Virgin Mobile USA Announces Helio Integration Plans

On August 22, 2008, Virgin Mobile USA completed its acquisition of rival MVNO, Helio and the company has now unveiled its new branding message to highlight the acquisition: "Helio By Virgin Mobile: Plan To Have It All."

Helio was a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink - and sold to Virgin Mobile USA for US$39 million in an all-shares deal.

Immediate plans include the launch of the Shuttle, Virgin Mobile USAÃ's first handset enabled to integrate such Helio services as Buddy Beacon; and the enhancement of HelioÃ's $80 A La Carte plan, effective today, to include Unlimited Minutes rather than the current 1500 minute allocation. The new terms of the Helio A La Carte plan, which mirror Virgin Mobile USAÃ's Totally Unlimited prepaid voice plan at $79.99, will be available for current and future Helio members.

"We are bringing our customer-first approach to postpaid with the goal of empowering our Customers and Members with value, choice, and flexibility," said Bob Stohrer, Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Mobile USA. "These initial steps, delivering the best value in postpaid for Unlimited calling, are just signals of things to come as we look to make Helio products and services even more accessible and attractive.

"Helio devices like the Ocean and its brilliant data services are alive and well, and there will be opportunities in the immediate future for crossover benefits," he added. "We look forward to revealing how future integration will allow wireless customers to ‘plan to have it all,Ã' and intend to build the best customer experience overall in wireless, taking advantage of the best of both companies."

The transition for HelioÃ's approximate 170,000 postpaid members and Virgin MobileÃ's 5 million prepaid customers has been seamless. For now, the two customer care services and sales operations are separate, with further integration planned over the next several months.

Posted to the site on 9th September 2008