Apple iPhone Now Available Pre-paid from Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile has become the second wireless carrier in the United States to offer the iPhone to pre-paid customers. This allows shoppers to get Apple's latest smartphone without having to sign a contract.

This carrier, a subsidiary of Sprint, now has both the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. Because customers are not tied to a multi-year contract, they have to pay the full price for these devices -- carrier subsidies come only when consumers sign lengthy service contracts. Therefore the iPhone 4S (16GB) costs $650, and the iPhone 4 (8GB) goes for $550.

A month of wireless service starts at $30, including 300 voice minutes and unlimited voice and data. Going to $45 a month brings 1200 voice minutes, while an unlimited plan is $55 a month. Mobile hotspot service is another $15 a month.

Wireless data service for the iPhone is provided by Sprint's 3G EV-DO Rev A network.

Virgin Mobile devices can be purchased from its website, or at thousands of locations around the country, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Radio Shack.

A Second Option

The rival carrier Cricket also has Apple's smartphone for pre-paid customers. Cricket's price for the iPhone 4S is lower, but it charges more for wireless service

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