Any info on VM 4G plans?

**cellphone-guy** · 04-03-2012, 02:05 PM

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/6.5.27452/27.1382; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

Very excited that the Evo 3D 4G might be coming to VM. However, it has been noted that it might require a 4G plan. Any ideas regarding potential costs or pricing structure to such a plan? I wonder if there will be any incentive for those on a $25 plan to switch?

**billm261** · 04-03-2012, 02:46 PM

Originally Posted by cellphone-guy

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/6.5.27452/27.1382; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

Very excited that the Evo 3D 4G might be coming to VM. However, it has been noted that it might require a 4G plan. Any ideas regarding potential costs or pricing structure to such a plan? I wonder if there will be any incentive for those on a $25 plan to switch?

Well the big problem is that the EVO 3D is just a rumor right now which will of course fuel speculation that 4G is coming too.

Sprint (if I remember right) pays Clearwire about 5 or 6 dollars a device and at one time, they were charging 10.

4G Wi-Max has a very small footprint so I don't know if it's worth it yet. While on Sprint I spent most of my time on 3G because it sucked so bad. While down in FL for February I was in a thick 4G coverage area and used it a lot but really only got 3Mbps down while tethering. Certainly not blazing speeds for 4G but way better than EVDO.

Hopefully, if there is any truth to any of this maybe Sprint will just tack on a 10.00 bolt on fee for the device?

**GTwannabe** · 04-03-2012, 02:54 PM

WiMAX 4G? Forget it... dead technology (Sprint backtracked and is going LTE), small footprint, and a battery killer due to constantly switching between 3G and 4G radios.

**billm261** · 04-03-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by GTwannabe

WiMAX 4G? Forget it... dead technology (Sprint backtracked and is going LTE), small footprint, and a battery killer due to constantly switching between 3G and 4G radios.

If there is any truth to the EVO 3D coming it will be Wi-Max which Clearwire has stated will be supported for some time.

The newer devices are not that bad on battery since if the device does not find 4G it reverts back to 3G until you manually refresh it. A pain? Maybe a little bit but not terrible.

**JDubTrey** · 04-03-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by billm261

If there is any truth to the EVO 3D coming it will be Wi-Max which Clearwire has stated will be supported for some time.

The newer devices are not that bad on battery since if the device does not find 4G it reverts back to 3G until you manually refresh it. A pain? Maybe a little bit but not terrible.

They could make a version without a WiMAX radio or could just have the radio turned off (if the latter helps streamline the manufacturing process).

I'm not getting a 3D if I am compelled to pay a Clearwire WiMAX surcharge. If they want to have it optional, that's fine but I'm not sure how many people will go for a mandatory 4G fee on a prepaid service period, let alone the fact that the coverage footprint is awful. They don't even cover highways between markets, from what I've seen.

**primetechv2** · 04-03-2012, 05:30 PM

I feel like I just stumbled into this thread... my opinion hain't changed but I don't know if double-posting is allowed suddenly

**roomaku** · 04-03-2012, 05:38 PM

Well they wouldn't want to really lose that super low price point, so I would guess it would be wither an aditional charge like the Blackberry Internet used to be on the old BT plans.

SO maybe:

45$ Unlimited 4g with 300 mins and unlimited text. and you know just 10+ more on each plan. I doubt 5$ more that seems too low.

**billm261** · 04-03-2012, 06:39 PM

Well, with LTE being "the new, must have technology" maybe Sprint's a bit more comfortable releasing 4G Wi-Max devices on prepaid.

**GTwannabe** · 04-03-2012, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by billm261

Well, with LTE being "the new, must have technology" maybe Sprint's a bit more comfortable releasing 4G Wi-Max devices on prepaid.

Throttled to almost 3G speed, of course.

**1cewolf** · 04-03-2012, 08:19 PM

$45? No thanks. For that price, Straight Talk is a much better deal. I'd only ever consider paying $35, and that's if I actually got Wi-Max coverage.

**vmobi** · 04-03-2012, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by roomaku

Well they wouldn't want to really lose that super low price point, so I would guess it would be wither an aditional charge like the Blackberry Internet used to be on the old BT plans.

SO maybe:

45$ Unlimited 4g with 300 mins and unlimited text. and you know just 10+ more on each plan. I doubt 5$ more that seems too low.

Doubt that $45/300, they will probably modify the entry level 4G plan to $45/900 to justify any increase. $10 more for 4G Plus triple the minutes of the current entry-level $35/300 3G would definitely entice many new subscribers onto Virgin Mobile.

**dharding** · 04-04-2012, 08:01 AM

VM 4G??? Hell, I'm still waiting for VM to get 3G...

**Whyzor** · 04-04-2012, 10:31 AM

Since 4G LTE uses the airwaves more efficiently, there's a slight chance that the carriers want to push everyone onto it as soon as possible without charging extra.