Chip Chick
The iPhone 5 is going budget, landing at Virgin Mobile and shedding the contracts.
Starting June 28, you can pick up the iPhone 5 from Virgin Mobile, with your choice of 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models. That comes with Virgin Mobile’s standard Beyond Talk plans, which give you unlimited data (courtesy of Sprint’s 3G/4G LTE network) and texting, with your choice of how many minutes you want. Those plans range from $35 to $55, but if you sign up for automatic monthly payment with a card or a PayPal account, you can knock off $5 per month.
As you might expect, the up-front, unsubsidized prices for the iPhone 5 are a little unfriendly. But, such is the price of ditching Big Contract. All models will be available in black and white. The 16 GB model will be available for $550, with the 32 GB and 64 GB models coming in at $650 and $750, respectively. The 16 GB model will be sold in Virgin Mobile retailers and Radio Shack, but the 32 GB and 64 GB models will be available online only.
