Cellubration

Virgin Mobile USA today released details on their newest offering. Via Slifter software Virgin Mobile cell phone users can now search for retail items and find the best prices for those items in their immediate area. As far as we can tell the program will be free, however we're pretty sure data charges will apply.

The Virgin Mobile Shuttle may not look like a spacecraft, but its the closest we've seen on a cell phone.  The new device which has been announced in conjunction with "Helio by Virgin Mobile" is a red and black slider phone that features some nice add-ons that include EV-DO data access which offers 3G speeds, a 1.3 mega pixel camera, Stereo bluetooth, extra memory via an expandable memory card slot, and an impressive 2 inch screen size.

If you want the device you'll need t

Only a month after purchasing Helio Wireless the company has relaunched under the Virgin Mobile USA moniker.  The new name has been minted "Helio by Virgin Mobile" and with the announcement has come some newly priced plans and the Shuttle, the first device to be launched on the newly formed joint network.

According to Virgin Mobile USA the Helio A La Carte Plan will cost users $80 and will include unlimited minutes, which betters the current 1500 minutes available.  

The A La Carte Plan will

Saturday, August 23nd 2008 --Virgin Mobile USA is now in control of MVNO Helio Wireless. The acquisition which was first announced in June 2008 will offer Virgin Mobile the chance to charge on a post-paid service while also creating a stronger data network for the nation's largest MVNO network.  Along with the deal Helio closes all of their nationwide retail stores, leaving only their flagship store open in New York City.  

Thanks to the larger number of subscribers and the potential for gr

Tuesday, August 19th 2008 -- Virgin Mobile USA had an abysmal Q2. Not only did the company see ARPU fall from $20.97 down to $19.32, they did so while losing approx. 111,000 customers, while earning a profit of only $3.5 million dollars, or nearly half of what they earned in the prior quarter.  While a profit is still a plus in the struggling MVNO industry the company is still looking to develop new areas of interest including new data services and higher end handsets. Virgin Mobile USA shoul

Wednesday, June 25th 2008 -- Virgin Mobile USA announced their intentions today to purchase the MVNO Helio. The move will help Virgin Mobile USA absolve their largest competitor in a market that has seen several large MVNO providers fall, such as Amp'd Mobile and the critically lauded Disney Mobile. Exact details of the takeover have yet to emerge as talks have just begun.

Virgin Mobile USA announced this week company expectations for their upcoming IPO release. The company has put estimates at $506 million dollars. The disclosure being underwritten by several firms including Merrill Lynch and Bear, Stearns and Co., and Lehamn Brothers comes after the successful $2.2 billion dollar launch of Virgin Mobile UK's IPO Launch.

The lauch will also affect Virgin Mobile partner Sprint Nextel who currently holds on undisclosed stake in the company that some estimat