Sprint Nextel Corporation and Virgin Mobile USA, Inc.,announced today that their boards of directors have approved a definitive agreement for Sprint to acquire Virgin Mobile USA for a total equity value of approximately $483 million, which includes the value of Sprint’s current 13.1% fully diluted ownership interest in Virgin Mobile USA. In addition, at closing Sprint will retire all of Virgin Mobile USA’s outstanding debt, which is $248 million net of cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2009, but is expected to be no more than $205 million net of cash and cash equivalents on Sept. 30, 2009.
This acquisition will strengthen Sprint’s position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together under one umbrella the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint’s successful Boost Mobile business. These complementary prepaid brands, each with a distinctive offer, style and appeal to different customer demographics, will continue to serve existing and prospective customers following the completion of the transaction. |
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Virgin Mobile today launched the Samsung Mantra flip phone. The Mantra is more than just a pretty phone. It comes with everything you need to keep up, and keep in touch; text messaging, instant messaging, email, a camera with zoom, Bluetooth, English and Spanish menus, Web browser, full-size, full color display and more.
Basic Specifications: - Size: 3.8" x 1.87" x 0.69"
- Camera Resolution: VGA
- Memory User Memory: 8MB
- Battery Talk time: Up to 5.5 hours
- Standby time: 12.5 Days
- Weight: 3.35 oz
For more information visit VirginMobile.com.
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Virgin Mobile USA today announced the launch of Broadband2Go, a 3G nationwide wireless Internet service without an annual contract, monthly subscription or activation fee. With Broadband2Go, Virgin Mobile USA extends the popularity of prepaid cell phone service, which the company transformed, to online access.
Operating on the Sprint Nationwide Network and developed in conjunction with Novatel Wireless, the MC760 Broadband2Go device carries the distinction of being the world's smallest EV-DO Rev. A modem. It will be available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile starting in late June for $149.99, and is the first prepaid broadband product Best Buy Mobile is offering.
Like Virgin Mobile USA's mobile phone service, activation is simple and megabytes can be added as often as needed with credit/debit cards or Virgin Mobile Top-Up cards. Top-Up cards can be used to purchase data usage from 100MB to 1 gigabyte on the pay-as-you-go model. A new Broadband2Go-branded Top-Up card for $20, which customers may use to purchase 250MB good for 30 days, translating roughly into 12 hours of web browsing. Other data plans are available at $10, $40 and $60, and any VMU Top-Up card can be used. | 
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Virgin Mobile USA is offering more minutes and more options to choose from as part of the company's contract (postpaid) plans. On Wednesday, June 10, 2009, Virgin Mobile USA will unveil three new contract plans for families:- $175/month All-In plan with 4000 shared anytime minutes unlike comparable plans, this includes unlimited messaging and data services
- $50 A La Carte plan including 600 shared anytime minutes with unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes
- An additional 200 shared anytime minutes added to the current $100/ month A La Carte plan more talk time without spending more money
This suite of Virgin Mobile USA contract family plans includes unlimited 7 pm night and weekend minutes, unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to all Virgin Mobile USA contract and no-annual-contract customers, high-speed 3G mobile Web access, and no domestic roaming or long distance charges.
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Bell today announced the $142-million acquisition by Bell Mobility of the 50% stake in Virgin Mobile Canada not already owned by Bell, along with an exclusive, long-term licensing agreement with the Virgin Group for continued use of the Virgin Mobile brand in Canada.
While Virgin Mobile Canada will continue to operate independently with distinct branding and its own distribution channels, both Virgin Mobile Canada and Bell Mobility will realize enhanced operational efficiencies from shared network infrastructure, handset acquisition and common distribution in high-traffic retail locations such as The Source.
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Virgin Mobile USA announced today it will unveil its new Totally Unlimited prepaid calling plan for $49.99 on April 15, 2009, and will bolster its monthly plans with a special program designed to help support customers who become unemployed.
Customers signing up for the new $49.99 plan or other Virgin Mobile USA Monthly Plans Without Annual Contracts may qualify for "Pink Slip Protection," which will waive up to three months of monthly charges, if the customer becomes unemployed.** Pink Slip Protection will also apply to the new Texter's Delight program, designed for those who text more than talk.
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Virgin Mobile USA will be launching Virgin Mobile "Connect" and Opera Mini 4.2 later this month, giving its more than five million prepaid customers more ways to optimize their mobile experience. Customers can take advantage of these new included services by signing up for any monthly or prepaid data pack plan ranging from $5 for 5MB of data on prepaid plans to $10 for 50 MB of data on a monthly plan.
"Connect," a social networking dashboard, was originally launched on Virgin Mobile USA postpaid devices in November 2008. Connect will be available to those Virgin Mobile USA's prepaid customers on many devices including the Shuttle, Jax or X-tc handsets. Since Connect launched in November, about 30% of customers using Helio devices have logged on to Connect to stay in touch with their social networks. | |
Virgin Mobile USA has launched the X-tc from Kyocera Wireless, which comes equipped with a sleek, slide-out QWERTY keypad that's perfect for text fiends and fans. The X-tc keeps you connected with full messaging capabilities including IM and email support. The device will retail for $99.99 without an annual contract and will be rolling out to retail stores in April. The X-tc is scheduled to go on sale online at virginmobileusa.com on April 6.
Perfect with Virgin Mobile USA's $10 Unlimited Messaging, the phone features:
- X-tc is available without an annual contract on both Pay As You Go and Monthly Plans
- Messaging lovers can combine Virgin Mobile USA's Monthly Plans, starting at $24.99 with $10 Unlimited Messaging (TXT, PIC, IM, and E-mail) Packs
- All plans without annual contracts include 7 p.m. Nights & Weekends
- X-tc is More Than Just For Messaging
- Boasts 1.3 MP camera, with a large 2.4" TFT QVGA screen, Stereo
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The Helio Ocean 2 is coming to Virgin Mobile. The Ocean 2 is a 3G social networking powerhouse.
The new handset features the following main features:
- Surf the Web with 3G speed, HTML and multiple tabs
- Access Facebook, MySpace & more with 1 Click through Connect
- Text, IM & Email Friends on Yahoo!, Gmail, AOL, MSN & Hotmail
- Play MP3s with side-loaded capability and watch YouTube videos
- GPS-enabled Google Maps
- Enhanced video playback with larger screen than before
For more information visit Virgin Mobile
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Virgin Mobile USA announced that it is joining the fight against breast cancer with the launch of the LG Pink Flare limited edition handset, available exclusively at Best Buy stores nationwide.
Five dollars from the purchase of every Pink Flare handset, each priced at $29.99, will benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding life-saving breast cancer research and community health programs. Virgin Mobile USA and Best Buy are committing to donate a minimum of $150,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure's programs. "We couldn't be more excited to bring this partnership to our customers by offering such a great way for them to get involved in this important cause," said Joel Silverman, Vice President of Sales, Virgin Mobile USA. "It's our experience that Virgin Mobile USA customers look to actively support causes that they care about and this partnership with Best Buy and LG provides a new, visible opportunity for them to do so." | 
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Virgin Mobile USA announced today the official launch of two new first-of-a-kind features designed to empower its prepaid and postpaid customers with the latest mobile social networking technology. These new initiatives, both available at no additional cost beyond normal internet access charges, offer Virgin Mobile USA customers new and innovative ways to hook up:
- "Connect," a new social networking dashboard designed to give Helio By Virgin Mobile members quick and easy access to the latest updates from certain social media and networking sites; and
- "Mobile Lounge," a Virgin Mobile USA customer-exclusive mobile community now available on the VirginXL storefront.
Connect: | |
Virgin Mobile USA today announced the launch of Virgin Mobile Festival's 2008 Streaming Videos, available exclusively on the Virgin Mobile USA Shuttle and on Helio By Virgin Mobile handsets without an additional content charge* to Virgin Mobile USA and Helio customers.
The 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival's Streaming Videos, sponsored by Ford Sync, are the first performances from a major festival made available on a mobile platform. Virgin Mobile USA customers with the Shuttle handset and Helio customers using the Ocean, Mysto, Fin or Heat can access these videos using their handsets. Performances from the 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival are also available for viewing online on http://www.music.msn.com/inconcert.
Performances by a wide variety of artists from the celebrated 2008 Virgin Mobile Festival are available on handsets including: Iggy and the Stooges, KT Tunstall, The Offspring, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and Rodrigo y Gabriella.
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Virgin Mobile USA and Personal Communications Devices, LLC [PCD] are launching the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA's first EV-DO handset, designed with high performance for data and content in mind. Available exclusively at Best Buy Mobile and BestBuy.com as of September 28, the Shuttle ushers in a new era of performance for consumers who demand the flexibility of monthly plans with no contract but also feel the 'need for speed.'
Following Virgin Mobile USA's recent acquisition of Helio, the Shuttle will be the first handset enabled to integrate several features from the Helio portfolio. This will include improved access to social networking communities and other mobile internet sites through partnerships with Accuweather, ESPN, Facebook*, MySpace, YouTube, Yahoo! and more.
The Shuttle is also slated to feature Virgin Mobile's first location-based services from uLocate including: | 
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Today, Virgin Mobile USA unveiled its new branding message to highlight the acquisition: "Helio By Virgin Mobile: Plan To Have It All."
Immediate plans include the launch of the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USA's first handset enabled to integrate such Helio services as Buddy Beacon; and the enhancement of Helio's $80 A La Carte plan, effective today, to include Unlimited Minutes rather than the current 1500 minute allocation. The new terms of the Helio A La Carte plan, which mirror Virgin Mobile USA's Totally Unlimited prepaid voice plan at $79.99, will be available for current and future Helio members.
The transition for Helio's approximate 170,000 postpaid members and Virgin Mobile's 5 million prepaid customers has been seamless. For now, the two customer care services and sales operations are separate, with further integration planned over the next several months.
More information is available at http://www.helio.com. |  |
Virgin Mobile USA and buzzd announced today a partnership that will bring the buzzd service to all Virgin Mobile USA handsets via the no-annual contract carrier's WAP deck giving Virgin Mobile subscribers an interactive, real-time local mobile service.
The companies are also partnering to provide Virgin Mobile USA customers with a mobile-enabled location-sensitive city guide and social network. "buzzd on Virgin Mobile" is a unique new service that allows local entertainment information to be broadcast and shared among Virgin Mobile USA customers based on their location. | |
Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, Inc. that complements Virgin Mobile USA's postpaid products and services. The acquisition was completed based on the terms and conditions outlined in Virgin Mobile USA's June 27, 2008 press release. All necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained.
In connection with the acquisition, Helio shareholders SK Telecom and EarthLink and have received limited partnership units and shares equivalent to 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA Class A common stock, with a value of $38 million based on the average closing price of Virgin Mobile USA's Class A shares, as of two trading days before and two trading days after the date of announcement. In addition, SK Telecom and Virgin Group will each invest $25 million in Virgin Mobile USA for preferred shares.
The transaction provides Virgin Mobile USA with: | |
Virgin Mobile USA today introduced the TNT! by Kyocera Wireless. The TNT! is now available at major retailers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Radio Shack.
Main features of the TNT! handset:
- 3.5" x 1.8" x 0.6"
- 3 ounces - size of half a candy bar
- External display with illuminating external caller ID
- Preloaded with an array of games,
- Downloadable animated
- Real Music ringtones
- Up to 200 minutes of talk time
- 5 days of standby time on a single charge
The TNT! has a soft-to-the-touch feel but also conveys style and a sense of durability, a perfect on-the-go accessory, all at the powerful price point of $20.
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Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Virgin Mobile USA will acquire Helio from SK Telecom and EarthLink for limited partnership units equivalent to 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA class A common stock, with a value of $39 million based on the closing price of Virgin Mobile USA's class A shares on June 26, 2008.
With the acquisition of Helio, Virgin Mobile USA will gain an established and highly advanced postpaid billing and customer care platform. In addition, Helio has approximately 170,000 existing subscribers with an ARPU of approximately $80 and a handset inventory of approximately 85,000 units with a book value of approximately $17 million. Acquiring Helio's customers and expanding its offer portfolio is expected to increase Virgin Mobile USA's volume of minutes and drive down the Company's cost per minute under an amendment to its PCS Services agreement with Sprint. |
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| Virgin Mobile USA will unveil its new "Totally Unlimited" calling plan for $79.99 on July 1, the lowest priced and first unlimited nationwide calling plan without roaming charges or an annual contract that can be purchased by cash or credit. With the cost of gas, air travel and other items, that’s just fantastic. Consumers who opt for Virgin Mobile USA's new "Totally Unlimited" calling plan will be able to talk as much as they want each month across days, nights, weekdays and weekends. The Totally Unlimited plan -- like all Virgin Mobile USA calling plans -- will be available for purchase with cash using Top-Up cards, or with credit/debit for maximum convenience. | |
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