iPhone 4S Offered as Pre-Paid Device Through Virgin Mobile
Sprint is planning to announce its decision to offer the iPhone 4S on its no-contract, pre-paid Virgin Mobile carrier this week, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.
The pre-paid iPhone will reportedly be launched on July 1.
Sprint's move made them the second carrier to offer a pre-paid iPhone. Another carrier known as Leap Wireless announced its plans last week to sell pre-paid iPhones through its Cricket brand starting June 22.
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Virgin Mobile is also offering a $35 per month all-you-can-eat data plan, which is one of the cheapest in the U.S.
Cricket plans to offer the 8GB iPhone 4 for $399 and the 16GB iPhone 4S for $499 with the $55-a-month unlimited plan.
Virgin currently has pre-paid plans that start at $35 per month with a 2.5GB cap before more fees are accumulated.
An Apple spokesperson recently made a statement regarding carriers such as Leap offering a pre-paid version of the iPhone.
"By making iPhone available on pre-paid plans through Cricket Wireless, we are making the best smartphone more accessible to an even broader market in the U.S.," said Apple representative Natalie Harrison.
Sprint acquired the rights to offer the iPhone last year when the 4S launched. The company has enjoyed much success with the device and this new pre-paid strategy should bring Sprint even more business through Virgin Mobile.
And despite these smaller carriers having the iPhone available on their networks, the device still has not been made available for T-Mobile customers.
Apple is expected to launch its new iPhone in October of this year.
The company's smartphone has been experiencing tremendous growth in the last two years and the trend does not seem to be stopping anytime soon.
