Discussion

29 comments for “Virgin Mobile to launch Apple iPhone in February”

1. How is that possible? The iPhone uses SIM Cards and Virgin, as of now, doesn’t.

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   Artbungler Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 2:06 pm

   Just because theyre on CDMA doesnt mean they’ll have that forever … their parent company has the iphone right now…

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   Mitchell Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 3:16 pm

   Virgin is owned by Bell

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   Posted by Eric | November 8, 2009, 12:14 pm

2. first the attack on rogers and now this, go virgin go! =D!

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   Posted by michael | November 8, 2009, 12:16 pm

3. minor edit: “its” way…

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   Posted by David Jeffrey | November 8, 2009, 12:25 pm

4. FINALLY! the heavens have opened

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   Posted by Colin | November 8, 2009, 12:59 pm

5. That’s excellent! I was going to phone Rogers and cancel my data plan on Monday anyway ($36 for 500mb when I only use about 100mb is way too much), now I have hope that in a few months I can get a cheaper data plan elsewhere.

   In the US Virgin offers 100mb for $10 for 10 days, that would suite me fine as I only need mobile data occasionally.

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   Posted by Colin | November 8, 2009, 1:13 pm

6. I feel sorry for the poor suckers who will lock themselves in for a full THREE YEARS, just four months before the device is made worthless by the next model. New iPhones always come out in June.

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   TNSF Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 12:48 am

   Regardless of what the next iPhone model can do the current model will not be any less functional come June. Case in point, the 3G is still being sold and has found a very significant market at $99. Not everybody will care that there is a new model.

   Maybe think of it this way. My car does 0-60 in 5 seconds. There are newer models that do it in 4.5. That doesn’t mean my 5 second car is any less fun to drive than it was a year ago

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   toyandme Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

   “Maybe think of it this way. My car does 0-60 in 5 seconds. There are newer models that do it in 4.5. That doesn’t mean my 5 second car is any less fun to drive than it was a year ago”

   A better analogy might be that the iPhone does 0-60 in 5 seconds but the new HTC HD2 does it in less than one second. The HD2 is years ahead of the locked down iPhone, with USB Host and unrestricted Bluetooth stack, which allow one to just plug in USB keyboards, mice, cameras, hard drives, etc., not to mention a much superior camera and a huge 4.3-inch screen. Also, video out and built-in FM radio. Check the reviews on engadget and elsewhere. The current iPhone is yesterday’s Gameboy at tomorrow’s prices.

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   TNSF Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

   The 2 in HD2 probably refers to the number of people that will care about USB host and unrestricted bluetooth functionality.

   Consumers don’t buy features, they buy benefits. The iphone is the number 1 smartphone model because consumers can see and easily realize the connection between themselves and the benefits. Blackberries are another good example.

   Phones like the HD2 will struggle because the OS, hardware, accessories and applications will all come from different vendors with different agendas. Consumers can’t piece the puzzle together.

   I have no doubt that the 3GS will outsell the HD2. I bet even the 3G will outsell the HD2.

   Don’t bring a fighter jet to a drag race. Yeah sure it might be faster and super advanced, but no consumer is going to know how to pilot it. They’re just going to crash it. Instead, bring a car. Everybody knows how to drive a car.

   

   toyandme Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 9:50 pm

   “I have no doubt that the 3GS will outsell the HD2. I bet even the 3G will outsell the HD2.”

   The Toyota Echo outsells BMW but in terms of phones both are the same price, so I will take the latter and figure out how to use the stick shift;-)

   Posted by toyandme | November 8, 2009, 1:22 pm

7. CDMA is dieing,Or already is a dead horse.Just like Rogers wireless,Vista,Anything`Analoge,VHS,Chrystler&General Moters.

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   Jayleigh Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:08 pm

   Ah, d’ah. State the obviously…that’s why all the carriers are switching over to HSPA which is also being called 3G+

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   Posted by larry | November 8, 2009, 1:32 pm

8. I’m looking forward to seeing the pricing on the prepaid mobile stick. That might be an interesting thing to get.

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   Posted by theninjasquad | November 8, 2009, 4:30 pm

9. If Virgins Iphone plan is the same as their Blackberry plan, I would be VERY interested.

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   Greg Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:00 pm

   Rogers has the same plan on a network with better coverage and Canadian call centers.

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   Jayleigh Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:10 pm

   I’m a Virgin customer, previously Rogers and before that Telus…

   Clearly YOU haven’t called into the Virgin call centre nor tested the coverage area.

   Research then type an educated comment.

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   Greg Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 6:37 am

   Actually I am a Rogers sales rep and I used to be a future shop sales rep. I have dealt with all of their customer service. Most recently virgins due to my girlfriend having her 4 th billing issue with them in the last 6 months. Of those 4 billing issues they openned “cases” for all of them she was contacted 2 times out of the entire 4 issues. To be fair she was pleased with them up unroll she needed to go through their customer service. Just because their customer service is taught to qct more youthful doesn’t mean they get things done. And beyond that yes is some areas in Canada bells network is better but the research for fewest dropped calls and most network coverage is a representation of all of Canada it’s not only that but Rogers didn’t even perform that research it was purchased from telus when telus put all three networks up against eachother.

   

   Brian Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:13 pm

   Actually their network isn’t better. They say it is, but tell that to anyone in BC, Alberta, Manitoba or Sask. Their network is terrible compared to the Bellus network.

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   toyandme Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 3:59 pm

   Add the Maritimes to your list and northern QC and ON.

   

   Kmusky Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:39 pm

   Considering that Virgin will piggy-back on Bell’s new HSPA network, it’s debatable which is the better network.

   Also, Rogers is always at the bottom of the pack when it comes to customer service, while Virgin is traditionally on top. Those “Canadian” call centres that Rogers is so proud of apparently leave something to be desired.

   Also 200 min, 500 mb, call display, voicemail, and unlimited text will cost me $5 per month more on Rogers, thanks mostly to the GRRF. And Unlimited evenings would start 2 hrs on earlier on virgin.

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   Joe Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

   The recent JD Powers survey had Virgin Mobile ratings much higher than Bell in the Call Quality and Reception category despite using the exact same network as Bell.

   Don’t be surprised if they rate highest again on the same HSPA network.

   It goes to show you what effect some a good customer impression will get you. Reality distortion field.

   

   Kmusky Reply:
   November 8th, 2009 at 11:57 pm

   And yes, I know that Bell owns Virgin, and they share the same devices and network. That doesn’t mean that they share the same customer service reps, or the same corporate culture. The difference between Virgin’s and Bell’s CS ratings proves that.

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   J-M Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 1:18 am

   For sure! Virgin finished FIRST!

   

   TNSF Reply:
   November 9th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

   I’m not sure I would go that far. Discount carriers always tend to rate higher because of the type of client they attract.

   The studies are still useful, but I prefer to compare companies of the same nature. Telus, Rogers, Bell, SaskTel, MTS , etc in one category. Virgin, Koodo, Fido, etc in another.

   Posted by Kmusky | November 8, 2009, 6:00 pm

10. Virgin has 3 call centers in Canada and one in the Phillipines, so no it is not all Canadian. Virgin’s customer service is as good as the people on the phones can do, anything more and they do need to send up “cases”

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    Posted by Jess | November 9, 2009, 12:10 pm

11. they should have made the iphone also prepaid it would have been unique plus be awesome for us prepaid guys

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    Posted by curtis | November 12, 2009, 1:50 am

12. As long as this means that Virgin will start using SIM cards, I’ll be happy. I can bring my Hero over from Telus

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    Posted by Eric | November 17, 2009, 11:05 am