A month ago I was asking a rep at a Virgin Mobile Canada store if Virgin might ever introduce a smartphone so users could get access to better browsing and additional features not usually available in regular cellphones. His reply was that likely it would come after Virgin introduced contracts. By being able to count on a customer sticking around for a fixed contract period, Virgin could afford to bring in more expensive devices like smartphones but still reduce sticker shock by subsidizing them slightly over the contract period. Well, now that’s come to pass.
Today in Toronto Richard Branson announced that Virgin will be introducing contracts. Virgin has made a mark for itself by having very simple prepaid plans, and Branson has said he intends for the post-paid (contract) plans to be simple to understand as well. Once these new plans are in place, expect to see some fancier devices showing up in Virgin’s line-up.
Read more in a report from CBC.
Update: You can now “pre-register” for Virgin’s monthly plans on their website.
Comments (4)
I was very disappointed that the new packages have one price shown and then add $10 a bit farther down the page. In the past Virgin has always been about everything being up front and no fine print. While it isn’t fine print, it seems very close to the big companies showing one price in huge print and then adding on that “User Access Fee” along with caller ID and Voice mail in the fine print along the bottom of the page. I’d rather see all companies show prices for packages with everything but tax. We’re also one of the few countries that pay extra for long distance calls within the country from a mobile, but that’s another issue.
I wonder if any of the current pay-as-you-go customers that move to a contract, taking the phone they’ve already bought, with them, will they get a break of some sort?
Nope…..switched over from pay as you go to contract, and they even charged me the $35 dollar activation fee….? Whats up with that? They did say I could get a free phone, but I already had one (Samsung Link)….not too customer friendly in my opinion. I would have liked some sort of discount as I opted out of a free phone, and was already a customer.
Hey, I am just one of millions right? But as more and more customers bring up issues like this, we can maybe give them something to think about.
update me with contract price and details
Virgin is the worst phone service I have ever had.try hiring employees who can speak english working in canada.they over charge,they hire people who r little help,they can’t get your bill correct,they don’t fix your phone like they say they will,I’m fed up with they second rate service,also their data plan’s r way 2 costly.this blackberry phone is far from good.
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