Virgin Internet Service Vs. Boost Internet

Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile have long offered cellphones with basic functionality on prepaid plans. Recently, they have also begun offering Internet access through those phones as part of these plans. Users can choose between a variety of plans to suit their usage needs. Virgin Mobile offers data plans that offer specific amounts of bandwidth in exchange for higher payments, culminating in an unlimited access plan. Boost's plans focus around unlimited access for a specific number of days, with discounted rates for more prepaid days.

Both Boost and Virgin offer "non-smart" phones, Blackberries and Android-based smartphones to use with these plans. These phones come with the same features and functionality as their equivalent devices on traditional contract plans. While Virgin Mobile charges the same amount for bandwidth on all of its devices, Boost Mobile offers separate data pricing for its Blackberry devices, both on a daily and monthly basis. As of the date of this publication, Boost Mobile uses the same pricing scheme for its standard and Android devices.

Subscribers to both Virgin and Boost Mobile's Internet services will have access to the same coverage areas. Both services make use of Sprint's data network, giving them the same coverage as Sprint Mobile subscribers. As of the date of this publication, this network was not as robust as AT&T; or Verizon's data network. Consequently, while the network covers most major metropolitan areas, there will be several less populated areas in which both Boost and Virgin Mobile's customers will not have data network coverage.

While both Virgin and Boost Mobile offer prepaid Internet subscriptions for their phones, as of the date of this publication, Boost Mobile does not offer a device to create a Wi-Fi hot spot, which other Internet-capable devices could use to connect to the Web. Virgin Mobile does, however, offer a device which could create a mobile hot spot for such devices to use. Individuals could purchase prepaid bandwidth time in the same way they would for their phones, and the devices also work off Sprint's data network.