Virgin Mobile giving $25 in Google Wallet credits to everyone who activates an LG Optimus Elite

Virgin Mobile is running an interesting promotion to get people to buy their newly-launched LG Optimus Elite. They’re giving $25 of Google Wallet credit to use at participating retailers and shops.

This is no doubt a promotion to highlight the device’s NFC chip and to encourage users to try out mobile payments, a fairly new field of technology for American consumers. You’ll first get $10, and another $15 will show up after three weeks of the device being activated.

If you return the phone before then, you’ll lose out on the full promotion. This ends in July so you have a fair amount of time to take advantage.

Don’t forget that you’ll also get a $35 account bonus good for one month. That specific promotion is for new customers only and it ends on the 30th of this month. Head to Virgin’s site to get started and read on for full press details.

The Ultimate Pay Phone

MAKE YOUR VIRGIN MOBILE LG OPTIMUS ELITE YOUR WALLET AND GET $25

From 5/18/12 through 7/18/12, you can get $25 credited to your Google Wallet™ account by first purchasing and activating an LG Optimus Elite™.

Then activate your Google Wallet and Google Wallet prepaid card within 7 days of activating the device on a Virgin Mobile USA Beyond Talk monthly plan.

With Near Field Communication (NFC) capabilities and built-in services like Google Wallet, you can now use your LG Optimus Elite like never before - as a wallet – making it one of the fastest, easiest and flat-out coolest ways to make a purchase at participating retailers.

For more information on the LG Optimus Elite:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/cell-phones/lg-optimus-elite-phone.jsp

For more information on Google Wallet:

http://www.google.com/wallet/what-is-google-wallet.html

Limited time offer, promotion runs from 5/18/2012 through 7/18/2012 ("Promotion Period"). Not available in all markets/retail locations. $25 Google Wallet offer Terms and Conditions: Offer requires: (1) purchase of a new LG Optimus Elite from Virgin Mobile and activation on a Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk account; and (2) activation and set up of Google Wallet prepaid card within seven (7) days of Virgin Mobile account activation, during the Promotion Period. Upon successful activation, Google™ will: (i) add a $10 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within 48 hours of activation; and (ii) add an additional $15.00 credit to the Google Wallet prepaid card within three weeks of successful activation and set up. No personal credit card information is required for offer to apply. To see where Google Wallet is accepted, please go to http://www.google.com/wallet/where-it-works.html. NOTE: Credits applied toward Google Wallet accounts are performed by Google or its designees. For more questions or inquiries about this offer, or about the status of your credit, please call Google Wallet: 855-492-5538. Other restrictions apply.

©2012 Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. All rights reserved. VIRGIN and the Virgin signature logo are registered trademarks of Virgin Enterprises Limited and are used under license. The LG Electronics, Inc. and Optimus Elite logo are registered trademarks of LG Electronics, Inc. The Google logo and Google Wallet is a trademark of Google Inc. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.

LG Optimus Elite now available from Virgin Mobile USA

It was only a few days ago that pre-orders for the LG Optimus Elite were happening but now Virgin Mobile USA is ready to put their first device with NFC and Google Wallet into the hands of consumers. Yes, today is the day the LG Optimus Elite goes on sale today and you can pick yourself one up for only $150. A reminder of the specs let's us know it's not for everyone out there but it a reasonable device for those looking to possibly jump from a feature phone:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread3.5-inch touchscreen800 MHz processor5MP rear-facing camera

As a bonus, LG has also team up with the folks from Box so if you pick up an LG Optimus Elite, you can download the Box app from the Google Play Store and get yourself 50GB of cloud storage space for free. Keep in mind though, that offer only runs until July 22, 2012. Need more details? Check out the full press release below or have a look at our hands-on.

LG Optimus EliteTM Makes its Way to Virgin Mobile USA on May 15

First device for Virgin Mobile USA to be enabled with NFC and Google Wallet

WARREN, N.J. & SAN DIEGO (BUSINESS WIRE), May 15, 2012 - Virgin Mobile USA answers to A Higher Calling™ once again, announcing with LG Mobile the availability today of LG Optimus Elite™ in Titan Silver for $149.99. The device operates on Virgin Mobile’s industry-leading, no-contract Beyond Talk plans with unlimited data and messaging starting at $35 a month. Stylish and slim, LG Optimus Elite comes with Google Wallet™ and is now available at virginmobileusa.com and major retailers nationwide.

A successor to the popular LG Optimus V™, this highly customizable full-featured smartphone keeps customers organized with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and other key features, including a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 800MHz processor, 5MP autofocus rear-facing camera and camcorder with flash, and a virtual QWERTY keyboard.

A first for Virgin Mobile USA devices, LG Optimus Elite comes with Near Field Communications (NFC), allowing customers to access true value features, such as Google WalletTM, an app that allows payment using a mobile device from participating retailers at select Macy’s, RadioShack, Walgreens, Gap and more.

“Our customers fell in love with the LG Optimus V™, so bringing another great device to our lineup of Android™-powered devices from the Optimus family goes right along with our promise of A Higher Calling™,” said Jeff Auman, vice president for Virgin Mobile USA. “LG Optimus Elite offers full integration of social networking apps, Microsoft Outlook Exchange email, and advanced messaging capabilities. Combined with our awesome Beyond Talk monthly unlimited data plans, customers can realize true savings with no contract and no surprises.”

Operating on the Sprint Nationwide Network1, Virgin Mobile USA offers tremendous value for those customers who text, IM, post, email, friend, like and tweet more than they talk. Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk plans start at just $35 a month for 300 minutes of voice and include unlimited messaging and data. For those looking for a bit more talk time, the $45 plan offers 1,200 minutes of voice, and the $55 plan offers unlimited voice minutes each month. All plans include unlimited messaging and data (plans include 2.5GB of full-speed data).

“LG Mobile strives to provide the best technologies and services that are not only extremely useful, but also accessible to everyone,” said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing for LG Mobile. “The LG Optimus Elite not only has amazing features, but with add-ons such as Google Wallet, Box and Virgin Mobile’s affordable monthly plan, consumers will be getting a great smartphone with incredible value.”

Customers can also download Box on LG Optimus Elite and receive 50GB of free cloud storage and sharing2 directly from LG, an estimated value of $240 per year, so they don’t have to stress about storing all of their favorite music, files, photos and other memories.

About Virgin Mobile USA

Virgin Mobile USA, one of Sprint's prepaid brands, offers millions of customers control, flexibility and connectivity through Virgin Mobile Beyond Talk™ no-contract plans with unlimited data for mobile phone service, including Android-powered smartphones and prepaid Broadband2Go high-speed Web access on the Nationwide Sprint Network. Virgin Mobile-branded devices are available at more than 40,000 retail stores, including Target, Walmart, Best Buy and RadioShack. Top-Up cards are available at approximately 150,000 locations nationwide and can be used for Broadband2Go services. Experience Virgin Mobile on the Web at Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and purchase Virgin Mobile USA products at www.virginmobileusa.com.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances. With 117 operations around the world, LG achieved global sales of USD 49 billion (KRW 54.26 trillion) in 2011. LG is comprised of four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions – and is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. For more news and information on LG Electronics, please visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company

The LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is a global leader and innovator in mobile communications. With its breakthrough technologies and innovative designs, LG continues to establish a number of benchmarks in the smartphone market, while also helping create a better lifestyle for consumers by delivering a wholly enhanced smartphone experience. As a leader in 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, LG continues its commitment to developing groundbreaking LTE technologies and fulfilling consumer demands with differentiated LTE devices of the highest quality, all of which are based on the company’s wealth of LTE patents and technical knowledge. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

Google, Android, and Google Play are trademarks of Google, Inc.

1 Virgin Mobile customers have access to the Nationwide Sprint Network which reaches more than 280 million people for voice services and 276 million people for 3G data services.

2 The 50GB of free storage is exclusive to LG devices until July 22, 2012.

Virgin Mobile getting rid of grandfathered plan options with new smartphone purchases?

A new text message is currently being sent out to Virgin Mobile USA customers with what may be an in important announcement if you're looking towards picking up a new device from them anytime soon.

VMFreeMsg Starting 5/27/12, new smartphones will be subject to current plan rates. This will apply if you switch phones. Go to http://msg4u.us/src for info.

At first glance, it may appear as though Virgin Mobile might be releasing some new smartphone plans, but that's not the case. When you visit the link they're advising folks that anytime you upgrade now you're required to pick from one of the already existing plans available. This looks to imply that if you're on grandfathered plan, they'll no longer allow you to keep it when upgrading to a new device. Anyone else on Virgin Mobile get this message or any further clarification in it?

Thanks, Brian!

"Born and raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Chris is fluent in all mobile languages and his work can be found on all the various Mobile Nations sites."