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Comment by idiot16 | Hacker News Reader

virgin mobile is sprint. the network is the same. as is boost mobile. also, you're an idiot.

Sprint operates two nationwide networks. Depending on the device and the services it provides you could be using the CDMA network or the iDEN network that is mostly used for prepaid phones and direct connect.

Sprint itself also has a CDMA voice and data roaming agreement with Verizon, which MVNOs and subsidiary brands do not benefit from.

Virgin Mobile uses Sprint's CDMA network. Sprint has very good coverage in most major cities and along most interstate highways. That covers most of most peoples' lives, except the relatively small percentage of Americans in rural areas.

Virgin only uses iDEN. That's why their coverage is ass. You could be standing in line sight of a tower and have zero connectivity because that tower isn't supported.

Wrong.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile_USA "wireless voice, messaging and broadband data services to subscribers throughout the United States via the Sprint Nextel CDMA PCS network"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_Mobile "Boost Nationwide Unlimited (AKA Monthly Unlimited Plan), which differs from their previous UNLTD plans, is offered for iDEN handsets as of January 22, 2009 and CDMA as of January 2010"

The reason you have sucky coverage is the PRL list is much more limited for Virgin phones and they don't allow roaming. Update the list and get better signal.

that isn't true, they are on the sprint cdma towers. Boost is their pre-paid brand that's on iden. Virgin won't roam on to verizon, though, which sprint handsets will.

I did not realize Virgin Mobile used Sprint, or I would not have asked that question. The fact still remains that the proposed plan is unlimited and less expensive. Plus they intend to branch out to other mobile networks as well, so they could achieve better coverage.

Sprint bought Virgin out of Virgin Mobile USA a couple of years ago, so more than using Sprint, Virgin Mobile is simply a Sprint brand.

The "Sprint" Sprint brand has better coverage than the Virgin Mobile Sprint brand, presumably because of roaming agreements with Verizon.

There's that and there's also the fact that Virgin is only allowed to use iDEN towers and not CDMA towers.

Virgin Mobile USA is CDMA.

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