Virgin planning to add touchscreen phones

It seems like at a time when consumers are looking to cut their cell spending, carriers are focused on premium products and services. For instance, we saw MetroPCS launch the BlackBerry Curve earlier this month. Not to be outdone, Virgin Mobile has started discussing the trick up its sleeve. The company plans to release touchscreen handsets. This seems like a peculiar move at this point, but CEO Dan Schulman thinks it fits right in with industry trends.

While smartphones only account for 20 percent of handsets sold today, Schulman believes that we could soon see rates of up to 50 percent within five years. He’s not the first to make such a proclamation. There has been a trend moving towards all-in-one devices, ones which can place calls, connect to the Internet, message, and even function as a mini computer. Smartphones are a step in that direction.

“Things like value and flexibility are moving to the forefront,” [Schulman] said. “I think the economy is helping people to appreciate our model.”

Yes, as we’ve learned over the past few months consumers are starting to appreciate prepaid. However, this is moving from the value-intensive nature of prepaid to a more premium model. Not only will touchscreen phones cost more, but they require even costlier data packages. Will Virgin’s targets — low- and middle-income youth — be able to afford such goodies? Consider Virgin appears to be targeting older customers, that answer might be no.

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6 Responses

1. James Hernendez Says
   

   Stay away from this company, they do not know how to take care of their customers or dealers for that matter. We have been waiting for our Helio Ocean 2 phone for some time now and our helio support tells us to wait and see, it’s been now over a month and still the same lets wait and see, this guy Jake Kim, seems like a string doll just repeating the same thing over and over again.

   If you want to go with a company that is moving in this market check out Boost Mobile. They have $50 unlimited plans and they just released the i9 Stature recently and there are more great things coming with Boost.

   
   Posted on March 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
2. Leeeevi Says
   

   Seriously, do not pick VirginMobile even if they do add touch screen phone’s. I had a kyocera x-tc from this company and it broke three times! Everytime I called they said they’d ship me a new one, and their plans SUCK. $20 for just unlimited text?! That’s crazy!

   
   Posted on August 7th, 2009 at 10:57 pm
3. kkkkeeeeeeeeennnnnns Says
   

   i dont like this company and i am only 13 they over charge me mom bi $12.34 each month and i dont even get the texts she pays for

   
   Posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 10:16 pm
4. Geo Says
   

   Family uses several versions of virgin mobile and they work great! Price is good and would love to see a touch screen version I hopefully don’t have to spend $50-$100 month for. That’s never gonna happen in this family.

   
   Posted on April 19th, 2010 at 8:51 am
5. Alex Says
   

   I’m Getting Really Agervated With Virgin Mobile. I’v Had SO Much Trouble With The LgRumor2 and The XT-C. I’m About Ready To Switch To A Different Company. All I’m Looking For Is A Phone With A Decent QWERTY Keyboard. And There Phone’s Stink. And I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE To See Them Release A TouchScreen Phone.

   
   Posted on May 8th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
6. kingjaffe Says
   

   they do now…they got tha lg rumor touch with tha $25 month unlimited. Tha phone works good 4 me sumtimes ita be laggy but it runs smooth otha than that. I got opera mini 5 on here so i kan download music videos and pics for free.

   
   Posted on July 20th, 2010 at 2:11 pm

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