Virgin Mobile USA adds high end to PayLo

The cavalcade of changes in the prepaid space continued today as Sprint Nextel Corp.’s (S) Virgin Mobile USA division launched a new plan for its PayLo service.
The new offering provides customers with 1,500 voice minutes, 500 messages and 10 megabytes of data transmission for $30 per month without a contract. The plan joins the previously launched PayLo offerings that include a 400-minute voice plan for $20 per month; a per-minute rate of 5 cents per minute; or a plan that allows customers to pay $20 to “maintain” an active account for up to 90 days with voice calls during that time charged at 20 cents per minute.
In support of the new plan, Virgin Mobile USA also said it plans to launch Kyocera Wireless Corp.’s S2300 messaging phone that includes a full QWERTY keyboard beneath a 2.2-inch color screen. Current PayLo phones include a number of candy-bar and clamshell style devices and one device with a sliding QWERTY keyboard. The S2300 is expected to sell for $70 when it launches later this month.
Virgin Mobile USA noted the new plan targets recent T-Mobile USA Inc. changes that include a $30 plan with a bucket of 1,500 calling minutes or messages and 30 MB of data transmission.
Earlier this week MetroPCS Communications Inc. unveiled a traditional prepaid offering exclusive to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. The plans offer 200 calling minutes and unlimited incoming text messages for $10; 500 anytime calling minutes, unlimited text messaging and 50 megabytes of data transmission for $20; and 1,000 calling minutes, unlimited text messaging and 100 MB of data transmission for $30.