Roaming (not) coming to VM

**Celtic Quest** · 05-25-2012, 11:00 PM

According to the CSR Agents on VM's Facebook page, starting 7/1/12 Virgin Mobile will start offering roaming on all phones at no extra charge.

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mod edited: update 06/07/12:

Originally Posted by agianne

From the Virgin Mobile USA Facebook page:

Virgin Mobile USA Hi everyone. I need to clarify comments about roaming on Virgin Mobile. Roaming is not available. We did recently update our terms and conditions (effective 7/1/12) in order to make our language more consistent with Sprint’s. There is a new reference to roaming, but we have no plans to add roaming at this time. For information on whether roaming applies, see your service plan details. Our sincere apologies. ^Justin C

https://www.facebook.com/VirginMobil...51757814040527

**ja5219** · 05-25-2012, 11:39 PM

Very interesting and about time. We live in an area with no Sprint coverage for at least 10 miles one direction. We kept the $25 VM plan for the 300 mins my sister uses when not home, plus Wifi here at home. Will be a welcomed thing to finally get service here.

**corrupt81** · 05-26-2012, 02:00 AM

If that's true then that's awesome news.. but also according to the csr agents on facebook VM's 4G will be capped/throttled at 2.5GB just like with 3G.
Hopefully they are right about the roaming and wrong about the throttle!

**503ducati** · 05-26-2012, 02:32 AM

Originally Posted by corrupt81

If that's true then that's awesome news.. but also according to the csr agents on facebook VM's 4G will be capped/throttled at 2.5GB just like with 3G.
Hopefully they are right about the roaming and wrong about the throttle!

No kidding! very strange when fiercewireless after press Q&A further requested and received confirmation that Boost & Virgin WiMAX would not be capped or throttled. Let's all hope this plays out as we would like it to.

**phonemagician** · 05-26-2012, 02:55 AM

Wirelessly posted (lg optimus v,huawei m835: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29952/27.1813; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

here come the customers. this would be the smartest thing sprint did for the prepaid group.i also wanna see what the haters say next!

**corrupt81** · 05-26-2012, 03:06 AM

Originally Posted by 503ducati

No kidding! very strange when fiercewireless after press Q&A further requested and received confirmation that Boost & Virgin WiMAX would not be capped or throttled. Let's all hope this plays out as we would like it to.

4G (WiMax) where available. All plans include 2.5GB/month of full speed data or 3.5GB/month with purchase of mobile hotspot enabled device and plan.

There is nothing in writing from Virgin Mobile saying there will be no cap/throttle on 4G. I'm not saying you're wrong.. but I'm willing to bet you a pizza from dominos or pizza hut online that the throttle applies to both 3G and 4G!

**503ducati** · 05-26-2012, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by corrupt81

There is nothing in writing from Virgin Mobile saying there will be no cap/throttle on 4G. I'm not saying you're wrong.. but I'm willing to bet you a pizza from dominos or pizza hut online that the throttle applies to both 3G and 4G!

It's not me... it's countless media outlets who were told the same thing, then FW further requested confirmation and got it.

Sprint miscommunication?

Sprint very quick change of heart?

Let's hope not.

**corrupt81** · 05-26-2012, 03:52 AM

That's why I posted the question to VM's facebook page as mentioned, and one of their reps "confirmed" we'd be throttled after 2.5GB on 4G.
My question was in response to what VM's 4G page says. If Fierce got a "confirmation" they should post Virgin Mobile's response in their own writing so when people start getting throttled on 4G we have something to fall back on.
As it stands now there is simply no written word from VM that 4G will not be throttled. (Just the opposite actually.)

**IsLand_BoY** · 05-26-2012, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Celtic Quest

According to the CSR Agents on VM's Facebook page, starting 7/1/12 Virgin Mobile will start offering roaming on all phones at no extra charge.

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Got a link? If this is true, that's great! Or -- even if it is true and you have to pay, that's great too.

**503ducati** · 05-26-2012, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by IsLand_BoY

Got a link? If this is true, that's great! Or -- even if it is true and you have to pay, that's great too.

I found this FWIW: http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-v-4...m-roaming.html

**fonezfonz** · 05-26-2012, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by 503ducati

I found this FWIW: http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-v-4...m-roaming.html

If this is true, roaming coverage vs. 4g wimax will give Sprint Prepaid/VM an edge over their 3g only/no roaming mvno cousins. At least till they offer it to them too...This will eventually give Sprint mvnos an edge against their biggest rivals, Att mvnos.

**billm261** · 05-26-2012, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by 503ducati

Sprint miscommunication?

Sprint very quick change of heart?

Let's hope not.

What's your take on this? I'm having a hard time believing it for multiple reasons but mainly due to the amount of money Sprint already pays Verizon in roaming fees.

Maybe it's 1900Mhz roaming only?

It makes no (bottom line) sense whatsoever to offer off network roaming for free.

Network Vision is supposed to greatly reduce roaming costs. Why allocate some of the measly prepaid arpu to roaming?

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**Celtic Quest** · 05-26-2012, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by billm261

What's your take on this? I'm having a hard time believing it for multiple reasons but mainly due to the amount of money Sprint already pays Verizon in roaming fees.

Maybe it's 1900Mhz roaming only?

It makes no (bottom line) sense whatsoever to offer off network roaming for free.

Network Vision is supposed to greatly reduce roaming costs. Why allocate some of the measly prepaid arpu to roaming?

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I'll stop by my local Sprint store today and ask them what they know about it. They told me about wimax 2 months before VM ever mentioned it was coming. As soon as I find out today I'll post an update.

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**getupkid86** · 05-26-2012, 08:12 AM

I wonder how much the roaming will increase the VM network footprint? If we start roaming off of Verizon, then that should be a major add to the network.

**vmobi** · 05-26-2012, 09:19 AM

Wirelessly posted (Virgin Mobile HTC WFS: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.29952/27.1813; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

Originally Posted by phonemagician

here come the customers. this would be the smartest thing sprint did for the prepaid group.i also wanna see what the haters say next!

This will open up the Flood Gates for any Verizon/AT&T customers that had been worried about Virgin Mobile coverage issues.

This new Roaming feature will eliminate the need to carry a VZW/att spare for non-coverage areas.

does this mean Sprint/VM will start to push PRL updates to existing devices??? that would be something new for VM subscribers.