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Help Virgin Mobiles Service?

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dickalan

Newbie
So just to keep this phone related (and not be tampered with by mods) I'll ask first, "what's the first thing you did with you optimus v"?

Ok now to the real issue. I currently don't actually have the phone, but am seriously considering it. I've been with t-mobile for 5 years, with 2 lines, unlimited talk, 400 text, no data, for $100.00 (w/out taxes) per month.

I'm now eyeballing Virgin Mobile's $45 for 1200 min, unlimited text & data plan. Yes, I said $45 a month. It seems like I just missed the boat on their old plan for $40 a month. Which sucks cause that would have saved me like $240 more bucks every two years. So do you guys still think it's worth it for the $45 for what you get? I'm planning on getting the Optimus V from Amazon for $125.

Also, are there any other weird fees? How much are the monthly taxes? etc.

Thanks guys.
 
dickalan said:
what's the first thing you did with you optimus v?

So do you guys still think it's worth it for the $45 for what you get?

Also, are there any other weird fees? How much are the monthly taxes? etc.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

The first thing I did was customize it with Launcher Pro Plus, new wallpapers and a new dock.

Do I think it's worth it for what I get? Oh, you betcha!

Weird fees? Not that I've ever seen. Taxes? If you buy top-ups online (Calling Mart etc) then there are no taxes. If you buy physical top-up cards from your local store or use your debit/credit card directly with VM to top-up, then be prepared to pay a tax.

I've heard VM is going to be offering some type of new top-up card, but I'm not familiar enough with the info to know weather or not it will have taxes added to it... or if we will still be able to get tax free top-up minutes from online and skip that new card. I'm sure someone else can elaborate more on this.
 
I can't remember the first thing I did with the phone, but I do remember that for the first week I couldn't stop playing with it =).

I have never had T-Mobile, so I can't compare their service, but I have had Virgin Mobile for a few years (three or four) and the Optimus for a few months.

The "dead spots" with my service-ie, not even cell reception--are exactly the same as they were with my previous carrier, and due to mountains.

There was one day when the closest Sprint tower was down for several hours, and since VM doesn't roam, I was without service for that time as long as I stayed at home. Had service when I left, though. One day in three years is better than my Charter phone service ;).

The first week, the 3G was spotty. not sure if there was some sort of problem with outages or upgrades then (apparently they got slammed with new customers around that time and were scrambling to catch up) or if it just takes a few days for the phones to lock onto the signal or what, but after that it has worked fine. And during that time wifi worked, so I could still play around with the phone.

before switching to VM, we had two dumb phomes and shared 300 minutes (neither of us are big talkers) and the total bill was ~75.00. With just voice and text on VM, we were paying around 25/month total, and now it is 50/month for two Optimi. I am pretty darned happy.

The only added fees are sales tax.
 
It's worth it, you'll probably find yourself using the data plan quite a bit once you see what can be done with all the Android apps. The only thing that does stink with VM is that if you travel outside of Sprints coverage, you're SoL...no roaming with VM.

Also, do you think you'll use the 1200 minutes per month? Always go with the $35 dollar plan to save some bucks.
 
First thing I did was install a cylon live wall paper.

As to the value, well lets compare the VM unlimited vs your current unlimited;
Virgin Mobile: unlimited minutes, unlimited text, unlimited data (2.5g cap starting October) $55
T-Mobile: unlimited minutes, 400 text, no data $100
I think you can see where I'm going with this one.

Do you use more than 1200 minutes a month every month? If not then save $10 a month and go with this plan. If you use >1200 go with the $55.

When you pay the $35, $45 or $55 the taxes and fees are included in this price. Only thing on which you'll visibly pay taxes is the top-up card or when you top-up your account with paypal or credit card. If you use a top-up site that is out of your state you shouldn't pay sales tax on that and most of them offer at least a little discount.

I really like my Optimus V a lot. I wish it was a little more powerful with a bigger screen, but for the price I paid, I'm very happy with it.
 
Wow, thanks guys these responses (from the horses mouth) have been really helpful.

Just to clarify the t-mobile price was for 2 lines. I'll also be using 2 lines with VM. Comparing apples to apples is important here. So really VM is $90 vs. 100+ $7 in taxes = $107. A savings of $17 a month. BUT you have to buy the phones = $260 vs a "free" phone from t-mobile. In short I'll save $148 within the next 2 years with VM.

...So what's the catch!?!?! And why isn't EVERYBODY using Virgin Mobile? I don't get it? Is it as simple as having a "name brand" carrier or not?

This is a long-shot but do you guys know of a way to o back and get on the older plan ($40 a month)?

That plan would saved me $388 over the next two years :(

p.s. and yes I do use 1200 or more minutes a month. Perhaps the 2nd line wouldn't use that many some months, but some months I know it would. --so some potential savings there too.
 
300 minutes is on average only 10 minutes a day.If you use it more than that the 1200 minute plan is 40 minutes a day. I think the "V" is a Great phone,but it does have it's limitations. You can't download Adobe flash player as it doesn't support flash content. You can download Skyfire web browser,which will convert it before it gets to your end. If you want to watch Video,it must all ready be converted by the provider,ie:TV.com,Netflix.The other noticeable limitation is the amount of application space. If you like to have a lot of apps but are not willing to ROOT your phone or change the stock ROM to one that will allow for significantly greater app space then this is not the best choice.The other problem would be the time off charge length. This can be fixed without modding with good WiFi and Data management,and fixing the 50% Time Without Signal bug(which you have to do at every power on of the phone)that takes about 30sec of your time.This is also fixed with a custom ROM. I like the "V",but that's because I did not have a problem with changing the ROM to one that was vastly improved over the stock ROM. That and I don't need to watch video that much on it so Skyfire works for me.
 
dickalan said:
...So what's the catch!?!?! And why isn't EVERYBODY using Virgin Mobile? I don't get it? Is it as simple as having a "name brand" carrier or not?
Click to expand...
There seems to be a stigma about prepaid phones in this country. I know I used to be guilty of this thinking. When I first told people around work about Virgin and the $25 a month plan they all laughed and said, "feh prepay, that is for people on welfare." Now, I know of the 5 people I told, 3 are using it. Once people get over the negative connotations of the prepay market and see the savings they quickly change their minds.

dickalan said:
This is a long-shot but do you guys know of a way to o back and get on the older plan ($40 a month)?
Click to expand...
Turn on the flux capacitor and hit 88mph.
 
first thing(s) I did when I purchased my Optimus
~ I flashed a custom Kernel
~ flashed a custom Recovery
~ made backup(s)
~ flashed a custom Rom
$25 for 300 min unl msg/net, $40 for 1200 min unl msg/net, $60 for unl min unl msg/net
Vm's prices are reasonable
 
dickalan said:
...So what's the catch!?!?! And why isn't EVERYBODY using Virgin Mobile? I don't get it? Is it as simple as having a "name brand" carrier or not?
Click to expand...

Unless I misunderstood the question (which is quite possible knowing me lol).. the people that I know personally who are not switching to VM right now are not doing so because currently they have legal contracts with other carriers. Funny thing is my OpV is better than their current "free with a contract" phone. ;)
 
dickalan said:
...So what's the catch!?!?! And why isn't EVERYBODY using Virgin Mobile? I don't get it? Is it as simple as having a "name brand" carrier or not?
Click to expand...

Most people I know are either locked into a contract or just don't know about virgin and when they do find out about it they think it's some scam because all the other companies are grossly overcharging. I have gotten 7 people to switch and they all love it.
 
I don't know why everyone isn't using VM, but I know what would happen if they were: contracts would disappear and everyone else's rates would drop...
 
AmishFury said:
copied over all the contacts from my old phone
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This is probably what I did, too, but I don't really remember:rolleyes:

Then synced contacts with Gmail. Make sure you check only to sync contacts with a phone number, or you will have anyone you ever sent an email to in your contacts:eek:.
 
The only option I could find that came close to that is in the Contacts options "only display contacts that have a phone number".

I cannot find the other option regarding sync. Doesn't mean it's not there... just means I can't find it lol.
 
That's it. Make sure that is checked and when it syncs you don't have to scroll through this end of the galaxy to call your brother.
 
Hi! Thanks everybody for your responses. Now I have a new/more in-depth question. Since I don't have the phone yet (like I mentioned) I don't fully understand how the payments, activation, etc. is set up. SOO I was wondering if you bought a used Optimus V on ebay, like say this one: Virgin Mobile LG Optimus V Good ESN
 
dickalan said:
Hi! Thanks everybody for your responses. Now I have a new/more in-depth question. Since I don't have the phone yet (like I mentioned) I don't fully understand how the payments, activation, etc. is set up. SOO I was wondering if you bought a used Optimus V on ebay, like say this one:
1
Virgin Mobile LG Optimus V Good ESN* | eBay
AND theoretically it was activate WHILE on the previous pricing plan of $30, $40, & $60 could I continue on with that pricing? Just curious if you think it would work. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Your virgin mobile account is set up by name and phone number plus a 4 digit pass word. This means without the phone # and password for the last account that was with that phone,you will have to set up a new account. With all new info. New price.
 
dickalan said:
AND theoretically it was activate WHILE on the previous pricing plan of $30, $40, & $60 could I continue on with that pricing? Just curious if you think it would work. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Maybe, if the prior person was willing to transfer their account information over to you.
 
I would be *very* careful about buying a used phone off eBay or Craigslist or any other online source. I would only buy used from someone I knew...and knew well.

If the phone has a MEID that's listed as stolen, you have a useless phone that cannot be activated ever. You will not know this until you try to activate the phone.

I needed a Mifi to go on vacation and everyone was out of stock. There was one on Amazon through a storefront, said used, excellent condition, with original packing. The seller had one bad review, but the buyer sounded really unreasonable and the seller seemed to have tried to right the situation but the buyer kept responding "I don't want that, I want this!" All other feedback was favorable.

I ordered and received the Mifi very quickly, it was in excellent condition and had the original packing and all parts...but it had been activated and I did not receive the code the original owner was given. I called VM and they said unless the seller gave me that code, there was nothing that could be done to activate the unit. (The seller never responded to my emails and Amazon eventually refunded my money, but the thing is still here and still useless. Not sure if eBay or Craigslist would refund, but even if they do, it is a huge pain inthe behinder.)
 
dickalan said:
if you bought a used Optimus V on ebay, like say this one:
1
Virgin Mobile LG Optimus V Good ESN* | eBay
AND theoretically it was activate WHILE on the previous pricing plan of $30, $40, & $60 could I continue on with that pricing? Just curious if you think it would work. Thanks!
Click to expand...


I don't recommend this. The warranty only covers the phone for the person who originally bought it, and if the person who is selling it had already activated it on VM, VM has their name attached to the phone already (I went through this already when I handed down my Intercept to my daughter.. which they seemed not to have an issue with).

If you need to return the phone for whatever reason, they'll ask you to provide the original paper receipt from the store where it was bought, and the barcode from the box it came in. (The paper receipt provides the date of purchase and the store where it was bought.. since the warranty is only good for one year after the purchase date.)

Unless you already currently have the $25.00 plan, you won't be able to get it at that price. It's only good for customers who had an active $25.00 a month plan when the new prices went into place. They go by the first, last name, and phone number on the account, not the phone itself.
 
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