Comments on: Virgin Mobile USA: Pay-Per-MB Nationwide 3G Has a “Good Until” Date

By: Heavyharmonies

Heavyharmonies — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:43:30 +0000

Nice try Virgin, but the expiration limits are idiotically short. Make it $60/GB/6 months and I’d bite. 30 days? Gimme a break.

By: Beau Lane

Beau Lane — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:31:51 +0000

Why are they so expensive in the US in Australia on 3 Mobile and the usb 3g sticks are only $149 AUD and $139 AUD will get you 12GB and it dosnt runout 4 12mths what good as it only works out at $12 a month and the speed is good as well geting up to about 2-2.5mb/s

By: AllanCJ

AllanCJ — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:36:29 +0000

The most useful 3G/GPRS pay as you go deal in the UK, I find, is a scheme that only Vodafone operates, whereby for £15 you can have 1 GB of data, to be used as and when you like. That’s very expensive per GB, but if all you ever want to do is occasional e-mail and surfing when you’re out and about, it lasts for months. I’ve been using it for six months, for about 10 minutes most weekdays, and I’m not yet half way through that first 1 GB.

On occasions when I’m away from home on a trip for a few days, it’s more economical to use the type of scheme operated by T-mobile, Three and O2, whereby you can buy, say, 7 days’ worth of connectivity.

My main point is that with pay-as-you-go, it is viable, though a bit of a nuisance, to have dongles from the main operators, and to use them selectively depending on the pattern of your work and on the quality of the available networks. If you’re on a subscription, you’re more or less committed to one network – unless you’re rich enough to be able to afford several subscriptions.

By: oliver

oliver — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:00:20 +0000

as I coomented earlier on gbm, I consider it a rip-off.

In Germany I recently saw a no-contract 3g USB modem for 80 Euros, and you then pay 2.50 Euros each day you use it, with a DAILY quota of 1gb. And if you actually exceed that, they just throttle you to GPRS for the rest of the day.

That’s what I want!

By: Muhsen Abusneina

Muhsen Abusneina — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 03:08:34 +0000

i wonder if this service is going to be offered in Canada?

By: Roy M

Roy M — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 02:33:49 +0000

That got me wondering myself since the same card is supported on Sprint with the Smartview software and on Verizon (assuming its the same ovation modem that VZW has).

By: Kevin N

Kevin N — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:52:59 +0000

Hmm. At least for Verizon, I don’t think you need a contract for data. Only if you want a subsidized device.

By: Chris Bulow

Chris Bulow — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:48:49 +0000

Correct; I’ve posted a comment there to that effect – will see if they reply…

By: Bob P

Bob P — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:39:04 +0000

I looked at the Virgin website – looks like no support for Mac??

By: gmazin

gmazin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:59:31 +0000

I’m still stuck on slow 2G for my mobile internet. Hooray!

These prices are closer to what I’d like to pay but still expensive (for me). Oh well

By: Rick Huizinga

Rick Huizinga — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:43:40 +0000

I love the concept of pay-as-you-go data, and wouldn’t mind paying the high rates just as long as there would be no expiration date (or at least have a roll-over option).

AT&T has a pay as you go data option for their GoPhone plan, its $19.99 for 100MB but has rollover so that unused KB rollover as long as you by some more MBs before the end of 30 days.

By: Luscious

Luscious — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:10:25 +0000

10 bucks for 5 hours of web surfing doesn’t sound bad for casual use, but it seriously limits any webcam chats. What happens when you hit that 100MB? Do you get cut off with no way to get back on?

Also, while it’s using the Sprint network, what if I already have a device with built-in WWAN hardware that’s compatible with Sprint? Do I still need the USB stick for use?

By: Chris Bulow

Chris Bulow — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:09:58 +0000

I travel back to the UK every now and then and find the 3 Mobile PAYG dongles ideal for the week or 10 days I’m there, so this should work equally well for travel in the US.

By: ramfrancisuk

ramfrancisuk — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:01:47 +0000

I have one of these PAYG 3G Broadband USB modems on 3 Mobile in the UK. I just top-up on line and go. It does not expire here.

These are very handy, and convenient.

Saves the expense of a contract when you only have a casual need.

But I think a PAYG MIFI would be even better, heres hoping 3 Mobile offers it soon in the UK.

By: SoumendraN

SoumendraN — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:00:08 +0000

I think it would be cool if one could combine this with an iPod Touch. You can get the joy of the iPhone without monthly fees but still have the ability to reach the web when out of WiFi range in emergency scenarios.