In what looks to be shaping up to be another healthy week for M&A activity, Sprint Nextel is putting more of its focus on the prepaid cell phone service market with a $483 million deal to buy out Virgin Mobile USA. The acquisition, which was announced earlier this morning, calls for Sprint to pay $5.50 in stock for each Virgin Mobile share, a 31 percent premium to the MVNO's closing shar...

Virgin Mobile USA, now officially a part of Sprint Nextel's prepaid business, launched a new brand called Assurance Wireless aimed at providing free cell phone service to eligible low-income Americans. According to a Virgin Mobile spokeswoman, the service is now available in New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, and is expected to take off in other states as well. The service prov...

Sprint Nextel has publicized its intent to purchase Virgin Mobile USA for $483 million. However, Sprint plans to keep Boost Mobile and Virgin brands as separate entities although Virgin Mobile USA CEO Dan Schulan will head Sprint’s entire prepaid business. Of course, the approval of Virgin Mobile USA’s shareholder is still significant. The Virgin Group and

Image © Virgin MobileAfter delving into cell phone plans at T-Mobile, Boost Mobile, Cricket, Sprint and AT&T, it's important to check out Virgin Mobile especially if you're interested in prepaid wireless. While Virgin Mobile has made a name for itself in no-contract land, what you might not know is the carrier also offers contract-based plans designed to compete against the maj...

Sprint Nextel today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Virgin Mobile.  The transaction strengthens Sprints pre-paid customer base by bringing them together with Boost Mobile.  Earlier today, Virgin Mobile stockholders approved the transaction. “With continued growth in the U.S. prepaid segment, Sprint is further positioning itself as a leader,” said Dan Hesse,...

Sprint Nextel Corporation and Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. announced that they have completed their previously announced merger transaction. The acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA strengthens Sprint’s position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint’s successful Boost Mobile business. Virgin Mobile USA stockholders approved the transactio...

Sprint Nextel Corporation and Virgin Mobile USA today announced that they have completed their previously announced merger transaction. The acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA strengthens Sprint’s position in the growing prepaid segment by bringing together the iconic Virgin Mobile brand with Sprint’s successful Boost Mobile business. Earlier today, Virgin Mobile USA stockholders approved...

The news: Boost Mobile, Sprint Nextel's prepaid unit, shook up the prepaid market in January with the unveiling of its $50 monthly unlimited plan. Immediately, analysts began fretting about a possible price war. And the battle did indeed get heated. In April, Virgin Mobile USA jumped into the game when it cut the price of its unlimited calling plan from $80 to $50. In May, AT&T Mobili...

Virgin Mobile USA said it was expanding the number and type of retail locations that offer its prepaid mobile broadband service, called Broadband2Go. The service uses Sprint Nextel's EVDO Rev. A network. Virgin, which is in the process of being acquired by Sprint Nextel, said that as of Dec. 1, Broadband2Go will be available at Best Buy Mobile, RadioShack stores, Sam's Club kio...

Sprint Nextel Corporation announced on Tuesday that it had managed to complete the acquisition of Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., a deal announced several weeks ago. According to the company, the purchase of Virgin Mobile USA is expected to offer Sprint the possibility to strengthen its position in the prepaid segment through putting together the Virgin Mobile brand with its Boost Mobile business. &ldquo...