We’ve written about Virgin Mobile’s pay-as-you-go cell modem offerings before, so this development may be of interest to The Loop readers: Virgin Mobile has indicated that it will throttle its heretofore “unlimited” data plan for its Broadband2Go devices.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]Virgin Mobile offers an affordable alternative for users looking for occasional wireless broadband access on their mobile devices. The company offers a Mac-compatible USB-based device and a MiFi device that are available without any monthly contract; users instead opt for a two-tiered pay as you go strategy: $10 nets you 100MB of bandwidth which must be used within 10 days, or $40 gets you an unlimited plan that works for 30 days. After the time is over, you pay again to continue to use the service.
This proves handiest for occasional mobile travelers who don’t use their devices constantly, but may need them from time to time. There’s no penalty incurred for simply having the device on hand, and you can use it as mobile data access is required.
According to PCMag.com, Virgin Mobile is changing the terms of their $40 “unlimited” plan to 5GB per month instead. After users hit the 5GB wall, speeds are “choked down for the rest of the month,” according to reporter Sascha Segan.
For many users, this won’t be an issue – 5GB in 30 days is a significant amount of bandwidth to use over a 3G data connection, especially if you’re breaking it up with access over Wi-Fi at home or in the office. But if you’re using your Virgin Mobile device to access videos online or if you’re a heavy user, this will impose some potential restrictions on your use.
Virgin Mobile says the new terms go into effect on February 15. So eat up the unlimited bandwidth while you can, because after that, it’ll cost ya.
I’ve been using this service for 5 months now. Speeds are already obscenely slow and connections are constantly dropped — this in an area with great 3g coverage. I don’t want to even imagine what the ‘slower’ speeds are going to be when I go over 5gb — im out. Mark my words, they are going to lose 90% of their customers because of this move.
Interesting. Verizon just set its MiFi “unlimited” plan to throttle at 5 GB, too. Sounds like the companies are listening to one another.
I live in KC so I get to see Sprint up close. Virgin is really just Sprint and I’ve never seen Sprint miss a change to shoot their foot off. If Sprint were Apple, we’d still be at an Apple II only faster.
bait and switch
maybe, but not so much if the plan is month to month instead of a contract.
this is bullshit. these greedy fuckers already make money hand over fist. the american customer has been screwed again and again. european customers get 5x the speed and service for half the price. go figure.
I’m just so overjoyed that VM chooses to use Cisco when they buttf*ck me unlike those corporate pigs at AT&T and Verizon that use those crappy water based lubricants that dry out after an hour or two. Now, if I could only get them to use a condom.