Virgin Mobile Launches Prepaid Broadband

Virgin Mobile USA today announced a prepaid mobile Internet system called Broadband2Go, which offers very inexpensive plans for relatively light users.
Broadband2Go runs on Sprint's national EVDO Rev A network and gives Windows XP or Vista PCs download speeds around a megabit. Unlike other national systems that sell monthly bucket plans and charge for overage, Virgin Mobile will sell chunks of megabytes on prepaid cards, like a prepaid phone top-up system.
Virgin will offer one modem, the Novatel MC760, a small USB device which got excellent results when we tested it on Sprint and Verizon. It will cost $149.99.
Virgin will offer four options for topping up your data account: $10 for 100MB, which expires in 10 days; $20 for 250MB, which expires on 30 days; $40 for 600MB, for 30 days; and $60 for 1GB, for 30 days. If you don't use the network for awhile, you don't pay anything. If you go over your limit, your Web browser will be redirected to a page asking you to buy more megabytes—you won't be automatically charged overage.
"Prepaid mobile broadband is ideal for students, families on the go, freelancers, anyone who needs wireless Internet access…and wants to pay only when they use it," Bob Stohrer, CMO, Virgin Mobile USA said in a press release.
For light users, this is a great deal. For heavy users, it isn't. Most other carriers charge $60 per month for a 5GB bucket; Cricket charges $35 or $40. Verizon charges $40 per month for a 250MB bucket. So, if you intend to use just a few hundred megabytes a month, or won't use your broadband every month, the new Virgin system may make excellent sense for you.
There's no credit check and no subscription involved. Since this is a prepaid, top-up-based system, customers can even buy additional megabytes at retailers with cash.
The system uses Novatel connection management software that includes a usage meter, so you can tell how close you are to your limit. A Web-based account portal also gives clear details of how much time and data you have left. Initially, there will be no Mac or Linux support, but Virgin Mobile told us that support for both of those platforms is coming soon.
The system's terms of use are similar to Sprint's, Virgin Mobile execs told us. That means you're not allowed to use it to run a server or peer-to-peer applications, but you can use it to stream video—though you'll use up your data allotment pretty quickly if you're streaming video.
Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go will be available exclusively from Best Buy stores starting in late June.