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One carrier is offering the no-contract data sharing plan you’ve been waiting for

Published Jan 16th, 2015 6:00PM EST
Virgin Mobile Unlimited and Data Share Plans
Image: Zach Epstein, BGR

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For many smartphone users, mobile data is the single most important detail in their phone’s contract, and Virgin Mobile has come up with a very interesting new offer. The company on Friday announced the “industry’s first no-contract data sharing plans” will be available for interested users only at Walmart.

FROM EARLIER: T-Mobile just got AT&T to follow another of its ‘Un-carrier’ ideas

The plans start as low as $30/line for three lines and will be available to buyers beginning with Saturday, January 17th on certain devices, including the HTC Desire 510, LG Tribute, LG Volt and Samsung Galaxy Core Prime. The new Virgin Mobile Unlimited and Data Share plans will be available on more devices by the end of February.

All plans include unlimited voice minutes and text messages, and various amounts of 3G and 4G data. The cheapest $65/month plan (for two lines) offers 4GB 3G / 4GB LTE of mobile data, while the most expensive $115/month (plan for four lines) comes with 12GB 3G / 4GB LTE of data.

The full press release follows below.

Virgin Mobile USA to Offer Industry’s First No-Contract Data Sharing Plans Only at Walmart

New plans offer 4G LTE multi-line data sharing for as low as $30/line for three lines

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Jan. 16, 2015 – Virgin Mobile USA announced today the launch of the industry’s first no-contract data sharing plans, available exclusively at Walmart.

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 17, the new plans are available on four specific 4G LTE[1] smartphones pre-loaded with the Virgin Mobile data-sharing application, which provides data buy-ups and international add-ons with one touch, directly from the device. Every multi-line plan will also come with a free Mobile Hotspot feature, making it even easier to share data across Wi-Fi enabled devices.

“At Virgin Mobile we are committed to offering prepaid customers innovative new wireless options,” said Angela Rittgers, vice president-Sprint Prepaid. “We were the first prepaid carrier to offer texting keyboards and texting-only plans, first to help customers pay less for talk they weren’t using, the first to feature a totally customized plan, and now the first data sharing plans. The new data sharing plans bring some of the most aggressive shared-line plans ever launched to Walmart.”

Virgin Mobile’s Data Done Right data share plans feature:
• Preloaded Virgin Mobile app that enables customers to manage data sharing directly from their device
• No additional monthly line fees
• One-touch data buy-up options starting at just $10/month for 1GB
• Popular social media and music streaming apps without data charges, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pandora – unlimited usage without counting against the customer’s data allotment for just $5 per month[2]
• Flexible international plan options
• Parental control features with device curfew and app restrictions

“At Walmart, we know our no-contract wireless customers are looking for some of the same experiences as contract wireless users – including high performing smart phones available on great plans at great prices,” said Mehrdad Akbar, vice president of Wireless, Connected Home, Wearables and Tablets, Walmart. “We are always seeking ways to innovate for our customers, which is why we’ve worked closely with Virgin Mobile to offer exclusive new plans such as data sharing.”

Virgin Mobile Data Done Right Plans starting as low as $30 per line
Options
$65/month (2 lines)
$90/month (3 lines)
$115/month (4 lines)
Talk
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Text
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Data[3]
4GB 3G/4G LTE
8GB 3G/4G LTE
12GB 3G/4G LTE

In addition to the new data plans, Virgin is also delivering a new set of single-line, unlimited plans to Walmart customers:

Options
$35/month
$45/month
Talk
300 minutes
Unlimited
Text
Unlimited
Unlimited
Data3
Unlimited (2.5GB high-speed data)
Unlimited (2.5GB high-speed data)

Virgin Mobile Unlimited and Data Share will be immediately available on updated editions of the HTC Desire® 510 [$99.88], LG Tribute™ [$79.88] and LG Volt™ [$149.88]. Data Share service will also make its debut on the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime™ [$129.88][4] , also available starting Jan. 17. The Galaxy Core Prime features a 4.5-inch display, 1.2GHz quad core processor, Android 4.4 KitKat® and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.

More devices are expected to be introduced by the end of February.

A $20 starter kit is required to activate each new line of service and includes two months of unlimited music streaming without counting against the customer’s data allotment.[5]

For more information, please visit http://www.virginmobileusa.com/datashare.

About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint’s prepaid brands, offers value-seeking customers control, flexibility and connectivity through a variety of no-contract single line and multi-line data sharing wireless plans on the Nationwide Sprint Network with LTE and Enhanced LTE service (where available). Virgin Mobile offers a selection of iconic Android™-powered smartphones. Experience Virgin Mobile on the Web at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.

[1] Where available
[2] Good for one device. Automatically renews monthly.
[3] Unlimited features are while on-network (non-roaming) only. Video streaming may be limited to 3G speeds. 3G/4G speeds subject to device/coverage availability. Once multi-line plan’s applicable 3G/4G data threshold reached, data access ends. Once single-line plan’s applicable 3G/4G data threshold reached, speeds reduced (including video) to 2GB speeds for remainder of plan cycle. Additional data access available for purchase.
[4] Device pricing excludes taxes.
[5] Excludes taxes. Top-up pins sold separately.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.