) has filed for an IPO to pay its debts and get additional money to fund operations. The plan is to sell 27.5 million shares at prices ranging from $15 to $17 and raise about $467.5 million. Of that amount, $45 million will be used to pay what it owes to Sprint (NYSE: S) and $150 million to other creditors.

Those not familiar should know that Virgin Mobile USA is a youth-focused MVNO organized as a joint venture between Sprint and Virgin Group. After the IPO, the stakes of both companies would naturally reduce. As of June 30, Virgin had 4.83 million customers, and made a profit of $26.5 million in the H1 2007.

Personally, I’ve been covering Virgin Mobile USA and all I can say that they’re quite innovative for an MVNO. My advice is to wait a bit till the price settles down and buy the damn thing afterwards. However, please note that we don’t take any responsibility for your actions…

[Via: Phone Scoop]

Even though Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) is just an MVNO and does not have its own infrastructure, it keeps adding some very cool and innovative services to its offering. Lately they’ve partnered with 3jam to provide their users with multi-party text-messaging service. This is the first time a carrier has brought such service to allow more than two users to chat at the same time. Virgin Mobile USA’s customers can use the new service for free, although standard text messaging rates apply.

This is also a huge victory for 3jam which will now get much more users thanks to the tie up with a carrier. And in case you care, they took $4 million in funding from Norwest Venture Partners and New Enterprise Associates in July this year.

[Via: TechCrunch]

The lawsuit sounds frivolous, but wait until you hear why Virgin Mobile Australia is being sued. The pre-paid wireless carrier recently ran a billboard advertising campaign that unlawfully used Alison Chang’s photo (taken by photographer Justin Ho-Wee Wong) in a derogatory fashion.

Apparently, Chang’s youth counselor at her church snapped a pic of her holding up the universal “peace sign” (you know, two fingers) at an April church car wash. The image was posted up on Flickr by Wong, under the Creative Commons shared licensing scheme (which allows work to be reproduced and reused as long as credit to the photographer and location of the photo).

So, some advertising ‘tard saw this image on Flickr and thought it would be a good idea to ad slogans like, “Dump your pen friend” and, “Free text virgin to virgin.” Credit was not given to the photographer or location.

As you can imagine, that second slogan brought down a world of ridicule for the church-going 16-year old. So, Chang’s family is suing Virgin Mobile for libel and invasion of privacy – and is seeking unspecified damages.

Go get ‘em Chang! These guys deserve to pay up for their callous and half-baked advertising campaign. Just don’t take too much of their money, we actually kind of like their service.

[Via: Yahoo]

Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) just announced its new candybar-shaped phone Super Slice. The successor to the last year’s Slice model is the first phone offered by the MVNO which comes with the Bluetooth connectivity support. In addition to that, the UTStarcom (NSDQ: UTSI)-manufactured 10.2 mm thick Super Slice also comes with the VGA camera, speakerphone, new UI and the battery that promises to support up to 270 minutes of talk time. Naturally, being the prepaid carrier, Virgin Mobile USA is offering the Super Slice sans any contract and you can get it for $59.99 within a week or so.

Yet again Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM) proved to be the most innovative MVNO in the States (and probably around the World). Just recently they’ve announced that their users can access Facebook, and now the carrier is partnering with Intercasting to bring a selection of diverse Web-based social networking and community sites to their customers.

Using the specially designed Java application – owners of Cyclops, Slider Sonic and Switch_Back can access such sites and services as AsianAve (social network site for Asian Americans 18+), BlackPlanet (African-American), GLEE (Gay, Lesbian and Everyone Else), MiGente (Hispanic community), LiveJournal (blogging platform and more), Rabble, Vox (text, photo and video blogging) and Xanga (community of online diaries and journals). Intercasting is providing its web-like, media-rich ANTHEM platform to run the show.

Pricing is quite flexible and customers can choose to pay by the day or by the month: $1.00 provides use for 24 hours with a cap of half a megabyte of data, and $3.99 provides access for one month with a cap of five megabytes of data.

While I’m not really into all the pre-paid thing, I find Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM)’s strategy quite interesting. No, they’re not adding powerful smartphones to their portfolio, rather they focus on appealing low-end devices.

Lately, they’ve announced the first handset from LG to its offering called “Aloha.” It’s small (3.5×1.9×0.9 inches), light (2.7-ounces), has a metallic front and matte back finish, which gives this device that appealing simple look and feel. In terms of specs, this $34.99 priced handset brings basic phone features like speakerphone and voice-activated dialing. Plus, there are two preinstalled games on the phone – ZooZoo Club and Battle Reversi.

Finally, LG Aloha looks quite customizable and the carrier will make and auction special signature versions to help its charitable partners – StandUp For Kids, Children’s Health Fund and YouthNoise.