How to Buy a Virgin Mobile Prepaid Cell Phone

Virgin Mobile specializes in providing a flexible, affordable alternative to the contracts and credit checks associated with regular wireless calling plans. You can use a Virgin Mobile prepaid cell phone to stay in touch, send and receive text messages, get Web access and everything else you can do with a normal cell phone, without the commitment.

Instructions

1. Visit your local Virgin retail outlet or the company's website. You can also find Virgin Mobile plans at a variety of online retailers, big-box electronics retailers and cell phone stores.

2. Consider the practicality of each plan in terms of your anticipated phone usage. Virgin Mobile operates nationwide through the Sprint PCS network, so there are no long-distance charges on nationwide calls. You can choose from a variety of monthly packages with no annual contract, and you can also add in optional features like SMS text messaging and personalized ringtones.

3. Pay for your phone, as well as the first month's package. A customer service representative will activate your phone service free of additional charge. A new 10-digit telephone number will be assigned to your Virgin Mobile plan. If you're transferring your old phone number to your new phone, you will receive a text message when your service is ready for use.

4. Track your phone usage throughout the month to make sure you don't use your minutes up too quickly. If you find you need more minutes than you bought, consider purchasing a different plan the following month.

5. If you want to continue to use the service after you've used up your first month's minutes you can purchase additional minutes online or on phone cards sold at many retail stores.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop for your plan directly on the Virgin Mobile website (see Resources below).

• If you want to keep your old phone number with the Virgin Mobile network, an old phone bill will expedite the process of retaining the number for your new service.

• You must purchase a Virgin Mobile phone to access the Virgin Mobile network. Transferring service to an old phone is not possible with prepaid Virgin Mobile.

Resources

• Virgin Mobile