Beginning July 14, Verizon
Wireless prepay customers can get unlimited text, picture and video messaging
to more than 67 million Verizon Wireless customers nationwide, plus get an
additional 250 text, picture and video messages a month for just $10 a month.

INpulse prepaid wireless plans from Verizon Wireless offer customers many
of the same service options enjoyed by customers who sign annual contracts.
With rates as low as 2 cents per minute for voice calls and text messages,
customers can choose from three plans: INpulse Core, INpulse Plus and INpulse
Power. The plans charge customers an access fee only on the days of use and
include Unlimited IN Calling to Verizon Wireless customers in hundreds of
major metropolitan areas.  INpulse customers also have the ability to pay for
songs downloaded over-the-air through V CAST Music and purchase ringtones,
ringback tones, Mobile Web, games and other applications, such as VZ
Navigator(SM), using funds in their INpulse accounts.

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T-Mobile reported 981,000 new net subscribers for the 1st quarter bringing its total up to 30.8 million. T-Mobile continues to make the transition from the tiny Tier I to a large operator in its own right. It was helped along by its the closing of its acquisition of SunCom Mobile in February, which added another 1.1 million subscribers (not included in the net adds) to its roles. Still, T-Mobile has a long way to go to catch up to the big three. AT&T ended the quarter with 71.4 million subs, andVerizon Wireless with 67.2 million. Sprint, the No. 3 and most struggling operator, still hasn’t reported its Q1 results (coming Monday), but it had 54 million customers at the end of 2007. Of course, T-Mobile may being doing a lot better in the customer count in the next few quarters if any of the swirling rumors about Deutsche Telekom buying Sprint prove true–operationally, that would be another story. Read on

Boost Mobile, a prepaid wireless phone company, today announced that it had opened its first three retail stores. Boost, a division of Sprint Nextel, aims at the youth market by offering not-contract service without activation fees in return for being paid in advance.Read on 

When the major carriers are all out improving their prepaid offerings, there’s not much the little guys can do but improve as well. And that’s what Cricket wireless has done. Among the improvements are more features in their premium calling plans, and the addition of a new entry-level plan. Of note to anyone with Cricket: Caller ID is available with every plan. This wasn’t available through the $35 plan previously. Read on for the specific updates.

TracFone Wireless, the largest U.S. provider of prepaid mobile phone services, is applauding the recent  guilty plea by an international traffickers of prepaid mobile phones an important milestone in the industry’s battle against the bulk prepaid phone purchasing schemes. The bulk prepaid phone purchasing scheme is an activity where the phones’ proprietary software is altered, the devices are repackaged, and resold domestically and abroad to unsuspecting customers. 

Muhammad Mubashir, 27, of Sugar Land, Tex., plead guilty before Judge Melinda Harmon of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He plead guilty to charges of criminally disobeying a federal court order prohibiting him from continuing to purchase, tamper with or export prepaid mobile phones. But many more such schemes exist across the country with the help of “runners” who purchase prepaid mobile phones from major retail outlets. After removing the prepaid software, the middlemen sell these phones as new to customers domestically and abroad in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East at a significant profit. Read on 

It’s official: Virgin Mobile USA is indeed in talks with SK Telecom to explore “strategic opportunities.” Rumors about a possible deal between the two companies surfaced earlier this week and were confirmed by Virgin Mobile in a Wednesday statement.

Virgin Mobile USA, a North American wireless service provider headquartered in Warren, New Jersey, sells prepaid and “pay as you go” mobile services geared toward the youth market. These services, according to a Yahoo! Finance about the company, are used by about 5.1 million customers (year-end 2007 figures) and are delivered using the Sprint PCS network.

Korean wireless telecom company SK Telecom Co. Ltd. is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Its primary investments and partnerships abroad are in the U.S. (Helio joint venture with Earthlink), China (UNISK venture with China Unicom), Vietnam (SLD Telecom, marketing using the S-Fone brand), and Mongolia (investment in SkyTel). Year-end 2006 figures indicate that the company serves more than 20 million subscribers.

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O2[SM] Wireless has forged a tactical alliance with Magicpins, a leader in b2b e-commerce systems for the distribution of prepaid wireless refills. Another strategic partnership for O2[SM] Wireless, the most recent with TCL Communication Technology Holdings (the exclusive manufacturer of Alcatel mobile phones) provides an increased opportunity to uniquely position and further strengthen O2[SM] Wireless’ presence in the prepaid arena. “Electronic PIN distribution is key to our channel expansion strategy,” stated Pete Grubb, VP of Sales & Marketing at Locus Telecommunications, Inc. He added, “We are pleased to be working with Magicpins. Their [Magicpins’] extensive relationships with retailers of all shapes and sizes will help us to expand our distribution in the Northeast and other markets as well as promote our value proposition to many new customers.”Read on 

O2[SM] Wireless, a prepaid wireless veteran for over 12 years, is cruising on into a Strauss Auto store near you. That’s because Strauss Auto, the US subsidiary of Autobacs Seven Co, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has teamed up with Locus Telecommunications, Inc., the provider of O2[SM] Wireless, to offer O2[SM] Wireless in the 88 Strauss locations throughout the greater metropolitan areas of NY, NJ and Philadelphia, PA.Read on 

Giving mom a gift to help make her life easier – like a new cell phone - is something she will certainly appreciate this Mother’s Day. Today’s multi-tasking moms have more responsibilities than ever juggling work, family and friends so it’s no wonder that women are outspending men in electronic purchases to the tune of $55 billion, $14 billion more than men.…Answer GrannyCell phones and text messaging are a great way to keep in touch with grandma. There are many options hand built for seniors with light up key pads and enhanced displays. Cell phones like the Kyocera E1000 offer larger buttons that make it easier for seniors to dial. A prepaid wireless plan allows her that extra measure of security without a monthly bill. Whether she wants to keep a digital photo diary, snap shots at a recital, be available for babysitting, or just check in, granny can answer the call.Read on 

Many consumers find keeping their bill on budget more difficult as cell phone companies add plans and features. Here’s how to keep it in line.

It’s a common scene in households with teenagers. A 16-year-old in his first romantic relationship suddenly blows the limits of his family’s cell phone contract. A plan with a text-message limit of 2,500 reaches 5,138 in one month.

And a bill that was typically under $80 a month now shocks an unsuspecting parent to the tune of nearly $400. The pages and pages of the bill could be a bound volume.

If it makes you feel any better, this happened to AT&T executive Mike Bennett, director of consumer and government affairs. Even though it was a couple of years ago, Bennett said that the number 5,138 will stick with him for a long time.

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