iPhone Coming to Virgin Mobile for Pre-paid Customers

Those who want an iPhone but don't like wireless service contracts will soon have the option of getting Apple's latest smartphone from Virgin Mobile.

This carrier, a subsidiary of Sprint, will begin offering the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on June 29. Customers won't have to sign a contract, but will instead pre-pay voice and data service.

Buyers will be free of commitment, but will have to pay the full price for these devices -- carrier subsidies come only when consumers sign lengthy service contracts. Therefore the iPhone 4S (16GB) will cost $650, and the iPhone 4 (8GB) will go for $550.

A month of wireless service will start at $30. This included 300 voice minutes and unlimited voice and data. Service is provided by Sprint's 3G EV-DO Rev A network.

Virgin Mobile devices can be purchased at thousands of locations around the country, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Radio Shack.

Another Pre-paid Option

Rival carrier Cricket also announced recently that it will soon begin offering Apple's iPhone to pre-paid customers. More information is available in this article:

Apple iPhone Launching from Cricket with Pre-Paid Plan

More about the iPhone 4S

The newest smartphone from Apple includes a 1GHz dual-core processor, up from the 1GHz single-core chip in its predecessor, the iPhone 4. Also on the improvements list is an 8MP camera, while the previous model has a 5 MP one. Otherwise the new and old models are practically identical, including a 3.5-inch, 960 x 640 touchscreen. They both run iOS 5.1, a the latest version of Apple's mobile operating system.

The iPhone 4S and the earlier version have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, but no memory card slot.