Where is the Best Broadband Value

The search for the best broadband value could end now. Virgin Mobile just partnered with Walmart introducing Broadband2Go at $20 a month for 1GB.

Why it's the best value?

1. Most tablet users consumer ~1GB data a month, so if you are an iPad or Galaxy Tab user, get this Virgin Broadband2Go offer, add free Wi-Fi to it, you are well covered at only $20 a month!

2. There are cheaper broadband offers on the market - even Virgin itself offers $10 for 100Mb, but that's obviously well too small usage for any serious broadband user.

3. Most tier 1 carriers offer $60 a month for 5GB usage, if you are not streaming video or watching tons of movies on your laptop/tablet, there is no need to waste the extra $40 a month for usage you will never use.

4. No contract

5. This offer is on a Novatel MiFi 2200 device, which means it could be shared by up to 5 devices simultaneously. On your next family vacation, don't forget to bring it along, so there is no need to fight that broadband card or line.

Which Carrier Has the Best Data Plan

Data Plan Pricings for Major Wireless Carriers:

AT&T: low usage $15/Mo for 200MB; high usage $25/Mo 2GB
Sprint: low usage $15/Mo unlimited; high usage: Only bundled with minutes
T-Mobile: low usage $24.99/Mo for 200MB; high usage: $39.99/Mo Unlimited
Verizon Wireless: low usage $15/Mo for 150MB; high usage: $29.99/Mo Unlimited

Turn Your Old iPod Into a Cellphone

Carring an iPod from Apple to listen to music, play games, surf the web, but feel frustrated that you can only do all these where Wi-Fi is available? Now you can have the freedom of doing them anywhere a 3G cellular coverage from Sprint is available.

Sprint is launching ZTE Peel, a skin to iPod that automatically connects to Sprint's nationwide 3G network. Now you can bring your iPod with you anywhere you go, and use it like a smartphone!

Yes, it costs money - ZTE Peel itself costs $80, then Sprint requires a $30 monthly fee for 1G of data.

The good news is there is no contract from Sprint, so take advantage of Sprint's 30 no hussle trial period, see if this is for you. If not, simply return in 30 days and you owe nothing.

The catch? It only works with the old iPod version, not the ones currently sold by Apple.

Best Smartphone Plans for People Need Unlimited Everything

If you are a smartphone user who is not crazy about iPhone, HTC 4G EVO, HTC 4G Epic, Motorola Droid, Blackberry Style, etc. You will find the best smartphone plan in, again, Prepaid. Below is a simple comparison:

Virgin Mobile (3G smartphone)
$60 a month for Unlimited Everything
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $250 = $1,540

Sprint (3G smartphone)
$99.99 a month for Unlimited Everything
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $100 = $2,500

T-Mobile (3G smartphone)
$99.99 a month for Unlimited Everything
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,500

Sprint (4G smartphone)
$110 a month for Unlimited Everything
24 Months + Evo(Lowest price 4G phone) $200 = $2,840

AT&T (3G smartphone)
$115 a month for Unlimited mins ($70), 2GB data ($25), Unlimited Text ($20)
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,860

Verizon (3G smartphone)
$120 a month for Unlimited mins, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,880

Best Smartphone Plan for People Who Talk a Lot

If you want a smartphone and expect to talk at least 1,000 minutes a month, your best chance to find value again is at Prepaid.

See details and comparisons below.

Virgin Mobile (normal smartphone)
$40 a month for 1,200 mins, Unlimited data, Unlimited Text
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $250 = $1,060

Sprint (3G smartphone)
$89.99 a month for 900 mins, Any Mobile Anytime, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $100 = $2,260

T-Mobile (3G smartphone)
$89.99 a month for 1,000 mins, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,260

Sprint (4G smartphone)
$99.99 a month for 900 mins, Any Mobile Anytime, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + Evo(Lowest price 4G phone) $200 = $2,600

AT&T (3G smartphone)
$105 a month for 900 mins ($60), 2GB data ($25), Unlimited Text ($20.00)
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,620

Verizon (3G smartphone)
$110 a month for 900 mins, Unlimited text $80 & web
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2,740

Note that ATT's price is slightly lower than Verizon's, but its data usage is capped at 2GB only, when you exceed it, your cost will be higher.

Best Smartphone Plan for People Who Don't Talk a Lot

The good thing about the wireless service offerings in the U.S. is there are many options available.

The bad thing about the wireless service offerings in the U.S. is there are many options available.

We will use several blogs to analyze and recommend the best wireless value for the right kind of users.

This issue, we will deal with someone who wants to have a smartphone, doesn't talk a lot (300 - 450 minutes a month), but needs unlimited data for email checking, web surfing, game playing, etc. Our consideration will not be limited to Postpaid (i.e. you are locked into a contract), we will consider Prepaid (i.e. non-contract binding) as well because most Prepaid service providers also offer smartphones (not the fancy ones, just the basic ones, thoug).

The finding - if you are OK with an ordinary smartphone, you can get the best value from Virgin Mobile. If you care about fancy phones and don't mind being locked into a contract, Sprint Postpaid is the one with the best value. Details below -

Virgin Mobile (normal smartphone)
$25 a month for 300 mins, Unlimited data, Unlimited Text
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $250 = $850

Sprint Postpaid (normal smartphone)
$69.99 a month for 450 mins, Any Mobile Anytime, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + Samsung Intercept $100 = $1780

T-Mobile Postpaid (normal smartphone)
$79.99 a month for 500 mins, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2020

Sprint Postpaid (fancy 4G phone)
$79.99 a month for 450 mins, Any Mobile Anytime, Unlimited text & web
24 Months + Evo(Lowest price 4G phone) $200 = $2120

AT&T Postpaid (normal smartphone)
$85 a month for 450 mins ($40), 2GB data ($25), Unlimited Text ($20)
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2140

Verizon (normal smartphone)
$90 a month for 450 mins, Unlimited text ($60), Unlimited data ($30)
24 Months + $100 Smartphone = $2260