Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile offers discount to loyal customers

October 14th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Cick for larger

Loyalty programs aren’t exactly common with prepaid carriers. Whether you’ve been with the company for six months or six years, you’re probably getting the same deal. Boost Mobile is looking to change that. They recently introduced a loyalty program, dubbed Monthly Unlimited with Shrinkage — as in bill shrinkage. For every six on-time payments Boost reduces a users’ monthly unlimited bill by $5, with a maximum savings of $15. So after 18 months with the company — less time than with a two-year contract, you’ll be paying just $35 per month, $45 for BlackBerry users, for unlimited voice, messaging, and data. Even if you make a late payment, you’ll continue to realize the discount, though you won’t receive a month’s credit for the late payment.

Via Boy Genius Report.

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Boost Mobile launches BlackBerry Curve 8530

October 6th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

A few months after Virgin Mobile offered it, and right around the time parent company Sprint will release the Curve 9330, Boost Mobile announced that it will make available the BlackBerry Curve 8530. It will hit stores and Boost Mobile’s website on October 14 for $250. If you want a breakdown of the 8530, check out a post I wrote about the new Curves at BBGeeks.com.

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Motorola i886 is an iDEN Android without touchscreen

October 4th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    5 Comments

This…this is just odd. Every Android device we’ve seen to date has a touchscreen. It appears as though an upcoming handset might break that mold. Via Engadget, the Motorola i886 is an Android device that features an alphanumeric keypad and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. But the screen does not support touch functions, which really makes it stand out from other Android models — and not necessarily in a good way. It features GPS, a 2 megapixel camera, microSD memory expansion, and an accelerometer. Endgadget doesn’t think that you’ll be able to run Android apps on this, presumably because it lacks touch. That will certainly exclude some apps. But on my Nexus One I can run some apps using just the trackball, so perhaps the i886 will have some of the Android Market available to it. In any case, this one could definitely launch on Boost Mobile.

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Sprint looking to ditch iDEN for CDMA

October 1st, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

It sounds like Sprint might be ready to declare iDEN dead. Phil Goldstein of FierceWireless passes along a report in which Bob Azzi, senior VP of networks at Sprint, discussed a number of issues related to the company’s future. Among the items discussed were upgrading cell towers, a possible move to LTE, and, much to the chagrin of Boost Mobile subscribers, the end of iDEN. It won’t be in the immediate future, and Sprint wouldn’t provide further clarification, but it does sound like they plan to allow push-to-talk over their CDMA network and discontinue iDEN at some point.

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Boost Mobile offers handset insurance

September 7th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    5 Comments

For the most part, we don’t see many prepaid carriers offer insurance on their handsets. This is for a number of reasons, not least of which being the general quality of the handsets. If a phone costs $40 there’s little reason to buy insurance on it. Hence, no insurance offering from carriers like Tracfone that specialize in the lowest of the low-end handsets. But we’ve seen a few expensive options hit prepaid in the past year or so. For the most part if you break the phone outside of the warranty period there’s not much you can do other than buy a new handset. That’s something Boost Mobile has addressed. I’m not sure when this was introduced, but a Howard Forums user points to a Boost insurance plan that can protect your device.

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Boost Mobile adds $2/day unlimited plan

September 2nd, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    9 Comments

Boost Mobile announced a new version of its unlimited plan, a $2 per day option that allows users to truly pay as they go. At midnight each day the customer will have the $2 deducted from her account, after which she can take advantage of unlimited voice, messaging, and web for 24 hours. The cycle then repeats. Boost is billing this $2 charge as “regardless of usage,” so it will apply even if you don’t use the phone. So what might be the advantage to this type of plan, which will cost between $10 and $12 more than the $50 unlimited plan?

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Boost reduces International Connect offer to $5

August 26th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

During the past year Boost Mobile has made many improvements to its International Connect plan. While it included just a few destinations at the beginning it now reaches far. Yesterday, Boost announced that customers could make calls and send text messages to these destinations for just $5 per month, down from their normal $10 price. This includes unlimited calls to landlines in over 150 cities in Mexico and Asia, plus unlimited text messaging to Canada. Customers who have iDEN handsets can also take advantage of unlimited walkie talkie services to Mexico and select South American countries. You can find out more information about the plan, and sign up, at Boost Mobile’s website.

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Sprint-Nextel a poor merger? At least Boost helped

August 19th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

Bloomberg takes a look at the 100 biggest mergers and acquisitions during the last boom, and rates the Sprint-Nextel one among the worst. They noted that the merger “led hundreds of thousands of customers to defect to competitors,” but can we really pin the cause of said defection on the merger? Sprint could have done that, perhaps, even without Nextel. What Nextel did bring to the table, though, was Boost Mobile, which has saved the company’s bacon subscriber-wise while it went through its nearly three-year tizzy.

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Boost Mobile now offering the Samsung Seek

August 12th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    4 Comments

Click for a larger, nicer looking version

Since it announced that it would use Sprint’s CDMA service for its $50 unlimited plan, Boost Mobile has gone to work adding CDMA devices to its lineup. We saw two of them not too long ago in the Bali and Rambler. The latest addition is the Samsung Seek, a touchscreen device that features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It provides access to instant messaging and email services, plus a full web browser. It’s also a multimedia device, featuring a media player and microSD expansion up to 32GB. The Seek will be available on August 25 for $149.99 at Boost Mobile’s website.

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Boost Mobile releases Bali and Rambler handsets

July 29th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

Last week we got word that Motorola would release the Rambler on Boost Mobile. It’s a rare QWERTY flip phone, so it should be interesting, at least. Yesterday Boost announced the release of the handset, along with another, the Bali. The Rambler features a 1.3 megapixel camera adn many messaging options, including email, instant messaging, SMS, and MMS. The Bali is a basic flip phone with music capabilities. It too features a 1.3 megapixel camera.

The Rambler, left above, costs $99.99 while the Bali, right above, costs $149.99. Both are available at Boost Mobile’s website.

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Motorola readying clamshell QWERTY Rambler

July 23rd, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    3 Comments

Unfortunately, that’s the best we have in terms of a picture for this one, but you can kind of make out some details of the upcoming Motorola Rambler. It’s an iDEN device that’s slated to hit Boost Mobile at some point in the future. Details are slim, but we know it has a 1.3 megapixel camera with video capabilities, Bluetooth, GPS, and of course the QWERTY keyboard. Which is odd, of course, seeing as it’s a clamshell device. More to come as pricing and release date are revealed.

Via Engadget.

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Boost expands International Connect plan

July 15th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

In December Boost Mobile strengthened its International Connect plan. Previously a $10 international texting plan, Boost added unlimited calling to Canadian cell phones and landlines, plus unlimited calling to landlines to select cities in Mexico. Now they have expanded the program even further. Calls to landlines in Mexico have been expanded to cover 150 cities. Boost has also add unlimited landline calling to certain Asian countries, including China, Malaysia, Hong Kong (not a country, I know), South Korea, and Singapore. iDEN customers will also get unlimited walkie talkie to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. It still costs $10. You can find out more at Boost Mobile’s website.

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Motorola WX415 heading for Boost Mobile

July 13th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

It looks like another CDMA handset is headed for the Boost Mobile website. Via Unwired View, the Motorola WX415 has hit the FCC, which means that the next step is launch by Boost. We don’t know when, yet, but it can’t be too far away. It’s a pretty basic clamshell, complete with external music controls, Bluetooth, and a camera, though it sounds like only a VGA model (but I could be wrong). Look for it as a low-end option for Boost CDMA users.

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Boost introduces Motorola i296

June 10th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

It’s not much special, but it’s a new handset from Boost Mobile. The Motorola i296 kind of resembles the i335, a handset I enjoyed very much even though it was short on features. The i296 is similarly short, featuring just Bluetooth, push-to-talk, and GPS. The web browser appears functional, so you can take as much advantage of the $50 unlimited plan as you can. The phone is available for $60 at retailers or Boost Mobile’s website.

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Boost to launch i1 on June 20

June 4th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

Last week we learned that Boost Mobile would certainly launch the Motorola i1, an Android device that runs on the iDEN network. As we learned at the time, it will launch at Best Buy outlets. Now we have an official announcement. Look for it on June 20. Price tag: $350. So that’s a big up-front cost, but on what other carrier can you get unlimited voice, messaging, and data for $50 per month? Users might lament iDEN’s slow data speeds, but again, considering the price it’s still a pretty good deal.

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Boost could also get Kyocera Zio Android device

May 27th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    6 Comments

We just learned the other day that Boost Mobile would get the Motorola i1 Android device. Now comes a rumor, courtesy of Android Guys, that Boost could also get the Kyocera Rio. It’s already headed for parent company Sprint and also Cricket. The Android Guys call it “unremarkable,” but it still might fit the bill for Boost. It features a 480×800 pixel touchscreen, a 600 MHz processor, 512MB internal storage, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. We’re not sure when this will hit Boost, but it should cost between $170 and $220 unsubsidized.

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Boost to get the Motorola i1

May 25th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    6 Comments

In early March we heard a rumor that Boost Mobile might get the Motorola i1, an Android handset that runs on the iDEN network. Later in the month Sprint announced that it would release the i1, but it appeared ticketed for Nextel’s postpaid service. I ended the paragraph with, “There’s hope yet for an Android handset.” That hope has come through, as MobileCrunch has received marketing materials that indicate the i1′s imminent release on Boost.

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Boost adds 411, messaging to unlimited plan

May 5th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

The Boost Mobile $50 unlimited plan just got a bit better. Like many of their rivals, they’ll now offer unlimited 411 service. They’ve also added instant messaging and email to the package, though that should have already been covered under data. As Chris Ziegler from Engadget correctly says, “it seems like we’re past the point where carriers should be differentiating between types of data.” It looks, though, as if Boost has everything covered now.

In the same announcement, Boost introduced the Samsung Rant, which we’ll feature after the jump.

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Sanyo Juno headed to Boost Mobile

April 23rd, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    9 Comments

We haven’t seen any new CDMA phones from Boost Mobile since they introduced the original three handsets earlier this year. That will soon end, as the Sanyo Juno has appeared on the company’s website. Sprint actually sells this as the Sanyo SCP-2700, so it’s not exactly a new handset, but it’s newly available for Boost users. It features an on-board camera and multimedia capabilities, but it appears that Boost is marketing this QWERTY device mainly as a messaging phone. It should be available soon for $99.99.

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Boost Mobile getting Motorola Gallo i296

April 2nd, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Yesterday Unwired View gave us previews of two upcoming handsets. The first one is for Boost Mobile, the Motorola Gallo i296. It looks pretty basic, as you can see in the picture. The Bluetooth SIG page doesn’t reveal much, so we’ll be left wondering about this device until we get an announcement. Hopefully Boost sets the price point on this nice and low. It doesn’t look like anything special. In the next post, a phone for MetroPCS.

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Sprint and Motorola announce i1, but no word on Boost

March 23rd, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    5 Comments

A few weeks ago we heard rumors that the Motorola i1 would become the first Android-powered iDEN handset. That announcement came yesterday, and plans are to release the phone this summer. While we got our hopes up that the handset would be available on Boost Mobile, we’ve heard no such word yet. In fact, the Sprint page makes mention of Nextel but not Boost. It looks like, at least at first, this won’t make its way to prepaid. A few years ago, though, we wouldn’t have even considered the possibility, so that indicates how things have changed in prepaid. There’s hope yet for an Android handset.

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Boost Mobile issues firmware update for Sanyo Incognito

March 19th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    6 Comments

Via PhoneNews.com, we learn about an update Boost Mobile has issued for the Sanyo Incognito, one of its new CDMA phones. The firmware update allows users to play full screen video, including streaming from sites like YouTube. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it makes the device a bit more restrictive when saving and uploading files. You can make the upgrade by going to Settings – Tools – Update Phone – Software Version.

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Boost Mobile to add Android-powered Motorola i1?

March 9th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    20 Comments

I was just a guest on a podcast, and one major topic of discussion was prepaid mobile data. We’ve seen a number of companies add WAP browsing, but few have robust data options. Earlier this year, though, we saw Boost Mobile add a a CDMA BlackBerry device. Was that just the start? It appears that could be the case. We learned late last week that Motorola plans to release an iDEN Android handset, and of course Boost is a possible carrier. The handset features a 3.1 inch, 320×480 capacitive touch screen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 3 megapixel camera, and plenty more. It also features MOTOBLUR, which is just awesome.

No word on availability, but speculative word is that the announcement could come at CTIA later this month.

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Get Boost Mobile Shuffle ringtone and donate to charity

February 12th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

In the weeks leading up to last week’s Super Bowl, Boost Mobile hyped up its ad, which was supposed to riff on the Super Bowl Shuffle, a commercial which originally featured the Chicago Bears when they played in the 1986 Super Bowl. Boost put their own spin on it, bringing back many of the stars, including Coach Ditka. My take: no William “Refrigerator” Perry makes it a bit weaker. Anyway, Boost has made the Boost Mobile Shuffle available as a ringtone, if you liked it that much. It costs 99 cents, which might deter some, but all profits go to Girdiron Greats Assistance Fund, a non-profit that helps former NFL players who are “encountering physical hardships after retirement.” Mike Ditka leads the charge. Malcolm Gladwell wrote an excellent article in The New Yorker on this topic. After the jump, the ad itself, plus the link.

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Sprint gains customers with Boost, Virgin

February 11th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

It seems like Sprint has lost customers every quarter for the past — long time, let’s say. Yet their prepaid division, Boost Mobile, always seemed to fare well. They added tons of customers in late 2007 and 2008 with its first unlimited plan, UNLTD, even though it was in limited release. Then they hit the jackpot when they launched their $50 unlimited plan last year. Boost added customers throughout 2009 while Sprint postpaid lost. The trend remained the same in the fourth quarter of 2009, though it’s a bit tougher to tell exactly how many customers Boost signed up. All I saw from reports is the number of prepaid subscribers they added, a figure which now includes Virgin Mobile — though since they were officially acquired mid-quarter I’m not sure how the reporting went.

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You have to dig to find Boost’s $1/Day Chat plan

February 10th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

In browsing HoFo yesterday, I found an interestingly titled thread in the Boost Mobile forum: No more Daily Plan? Clearly this required further investigation. The user claims that the $1/Day Chat plan is no longer listed on the site. Even though he or she has it, he or she wonders if Boost grandfathers it for current users, and furthermore if you can switch it to a CDMA phone. Upon reviewing Boost’s website, I found the answer to both questions.

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Poor Motorola prepaid phone sales a bad sign for Boost?

February 1st, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

While we won’t hear about Boost Mobile‘s fourth quarter numbers until Sprint makes their announcement on February 10, last week we might have seen into the future. Motorola reported their own Q4 results, and while they showed progress in some areas, they were particularly lacking in prepaid. Co-CEO Sanjay Jha said that sales of phones to prepaid carriers were “particularly weak.” While a number of prepaid carriers offer Motorola phones, Boost Mobile sold Motorola phones exclusively until its recent CDMA expansion. Could this mean slow fourth quarter numbers for Boost? It might sound like it, but there’s no certainty. Even with this, I bet Boost finishes a bit ahead of where we saw MetroPCS and Cricket were — below last year, but too far.

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Boost Mobile launches BlackBerry Curve 8330, Sanyo models

January 27th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    26 Comments

We knew that Boost Mobile was going to launch the BlackBerry Curve 8330 and a pair of Sanyo models, so it’s not much news when we hear that they did. They’re now available on Boost’s website. I just wanted to drop a note, however, clarifying the monthly rate for the BlackBerry. In our initial post we noted that it cost $70 per month, because that’s what we saw at the time. This is not true. The Prepaid Boost BlackBerry service will cost $60 per month.

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Boost Mobile offers unlimited plan in Puerto Rico

January 21st, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Now that Boost Mobile has expanded to use Sprint’s CDMA network, they’ve extended their reach. They will now offer the plan to Puerto Rican residents. The plan also calls for unlimited roaming between Puerto Rico and the U.S.

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Will CDMA unlimited increase Boost’s subscribers?

January 12th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    8 Comments

When Boost Mobil announced last week that they’d offer service over Sprint’s CDMA network, it sounded like the move would increase their reach. The Nextel iDEN network, while nationwide, has its flaws, and the move to the more reliable, faster CDMA network could expand Boost’s appeal. Not everyone agrees, though, that the move will benefit Sprint. As Phil Goldstein at FierceWireless writes, at least one analyst believes that the new service will do nothing to increase Boost’s value to its parent company, Sprint, in 2010.

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Boost announces unlimited on Sprint’s CDMA network

January 8th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    3 Comments

Earlier in the week we learned that Boost Mobile would launch three CDMA handsets for use with its unlimited plan. Clearly they were going to add CDMA coverage at some point. That happened yesterday. Starting January 13, Sprint’s nationwide CDMA network is part of Boost’s unlimited services. Those three handsets — the BlackBerry 8330, the Sanyo 3810, and the Sanyo Incognito — will be the initial selection. We’ll probably see them roll out a number of new handsets in the near future as well to cover new demand.

Update: Boost also announced lower price points for the two Sanyo handsets. The 3810 will be $79.99, and the Incognito will be $129.99, both $20 lower than the rumor reported.

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2-megapixel Motorola iDEN phone hits the FCC

January 8th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Whenever we see a new iDEN phone hit the FCC, we immediately think it’s headed for Boost Mobile. Given what we learned yesterday about the company’s three new CDMA handsets, it’s no surprise that they’re also trying to upgrade the iDEN side. Phone Scoop has the catch on the Motorola i890, a clamshell that isn’t a completely entry-level phone. It features a 2-megapixel camera, which is a nice upgrade over what we see from most new prepaid phones. It also has microSD expansion and a music player to go with it. GPS navigation and Bluetooth also appear to be part of the package. There’s no guarantee this hits Boost — it could go straight to Nextel — but I think the chances are pretty good at this point.

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Boost Mobile readying three CDMA handsets

January 5th, 2010   |    Boost Mobile   |    21 Comments

Until recently, the Boost Mobile $50 unlimited plan ran on the iDEN network exclusively. Then, over the summer, Boost migrated its UNLTD customers to the iDEN plan, even though UNLTD customers run on Sprint’s CDMA network. Their ultimate plans were unclear then — was Boost really going to offer the $50 unlimited on CDMA? Yesterday we got a bit closer to the answer. According to PhoneNews.com, Boost will launch three CDMA handsets in the near future, two of which will operate under the $50 plan. That would be a major victory for Boost, getting more CDMA access for their unlimited plan.

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Boost Mobile expands International Connect program

December 17th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

Boost Mobile just made its international calling program that much better. They added an international text messaging option back in April, $10 for unlimited worldwide texts. They’ve greatly expanded that program now, making their Boost Unlimited plans that much better. It still costs $10 per month on top of the regular $50 fee, but now it includes much more, including unlimited international calls to some destinations.

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Man behind Boost will now power Sprint 4G

December 11th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Before Sprint bought Virgin Mobile, the company owned Boost Mobile. That was essentially Sprint’s prepaid division, as it had no self-branded prepaid service. Matt Carter headed Boost as it grew and stagnated over the years, and he was the man behind the $50 unlimited plan that shook the prepaid industry earlier this year. But, when Sprint acquired Virgin, there were some questions as to Carter’s role. Virgin CEO Dan Schulman was tapped to head Sprint’s prepaid division. So what about Carter? This week, we found out what Sprint has in mind.

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Boost releases the Motorola i410

November 24th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

How do you get excited over an unexciting device? The Motorola i410 was supposed to hit Boost Mobile in September, but it was delayed. It passed through the FCC earlier this month, and that didn’t help the excitement. We’re not any more exited now that Boost has officially announced the device. The only thing that could get me excited, really, is if the price comes in at below the rumored $80. There’s actually disappointment coming with this, too. Apparently, Motorola says that this “completes Boost Mobile’s 2008 device roadmap.” Awwwww man.

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Motorola i680 passes FCC, headed for Boost?

November 13th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

When a device passes the FCC, oftentimes we don’t know which carrier will pick it up. We do get ideas sometimes. For instance, if it’s an AWS device, you know it’s going to MetroPCS or Cricket. If it’s an iDEN device, it’s going to Boost or Nextel. The latest device to pass through (relevant to us, at least) is the Motorola i680. It features GPS, Bluetooth, a camera (undetermined megapixels) with flash and video capture, and two displays. It also has microSD expansion and a headphone jack, signaling multimedia capabilities. This might just go straight to postpaid, but given Boost’s need to revamp its handset lineup, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this hit Boost in time for the holidays.

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Boost to release Motorola Debut i856w in white

November 10th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

What attributes must a phone possess to make it “female-friendly”? I’m not so sure there’s that much of a difference. Sure, men and women might prefer different colors, but that can come down to a casing or skin issue. Apparently, Boost Mobile wants to have ready-made phones available for its feminine clientele. After releasing the Motorola Debut i856 in September, they’re readying the release of the same model, but in white — and with swirly designs on the back. Tamara Ghuang of The Orange County Register explains. It’s the same phone, just in white. If you’ll remember back, Boost released a feminine i775 about a year ago. I guess they found that worked for them, and are proceeding similarly on the i856. It should be available in stores and on Boost’s website tomorrow, November 11.

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Boost to get Motorola i410 flip hone

November 3rd, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

The Motorola i410 is late in coming to Boost Mobile. Originally scheduled for a September release, it’s now November and we’ve yet to see it on Boost shelves or at the website. We haven’t heard many complaints about the delay, though, because the phone is nothing to get excited about. It’s a basic flip phone that doesn’t even include a camera. It does have Boost’s standard push to talk, plus Bluetooth, but that’s about it. It recently passed through the FCC, so it should be coming soon. Then again, with the rumored price of $80, I’m not sure there will be many takers.

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Sprint prepaid adds 666,000 subscribers in third quarter

October 30th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

Sprint was the latest to announce their quarterly numbers, and again they weren’t very good. The company lost fewer postpaid subscribers than they have in earlier quarters this year, but they were still on the losing end nonetheless. Their saving grace, as it has been for years now, was Boost Mobile, which fueled the company’s prepaid growth. Overall, Sprint added 666,000 prepaid customers in the third quarter, mostly on the Boost end. That’s down from the second quarter, though, when the company added 777,000 subscribers.

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Boost Mobile pulling attention from competitors

October 26th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    3 Comments

Boost Mobile has done well since introducing their $50 unlimited plan. They’ve added over 1.5 million net subscribers, and could be in line for another good quarterly announcement. The $50 plan has attracted a lot of attention, often at the expense of competitors. Compete, the web-analytic company, notes that while non-customer traffic at prepaid wireless sites is up 12 percent over last year, Boost’s traffic is up 185 percent.

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Boost Mobile expands unlimited to include Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

October 21st, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    1 Comment

We learned yesterday that Boost Mobile has expanded the calling area of its $50 unlimited plans. Customers can now call Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands with no international fees. This is an odd announcement, as Boost announced in January that calls to Puerto Rico fall under standard calling plans. So it looks like this one just covers the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico is but a reminder.

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Boost officially announces Motorola Debut i856

September 3rd, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    3 Comments

The hype for the Motorola i856 started in March, when we got the first live photos of the device. A few months later it made an appearance at the FCC. What’s all the hype about, then? Nothing much. It’s since taken on the moniker Debut, but the features remain basic: 1.3 megapixel camera, music store, Bluetooth, and not much more. The difference, really, is the design, as it’s the first slider Boost Mobile has introduced for its $50 unlimited plan. If you’re interested, it’s available for $169.99 on Boost Mobile’s website.

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Boost Mobile takes home prepaid cell phone award

August 13th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    4 Comments

TopTenREVIEWS.com, a site which rates various electronics and entertainment entities, has recently named Boost Mobile as its top prepaid service, earning the “Gold Award” in the field. Like J.D. Power and Associates, which ranked Boost third in prepaid, TopTen uses various criteria to determine the top service in each field. For prepaid phones these include monthly plans, usage based plans, features, fees, phone selection, and help & support. Boost did exceedingly well in every area except phone selection, though it was enough to narrowly edge out Cricket and Virgin Mobile.

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Sprint not losing postpaid customers to prepaid

August 11th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

We know that Sprint is losing customers, as they have been for over a year now. We also know that Boost Mobile is gaining customers. When Boost introduced its $50 unlimited plan in January, many feared that it would cannibalize Sprint’s postpaid service, so it might seem like those fears are coming true. According to Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, it is not. He noted that “a low single-digit percentage” of Boost’s adds in the second quarter, up around a million, came from Sprint’s postpaid side. That doesn’t seem bad at all.

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Could Boost be getting the Motorola ROKR?

August 7th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    9 Comments

Pictured above is the Motorola ROKR, a fairly common phone for prepaid carriers. It’s a few years old and doesn’t have a ton of advanced features, so it’s rip for a no-subsidy price. According to Boy Genius Report, this is an iDEN version that could be heading Sprint’s way. While that could mean Nextel, it would seem to fit more in the lineup of Boost Mobile. With their unlimited plan in place and doing well, the next step is to get some more attractive handsets. While this is no top of the line gem, it certainly presents a different flavor for the Boost lineup. That it’s a music phone only adds to the niceness. We’ll await further word on when this will drop.

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Boost Mobile expands retail presence to Barnes & Noble

August 5th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

One obstacle prepaid carriers face is how to market their product to end users. This means not only TV and Web advertisements, but also product placement in retail stores. Boost Mobile is shooting for the college student market, as they’ve teamed with Barnes & Noble College Booksellers to get handsets and refill cards into college book stores. The handsets include the Motorola i776 and the i465 Clutch. This, Boost hopes, will accelerate their sales, as prepaid phones can be very useful for college students on a budget.

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Boost Mobile “not getting into the price war”

August 3rd, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    4 Comments

Will there be a price war in prepaid wireless? There have been factors indicating so, but it appears that there most likely will not. Even if there is, you can count out Boost Mobile. They’ve publicly stated that they won’t enter a price war, meaning they’ll stick with their $50 price point for unlimited services, the plan which helped spur the industry. This, despite slightly cheaper offerings from rivals like Straight Talk and MetroPCS.

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Sprint’s numbers show more big gains for Boost

July 29th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    2 Comments

Usually we’ll see an official Boost Mobile subscriber count, and perhaps we will in the coming days or weeks. For now we have Sprint Nextel’s numbers, and while overall they don’t look too good — a net loss of about a quarter million subscribers — Boost continues to add subscribers, luring them with their $50 unlimited plan. They added a net 938,000 iDEN customers, which might seem like a lot more than the 764,000 they added in Q1, but there’s a catch. They lost 161,000 prepaid CDMA subscribers for a net gain of 777,000 subscribers. So it still tops Q1 by a little, but not the overwhelming amount that the 938,000 would indicate.

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Boost Mobile exec named top woman in wireless

July 28th, 2009   |    Boost Mobile   |    No Comments

Like many industries, males dominate in wireless. Also like many industries, that’s changing. It doesn’t happen overnight, but many executive positions are being filled by females nowadays. To celebrate this shift, FierceWireless has named their top women in wireless for 2009. They based their selections on “their accomplishments, their technical savvy, their leadership and perhaps most importantly, their influence on the industry.” One notable name among them is Kelly Owens St. Julian, chief service officer for Boost Mobile.

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