[Schaumburger]

I have been an A T & T (and it's predecessor companies) cell phone customer since 1992. I started with a big old bag phone in 1992 -- remember those?

Right now with A T & T I'm paying $44 per month for 250 daytime mins., 1,000 night and weekend mins., 200 text msgs. per month, and I have no internet access on my A T & T phone. I don't want to spend another $30 per month to get an A T & T's data plan for my phone

Virgin Mobile's Beyond Talk Plan for $45/month is offering 1,200 anytime mins. per month and unlimited web access and unlimited texting. There is no contract to sign; you just have your debit or credit card charged each month for the service -- at least that is what I was told on the phone today.

I understand that Virgin Mobile accesses the Sprint network.

Does anyone in TV have experience with Virgin Mobile's service -- like it, dislike it, love it, hate it? I'm in Chicago, but wanted to get some feedback. I looked on Virgin Mobile's web site, but that web site only post positive feedback of course.

The phone I'm thinking of getting -- the LG Optimus Slider runs on the Android 2.3 operating system and has 3G speed and Wi-Fi. Now I'm not the most tech savvy person. If I got this LG Optimus Slider, how would I use the phone to connect to internet when I'm at work (my employer's internet access is locked down tighter than Ft. Knox) or if I'm out and about -- shopping, at a restaurant, at the movies, etc.

Thanks in advance for any information and feedback.