Walmart and Virgin offer sinful wireless savings

Walmart and Virgin Mobile USA are teaming up on an aggressive effort to grow sales by leveraging the popularity of shared mobile data plans.

The companies have launched the industry’s first no-contract data sharing plans, available exclusively at Walmart.

The new plans are now available on four specific 4G LTE smartphones pre-loaded with the Virgin Mobile data-sharing application, which provides data buy-ups and international add-ons with one touch, directly from the device. Every multi-line plan will also come with a free Mobile Hotspot feature, making it even easier to share data across Wi-Fi enabled devices.

“At Virgin Mobile we are committed to offering prepaid customers innovative new wireless options,” said Angela Rittgers, vice president-Sprint Prepaid. “"Walmart is the largest single distribution point for the prepaid space. Making sure we're winning in Walmart is critical to the business.” The new data sharing plans bring some of the most aggressive shared-line plans ever launched to Walmart.

Virgin Mobile’s Data Done Right data share plans feature:

Preloaded Virgin Mobile app that enables customers to manage data sharing directly from their device

No additional monthly line fees

One-touch data buy-up options starting at just $10/month for 1GB

Popular social media and music streaming apps without data charges, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pandora, unlimited usage without counting against the customer’s data allotment for just $5 per month

Flexible international plan options

Parental control features with device curfew and app restrictions

“At Walmart, we know our no-contract wireless customers are looking for some of the same experiences as contract wireless users, including high performing smartphones available on great plans at great prices,” said Mehrdad Akbar, vice president of Wireless, Connected Home, Wearables and Tablets at Walmart. “We are always seeking ways to innovate for our customers, which is why we’ve worked closely with Virgin Mobile to offer exclusive new plans such as data sharing.”

In addition to the new data plans, Virgin Mobile is also delivering a new set of single-line, unlimited plans to Walmart customers. More devices are expected to be introduced by the end of February. A $20 starter kit is required to activate each new line of service and includes two months of unlimited music streaming without counting against the customer’s data allotment.