New cell phone - Virgin Mobile?

[zuren]

Anyone here using Virgin Mobile phones and services?

My contract just expired with Verizon and I'm looking to save money. My current Verizon phone is costing me $50/mo. for a basic voice/text plan and I give it limited use:

- I get limited/no signal at work
- Work commute is via train and subway; I get a choppy/no signal or it's too loud to talk (if I wanted to be that guy on the train yelling into his phone, which I don't)
- I have a phone at my work desk that I can use for any calls
- We have a landline at home that I prefer to use over the cell

So I pay $50/mo. for a paper weight. I'm thinking of getting something cheaper and more data based. I have been looking at Virgin Mobile's Optimus and Rumor Touch phone with a $25/mo. plan:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phone-plans/beyond-talk-plans.jsp

But I'm undecided if $200 is worth the Android phone vs. the $100 non-Android phone? This would also be something that I would use when camping/traveling to check weather, look up directions, etc. I'm taking courses online so this would be another way to log into my classes, just to check assignments and information of that nature (I would have a laptop with me on many occassions). Otherwise, most of the time it would live in my bag that I carry with me everyday.

I'm looking to stay away from carriers that lock me into a contract. If anyone has any suggestions or can comment, I would appreciate it!

 

[paulj]

I was with Verizon for several years, and then switched to Virgin because my use was so light. I've only bought their low end phones, costing $0-$10, and am currently on the automatic top up with $15 plan when balance drops near 0.

There are a few downsides. Reception at home is poorer than with Verizon; coverage in the sticks isn't as good either (e.g. in eastern Oregon). And I have no coverage when traveling in Canada.

I think Virgin uses Sprint; I don't know if you get as good a coverage as regular Sprint customer or not. The cost for a basic internet connection with Virgin isn't too bad, but my phone is too basic to make good use of that. Instead I just send a text message to Google (466453) if I want info on weather or addresses of restaurants.