Virgin Losing? Boost Gaining!

[poison7fl]

It seems that Sprint is really paying attention the Boost, and not so much with Sprint. Virgin has been getting some pretty crappy phones, while Boost has gotten some really nice Androids, and Just got the Marquee... What is your thoughts on the two? Do you suppose they will eventually merge the two companies?

I had Virgin for 6 months before switching to Boost, and it seems that they are marketing Virgin to the younger texting crowd, and Boost to the older Data consuming crowd.

[cbaus]

Sprint is probably giving more love to boost because of the higher income per customer, and giving virgin customers incentives to switch for better phones. Just my 2 cents

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D using HowardForums

[cookedgoose]

We don't know this for sure just yet. As a general matter, we don't know whether we can say VM is exactly "losing." Metro and VM reported modest earnings for Q4. Nothing to write home about, but still, they were increases reflecting a rise in new customers.


The jury is still out on whether VM's lackluster device lineup is here to stay. CES just ended. CES is usually when new devices get showcased. I hear it marks an event in a cycle in which carriers decide to refresh their devices and replace the old with the new. We may need to wait a bit longer before being able to decide whether this means VM will replace the current phones. So until we see good or crappy phones making it to VM's shelves, we just don't know yet.

[lewminous]

Compared to VM, Boost has always seemed to enjoy a steadier stream of phones. Lately, the phones have been much more solid than what's been rolling out to VM. Which is why after years of looking at the green grass on the other side of the fence...I want to switch to Boost when I can. Unless they announce the Marquee soon. Then all is forgiven, lol. I am curious about the Warp also.

[billm261]

Metro and VM reported modest earnings for Q4. Nothing to write home about, but still, they were increases reflecting a rise in new customers.

Sprint does not report Q4/2011 earnings until early February. When they do, they bundle Boost and Virgin together as "prepaid additions" and MVNO carriers as "affiliate".

I could find no information on VM for Q4/2011 please share a link if you have one.

[billm261]

Sprint is probably giving more love to boost because of the higher income per customer, and giving virgin customers incentives to switch for better phones. Just my 2 cents

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D using HowardForums

I think your spot on with that and it makes sense.

I make no claim to knowing but I would venture to guess that most of Virgin Mobiles subscribers are on the old 25.00 beyond talk plan as well as the newer 35.00 flavor. Sprints last report listed prepaid ARPU of 27.00 so I don't think I am too far off. The 40/45.00 plan is OK but not killer. The unlimited plan really offers no compelling reason to have it. Boost Mobile is the same money and it gets cheaper every 6 months. Plus, there are other options when you get in that 55.00 range like Metro PCS, Cricket, T-Mobile, Jolt Red Pocket, blah blah blah.

Put the better devices on Boost and lure the customers over. A tad cheaper than the above mentioned options but substantially cheaper the longer you stay with them.

If that's the strategy I don't blame them and they have also made some adjustments to postpaid. to try to grab more cash. Sprint needs big money to implement it's network vision initiative.

[ONE80ONEDAY]

Boost customers pay more therefore they get more

[cookedgoose]

Boost customers pay more therefore they get more

Pretty much. Just glanced at the BM plans and I have to say they're still not half bad at all compared to VZW. My thought is that people who're on the $55 unlimited talk/text/web plan with VM are better off going with BM's Android plan, especially with the way Shrink really downsizes your bill down to $40 after 18 months.

[GTwannabe]

I wouldn't worry about it. Boost has been stuck with crappy phones for a very long time. New VM phones typically drop around Valentine's day and Halloween.

[Churner]

Boost customers pay more therefore they get more

That's my view, too. I'm willing to sacrifice having a better phone for having a lower monthly cost to use it. Folks who feel the opposite should move on. Since Virgin Mobile is prepaid, you're not handcuffed to them and you're free to go.

[tebow]

i have had both boost and VM and right now i have boost becuase of the faster internet and better phone selection

[billm261]

The 25.00 Beyond Talk plan is the best deal on the planet. I'm sure it's going to be hard to give that up no matter what the device offerings are.

[vmobi]

It seems that Sprint is really paying attention the Boost...
...
...and it seems that they are marketing Virgin to the younger texting crowd, and Boost to the older Data consuming crowd.

You are so perceptive... i really am loving the data option on Boost Mobile.
I am so glad to see that there are finally data devices like the Novatel MC760, Peel 3200, and MiFi 2200on Boost, gosh Sprint sure is catering to the prepaid "data consuming crowd" over at Boost...

[cookedgoose]

i have had both boost and VM and right now i have boost because of the faster internet and better phone selection

Is Boost's internet really that much faster? How much faster?

[Whyzor]

Is Boost's internet really that much faster? How much faster?

I'd like to know the same, since both BM & VM use Sprint towers. Unless BM gets higher priority.