Virgin offering prepaid 3G access for those who fear commitment

Having 3G access on a computer is a wonderful thing; being able to have internet connectivity almost everywhere you go is a blessing for many people. However, sometimes paying $60 or more every month can be daunting, especially if you don’t use it all the time. Virgin Mobile is coming to the rescue of those people with a 3G modem and a prepaid data plan.

The service is being called Broadband2Go, and will allow users to connect to Sprint’s EV-DO Rev. A network via a Novatel MC760 USB modem. The modem will work with any OS with a dual-band diversity antenna and an option for an external antenna as well if needed. Given Sprint’s 3G coverage, the external antenna will be needed if you go too far outside of a city or metropolitan area, or even too far away from a major highway.

While the idea sounds wonderful, it might not once you see the prices. The modem itself will cost a reasonable $150 at Best Buy starting late June. The data plans are fixed at pretty high rates, starting with $10 for 100 MB, $20 for 250 MB, $40 for 600 MB and finally $60 for 1 GB. True, this is a pay as you go service, but those prices seem just a bit high, considering that $60 a month will get you 5 GB from Verizon with the MiFi. It might make sense for those who desperately need the connectivity where ever they’re going and can afford it, but it’d be nice to see those number drop even just a little bit.

Read [Electronista]